by Drake, Aspen
“What does that mean?” I ask quietly.
Ollie is a few steps ahead of us and doesn’t seem to be paying attention to what we’re saying, but I have to be careful about what we say in front of the kid.
Eli looks me right in the eye. “I might have to come up with a more permanent solution.”
“God, Eli. You’re so stupid. I don’t know what you’re thinking but promise me you won’t do anything. We’ll talk about whatever lame-ass idea you came up with when I get home tonight.” I shove my hands into my jacket pockets to keep them warm. It’s only fifty degrees out, but seventy is cold for me. I’m freezing, and the milk shake I just finished isn’t helping. “Until then, just don’t do anything to make this worse.”
After we arrive at our building and head upstairs, Eli turns toward my apartment, and I follow Ollie to Jenna’s, calling out to my brother over my shoulder. “I mean it, E. Don’t do anything stupid.”
He shrugs. “No promises, Em. I need to end this so I can move on.”
* * *
Jenna sneaks in at almost one in the morning with her shoes in one hand and the other hand pressed to the top of her head. “Can you do me a favor and find me a few Advils?”
“Sure. Are you okay?” I hop off the couch and go straight to her stash of meds in the kitchen. I take a second to fill up a glass with tap water before bringing everything back to her.
“My head won’t stop pounding.” Her eyes are squeezed shut, and her palms are wrapped around her skull like she’s trying to keep it on her shoulders.
“What happened?” I stand behind her and gently knead her head, trying to imitate the scalp massages I’ve gotten during haircuts.
“Just the music. It’s so loud in there. Sometimes it doesn’t bother me, but I made the mistake of having a glass of wine before my shift. That made the noise seem so much louder. Like a thousand times louder.”
“Maybe you should quit?” I flatten my palms around her head like she had her hands earlier and gently press.
Her hum of pleasure tells me it’s helping. “You know I can’t. I need the money.”
“You have the restaurant.”
Jenna barks out a laugh. “In one night at the bar, I can make a week’s wages at the diner. My credit cards are almost paid off, and I should be able to pay off my car within six months. I really can’t walk away from that yet.”
I know she’s right, but I hate that she’s in pain. If I made that kind of money, I wouldn’t leave it either. I consider suggesting she start delivering for Meals2Me…but not every customer tips like that frustratingly sexy Hunter James. His little stunt of giving me a ten thousand dollar tip just pissed me off. I’ve already pulled out all that cash and will be returning it to him, minus the taxes I’m gonna get stuck paying, in some creative way. I’m not sure how yet, but he’ll know that he can’t buy me. As much as I would kill for a repeat of my night with him between my legs, I can’t get involved with a man like him. He’s just another Rick but with a bigger bank account, and therefore, an even bigger ego.
No, thanks.
I’m tired of playing games. If I ever allow myself to fall in love again, it’ll be with someone who actually cares about me and only me. Not someone who gets off on throwing money around like it’s candy to lure in desperate women then throw them away after the shine wears off.
Besides, he left me alone in my bed. I’m not gonna be his bootycall whenever he’s bored and horny at work. I have a little bit of dignity, although from what he’s seen of me, I doubt he’d believe that. I’m not exactly the supermodel type, but I’m not hideous. My breasts are fine, but not spectacular. They’re not big, but they’re not small. My ass isn’t flat, but it’s not bubbly. My arms are thin but not particularly shapely. My stomach is flat, but not firm. My legs are probably my best feature since they’ve toned up from all the walking I do every day, but a man like Hunter James is way out of my league.
Refocusing my attention on Jenna, I can tell she’s got something to say that she doesn’t want to bring up.
I press my fingers under the base of her scalp and pull up slightly. “What are you thinking about?”
She purrs under my touch. “Well, I did see an ad for a personal assistant position that looks interesting.”
“What would you be assisting with and for who?” I tug the strands of her hair and then begin rubbing her scalp again.
She shrugs. “Don’t know. Apparently, some celebrity or something. The ad was all about discretion and confidentiality, but the pay looks amazing and the hours are flexible. I’d mostly work from home.”
“Sounds too good to be true.” I slowly scrape my nails from her forehead to the base of her scalp.
“Probably, but I might give them a call to see what it’s about.” She moans again and leans back into my hands. “So, how was Ollie?”
“Perfect, as always. We went to McDonald’s…and Eli tagged along.”
Her eyes pop open at the mention of his name, and she seems much less tired. “Oh, yeah?”
Ugh. I hope she doesn’t still have a thing for Eli. She can do so much better than my idiot brother. “Yeah, and it was fine. It took Ollie a minute to warm up to Eli, but they’re buddies again.”
“Yeah, it’s been awhile since he’s seen him.” Jenna pulls out of my grasp and turns to face me. “Is Eli in town for a while?”
“God, I hope not. As usual, he’s pissed off the wrong people so he’s laying low with me for a while. But he’ll probably disappear as unexpectedly as he showed up.” I move my grip down to her shoulders and give her a squeeze. “So don’t get hung up on him again. You deserve someone a thousand times better than him.”
“I know…” Her voice is wistful, and I hate having to stomp on her crush. But Eli is definitely not the right guy for her.
She needs someone smart and stable and gainfully employed. That’s why I need to get Eli out of my apartment on his way as soon as possible.
Right after I figure out how to keep him from getting himself killed.
Twelve
Hunter
A kid and husband? At least, that’s what it looks like from the photos Tim pulled from a surveillance camera outside her apartment. But I was in her apartment, and I didn’t see anything to indicate she lived with someone. Granted, I didn’t spend a lot of time searching through drawers on my way in or out that night, but I’m a pretty decent detective. I’m fairly certain I would have noticed if there had been wedding photos on the walls or toys on the ground.
But the photos on my computer don’t lie. That’s definitely Emma, and she’s definitely with a dude and a kid.
“I’ll do some digging now that I have photos.” Tim is already punching keys on his computer while I look at the photos he emailed to me.
“Thanks, bud.” I close the lid to my laptop and head out the door for the meeting with my team assigned to the missing women cases. That’s where my head needs to be. On my job and on finding dozens of women who may or may not still be alive.
I don’t have time to worry about some chick who doesn’t want to give me the time of day. Who cares if she gave me the best head I’ve had in my life. Or if her wet pussy felt like it was custom molded to my cock. She’s obviously not interested or available.
I can’t waste energy thinking about what-ifs and maybes. Either she’s married or not. Either she has a kid or not. I’ll find out for sure soon enough. And when I do, I’ll be able to make some real decisions on how to proceed. Truthfully, I almost hope she does have a husband because then the decision will be made for me.
I won’t see her again, and I can go back to how things were. I’ll focus on the job I was hired to do, and I won’t get caught up in anything that might possibly lead to a relationship.
Because that’s the last damn thing I need to be thinking about right now.
* * *
My team is already in the conference room when I walk in. Travis is writing out lists of names on the white board while Al
ex and Brandon are arranging photos on the table. “Sorry I’m late. Had to take a quick call.”
“No problem, boss.” Travis gives me a quick glance but continues writing. “We might have something here.”
“Good.” I stand behind Alex and Brandon and watch them organize the photos into groups. “What is it?”
After a few minutes of impatiently waiting for them to be ready to talk, Brandon crosses his arms over his wide chest and leans against the wall beside the board. “It took a lot of digging, but of the eighteen women who went missing in January and March, at least ten of them were looking for a job or interviewing for some sketchy personal assistant position.”
“What was sketchy about it?”
Alex grabs a stack of photos and fans them out in front of me. “All six of these women had mentioned a great paying job as a personal assistant to a celebrity so it had to be kept confidential. They weren’t supposed to mention anything about it, but obviously, they did.”
I lifted the photos one by one to memorize the faces. “What do we know about the job?”
“Not much, until this one…” Brandon taps the edge of the photo in my hand. “She printed out a Craig’s List ad for the same job a few other victims had mentioned to loved ones. We think this is our kidnapper, or at least a link to our kidnapper.”
Alex hands me a copy of the ad, and I read through it. The language is fairly standard, but the promise of a high-paying position for a celebrity is definitely a hook to pique the interest of impressionable and down on their luck women.
“Hmm.” I read the ad again, rolling the details around in my mind. Each time I look over it, something sticks out or a new thought comes to mind.
“What is it, boss?” Alex is watching me intently. Obviously, he’s read the same ad over and over as well.
“It does seem odd. If a celebrity was looking for an assistant, wouldn’t they use a service? Why place an ad on Craigslist?”
“That’s what I was thinking. Is it something we should look in to?”
“It can’t hurt. Let’s get a couple guys on it. We should also check out the classifieds for all the missing women. Look for similar ads from January and March. Maybe we can get a feel for if this is standard practice. If not, we actually have a real lead here.”
Alex nods before pulling out a notepad and jotting down a few lines. “Got it. Anything else you think they should look for?”
I contemplate the ad still in my grip. “Yeah. Let’s also ask some local employment agencies about the process. I want to make sure we cover our bases before we jump to any conclusions.”
“Sounds good, Hunter.”
Alex heads to the other end of the station to talk to two of the more computer savvy team members, providing them with instructions. They both pay close attention, jotting down their own notes before opening their laptops and beginning to work.
I need to let Cruz in on what we may have found. He’ll need to get the Feds involved at some point, but I don’t want them wasting any time until we have more concrete proof that this ad is targeting our victims. Until we’re sure, my team will continue investigating to see what they come up with.
And I’ll keep investigating too. At least that’s what I should be doing. But my thoughts stray to Emma too many times to remain focused on the task at hand. Despite the fact that she has a kid and husband, I can’t stop thinking about our time together.
Some time passes before Alex interrupts me from my thoughts. “Hey, boss. I just got off the phone with Scout Talent and To Be Hired.”
I lay down the paper I’ve been trying to read for over an hour and look up at him. “Oh yeah? What did you find out?”
Alex pokes the paper in his hands. “Both companies I spoke with said they handle all the assistant positions for celebrities in the area. These positions have to be vetted through a series of background checks and aptitude tests to verify the candidates aren’t stalkers or paparazzi.”
“Makes sense to me.” I cross my arms over my chest and lean back in my chair. “I definitely think we are on the right track then. Let me know when Leslie and John finish their searches. As soon as we know something for sure, let me know so I can get the brass involved.”
“Agreed,” Alex says with a nod. “I’ll keep you posted.”
Thirteen
Emma
When I get home Wednesday night, Eli is packing his bag. I set my mail and purse down then put my hands on my hips. “Where are you going?”
“I’ve got a couple jobs lined up. Thanks for letting me crash here. I know you hated every minute of it.”
“What kind of job? Where are you going?” Although I do kinda hate having him stay on my couch, I like knowing he’s safe. And alive. Besides, having an extra person in the apartment is somewhat comforting. As soon as Rick moved out, I realized I don’t like living alone. I keep trying to convince myself that I’m strong and independent and don’t need human companionship, but the reality is that I do.
A lot.
And I don’t get it at work. I have brief interactions with people throughout the day, but no real friendships or conversations. Just a polite hello and goodbye on my way in and out from deliveries, but that’s not the same as companionship. And as annoying as Eli is, having a companion isn’t the worst way to live.
He zips up his bag and places his palms on top of it before looking up at me. “I’m not giving him any money.”
Oh, great. Not this shit again. “So, what are you gonna do?”
“I’ve been talking to some friends up in Seattle. They have a business that could use an extra set of hands. If I run a few jobs for them, they’ll take care of my problem in Vegas.”
Okay, now I’m actually starting to get worried for him. It sounds like he’s walking from one hornet’s nest to another. “What do you mean run jobs for them? Are you talking about drugs?”
Eli holds my gaze for a moment and shakes his head. “Not drugs.”
“Then what, Eli? Just tell me.”
“Dammit, Emma. Why can’t you just let this go? The less you know, the better. I don’t want you to worry.”
“News flash, Eli. I’m already worried. Now, stop playing games, and tell me what the fuck you’re up to.”
“Guns.” He stares at me, challenging me to say something about it. “I need to move some guns from Seattle to Mexico. That’s it.”
“Oh, that’s it?” I walk the length of my small dining area then back, pacing out my frustration. “You’re just gonna drive over the border with a trunk full of weapons, and you don’t think anyone is gonna notice? Are you an idiot?”
For the record, he is.
“I’m driving a boat, brainiac. They’re hiring me to sail up and down the coast a few times, and then they’ll get rid of that pimp in Vegas who’s looking for me.”
“Who you think might be looking for you. You have no idea if he actually gives two shits about you.”
Eli shakes his head, causing me to stop pacing and look at him. “I do know. My friend Ken told me that he’s put a hit out on me. Two hundred grand.”
“That doesn’t make any sense.” I pull out a chair from the table and sit down then wait for him to do the same. Reluctantly, he sits too. “He’s already lost half a million to you. Why would he spend another two hundred thousand to kill you? It would be cheaper to just cut his losses.”
“He doesn’t care about the money, Em.” Eli leans back in the chair so his head is parallel to the ceiling, something he does when he’s super pissed or emotional. I don’t know which applies to this particular situation. “I’m a witness. Maybe there’s some heat on him for that woman’s death. I don’t know, but I do know he’s willing to pay to have me killed. If I don’t take him out first, someone will take me out for the bounty on my head.”
“God, Eli.” I rest my elbows on the table and run my fingers through my hair. “How do you get yourself caught up in this shit?”
“I’m sorry, Em.” He rubs the back of
my neck. “I shouldn’t have gotten you involved in this mess, but now that I have, you might be in danger too. That’s even more reason for me to get rid of this guy.”
“What if we just pay someone to take him out?” Not that I have money for that, but two hundred thousand sounds better than the half million I thought I was gonna have to help him find.
“This guy is badass. His price won’t be that low. His bounty would be ten times what mine is.”
“Two million dollars?” I can’t even wrap my head around that kind of money. “We can’t do it…no way.”
Eli wraps his other arm around me and holds me for a minute. “I know, Em. That’s why I’m doing these jobs. If all goes well, I can earn enough in a month to take care of this dude. Once he’s gone, I can start living my life again.”
“Unless you end up in prison.” I pull away from him and stand up again, resuming my pacing as my mind works through this new information.
“I won’t, Em.” He laughs quietly but there’s no humor in the sound. “And if I do, at least I’ll be safe there. I’ll have protection long enough to testify against him for murder. But it won’t come to that. I promise.”
I walk right up to him and press my finger into his chest. “Don’t you dare make a promise you don’t know you can keep. Our father made one of those to my mother, and she never saw him again. Be better than him, Eli.”
“Fine, sorry.” He backs away from my accusatory finger. “But I promise to try everything in my power to come back. You’re the only person I have to live for, and I want to make sure you’re taken care of.”
I hold back the snarky comment I want to make about me being the one to take care of him. Because even if it’s not completely obvious, he has been there for me during my darkest times. And no matter what happens in our lives, I know Eli will always have my back. Just like I’ll always have his. “Just be careful and get your ass back here as soon as you can. The apartment is too clean and quiet when you’re not around.”
