Chapter Nine
Mia cradled thephone between her head and shoulder as she flipped through her client profile book searching for her noon appointment.
“Vic, I’m just not interested. I don’t need you to fix me up with anyone.”
“Noe’s the best guy you’ll ever meet. He’s been crazy about you since you were fourteen.”
“And I have never been crazy about him. I like him like a cousin. Leave it alone, Vic.”
“It’s Shark. You fuckin’ know that,” he grumbled.
Mia scanned the notes she made on her client’s hair color, then put the binder down. She sat down and lightly massaged her shoulder. “How’s Finn doing? Did he bail out?”
“Stop changing the fuckin’ subject.”
“Why’re you so pissed about me not wanting to date Noe? You’re acting childish.”
“I didn’t say to date him. Just go out with him for dinner when he comes to Durango.”
“If he calls me, I will, but just as friends. You need to make it clear to him, or I will.”
“I’m not gonna say a fuckin’ thing. Anyway, just give him a chance. You haven’t seen him in a couple years.”
“You didn’t answer me about Finn,” Mia looked out the window and saw a man leaning against a red sports car across the street staring at the salon.I’ve seen that car parked across from Champion a couple of times this past week.Unease niggled at the back of her neck.
“I couldn’t bail the fucker out. The judge set a bond of a hundred thousand dollars. I don’t have that kinda dough.” Shark’s gruff voice broke in on her thoughts.
“Did he tell you why he did something so stupid?”
“Money.”
“Did it ever occur to him to get a job?”
“Or a bitch like Tucker did. She keeps bailing his ass out all the time.”
Mia sighed and glanced across the street again and noticed the man was still there. “I can’t believe what a mess everyone is,” she said in a low voice. “Tucker’s either in jail or drugged out, Dean just got out of juvy detention, and now this shit with Finn. I’m scared for him because he’s looking at some serious time.” The right side of her face twitched, and she rubbed her fingers over it to calm it down. Ever since she was a kid, her facial muscles would spasm if she was scared or really stressed.
“He’s taking a trip to the pen for a while. No fucking doubt about that.”
“Mia, your noon appointment is here,” a woman’s voice over the speakers announced.
“I have to go. My client is here.” Tears welled in her eyes, and she blinked them away. “I’ll talk to you later.”
“Be nice to Noe. Don’t disrespect me, okay?” A threatening thread wove through Shark’s voice.
“Bye.” Mia hung up and clenched her jaw to keep her bottom lip from trembling as sadness crushed down on her. Unshed tears stung her eyes, and she clutched at her aching chest.
“Your client’s here,” Ronica said, breaking through Mia’s hazy sadness.
She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Thanks.”
“Are you okay?” Ronica came over and stood in front of her, peering into her face.
“I’m worried about my brother, that’s all.” But it wasn’t, it was everything and nothing. It was a hollowness that held thousands of tears and jagged pieces of glass wedged between her body and soul.
“I’m sorry. I wish I could help.”
“So do I.” Mia stood up and glanced out the window—the man was gone. She smiled weakly at Ronica, then went to meet her client.