“My brother.” I glance at Parker. His eyes haven’t shifted off the phone once since she started speaking.
“Just what we need right now — a man-whoring party boy.” She grumbles under her breath. “I don’t even know why I’m bothering with you people. Maybe I should just let natural selection take its course…”
“Because you’re such a kind hearted soul?” I offer.
She laughs outright at that — a light, joyous sound that’s totally at odds with her personality. “Yeah, that’s it.” Her sarcasm is thick. “Now shut up and listen. I’ve been tracking some of Mac’s boys since the other night. They’re headed your way and I don’t think they come bearing fruit baskets, if you catch my drift.”
“They’ll never get inside.” Nate’s voice is cold. “My security system is impenetrable. And even if they somehow managed to breach it…” His eyes narrow further. “I’d take care of it.”
Shiver.
“Okay, macho-man. We get it. You’re packing heat.” Tink snorts. “Point is, Mac’s boys have put a hit out on your girl. You’re standing in their way. That means they’re coming for you, and they won’t stop until they’ve got what they want.”
“And they want me?” I sigh. “Again?”
“They tried that. Didn’t work. Now, they’re pissed. They want their money or they want West blood,” Tink clarifies. “You need to talk to your father. Get him to pay up. Otherwise…” She trails off, keys clacking again.
“You could be making all of this up. How do we know we can trust you?” I ask.
“Sweetie.” She laughs. “I don’t give a fuck if you trust me. All I know is, you should leave that loft. When Mac’s boys are involved, things have a tendency to go up in flames.”
She clicks off.
My eyes move from the phone to Nate to Parker. We’re all totally silent for a full minute, contemplating her words.
“Is she as hot in person as she sounds on the phone?” Parker asks eventually.
I whack him on the arm. “Don’t even think about it. She’s totally out of your league.”
“No one’s out of my league,” he mutters, rubbing the spot where I hit him.
“Question is, do we believe her?” I ask, looking at Nate.
His eyes are active, face hard-set. After a moment, he nods. “We don’t have a reason not to.”
“She did save my life,” I concede. “Even if she complained the whole time.”
Parker grins. “Personally, I think we should track this Tinkerbell down.”
“Why, so you can ask her out?” I snort. “Fat chance.”
“We’ll find her.” Nate crosses the kitchen and grabs a set of car keys. “One way or another.”
“Yes!” Parker pumps a fist into the air. “Knew you’d have my back, bro.”
My eyes are suddenly a little too focused on Nate. “Don’t tell me you want to date her, too.”
Seriously, don’t tell me. I can’t handle it.
“Hardly.” He pulls on his leather jacket and meets my eyes, a playful light dancing in his irises that I’ve never seen before. “I want to hire her.”
***
“Where are we going?”
“WestTech.” Nate’s hands tighten around the steering wheel as we race past the Convention Center toward the financial district at well above the legal limit. “Your father is overdue for a visit.”
It’s getting dark outside — well past six o’clock — but we all know Milo is still at his office. He’s there till midnight, most nights.