“Yeah. I’ve worked through half the file.”
“I’ll help with the rest. Once we’re done, Noah’s promised a full day of shopping.” She winked at him. “On him.”
He stared at her like a stranger was talking. If he’d been one to show his emotions, I knew his mouth would’ve been hanging open. Instead, he only blinked at her, his face an impassive wall, but he couldn’t look away.
Noticing this, Theresa rolled her eyes. “What? I might be snippy because of our personal life, but I’m still a damn good worker.”
“No, I know. I didn’t—” He stopped himself. “I…you were very adamant about this being a week of vacation for you and Emma. The two of you were going to be shopping every day and to hell with your work ethic for one week. Your time, not my time. Right? Was that how it went?”
She flushed, folding her arms over her chest. “I was mad. I said things I didn’t mean, but I’m a good worker. Emma and I can get it all done, and then we’ll have a fun day. Besides, I’ll be spending time with her. That’s why I came.” She turned to me again. “And we’ll have Amanda fly out, whether she wants to or not. A fun weekend in New York will be the ultimate girl’s trip.”
Amanda and the secret boyfriend who could ruin Carter’s life, or mine. Yes, that would be lovely. “Just Amanda?”
Theresa cocked her head to the side. “What do you mean?”
She still didn’t know. That was the answer I needed. “Only the triad?” I teased. “Just making sure we’re enough for you.”
Theresa just smiled.
By the time we got to Noah’s home, I had shoved Amanda to the back of my mind. I followed Theresa inside and to the part of the house where Carter and I would sleep. We had our own entrance even. That’d be helpful for Carter and his need to slip in and out.
Later, after the bags had been put away, Theresa poured wine for us and said, “I’m surprised Carter doesn’t have a place here.”
“I am, too.”
Noah came in and reached for The Richmond’s bourbon. “He does, but he said it’s under construction.”
Theresa whirled to look at me. I hadn’t known. That was the realization she’d just come to. I lifted a shoulder to answer her silent question. Her lips pressed together, and she held her wine in front of her, seeming so casual. But her eyes were sharp and alert. “Really?” she asked.
Noah poured himself some bourbon. He didn’t seem to notice Theresa’s hidden agenda. “Yeah. To be honest, I thought that was why he was here—so he could oversee it and you know…” He gestured with a hand in my direction, putting the bottle away. “That’s why he wanted Emma here, too. He asked for a few months off for her.”
I straightened. This new information, coupled with Carter having his own place, had my stomach churning. A few months? He had his own place? Why wouldn’t he want us there? Was it because of Cole? I knew he wanted to keep an eye on Cole, but that didn’t feel right. Carter wouldn’t have had me there too, if that was the reason… No, it was more than that. He didn’t want me at his place—and then I got it.
His place. The family knew it was his. I would bet money they didn’t know where Cole lived—not yet—and that meant the Bartel family didn’t know. But the Bartels might know where Carter lived…where I would’ve been. This was Noah’s place. I heard myself asking, “Your name is on the deed for this building?”
Theresa turned to study me. She’d been watching Noah with narrowed eyes.
He looked over too, a slight frown marring his face. “No, actually. This building belonged to a great aunt. I inherited it from her. How’d you know that?”
I shrugged. “Lucky guess.”
I was still in hiding. If Carter was willing to let me stay here, he didn’t think The Bartel family knew of this place.
“You okay?” Theresa had migrated closer. She asked so Noah wouldn’t hear.
I nodded, my head moving up and down in a jerky motion. This really was like last year, except it wasn’t by my hands. I wasn’t hiding because of what I had done, but because of Carter. Last time, I had pulled him in. This time, I was the one being pulled.
Gene had called for a meeting at one of the warehouses the Mauricio family used for storage. Cole was back at his place, waiting. The initiation was set to happen in twenty-four hours. No matter what went down, Cole would take his place as the head of the Mauricio family. It’d been years since there had been one, but it was set to go. All the elders had been talked with. Their concerns were answered and managed. It was going to happen. But when Gene called for this meeting, I knew he wouldn’t be bringing good news.
Too many loose ends right now. I wanted Cole back in so I could tend to the others. Emma had a sister and a man trying to get a hold of her. I’d sent my best to find answers, and I’d thought this last phone call would be him, not Gene.
Now Noah and Theresa were here in the city. That was another loose end I wanted tied up. Even though Emma had been quiet, I knew Theresa was someone she worried about. I’d kept surveillance on her over the last year, listened to her calls. She never met with any press or anyone in the government. Only Noah knew she was being watched. He understood the concern and had agreed, but I knew he was growing tired of the secret. It was one of the reasons he wanted her to move in with him. He wanted to protect her from me, shield her as much as he could, but she was fighting him.