Page 14 of Maverick
I took several deep breaths as my heart pounded. His appointment with the neuropsychologist couldn’t come fast enough. He hadn’t been combative like the hospital described, but his forgetfulness was concerning. We could have a full ten-minute conversation, then an hour later have the same conversation. And he had no idea.
Yesterday, I found a note in a drawer that he’d written to “the people living here.” He’d wanted to know whether they would bestaying for dinner, because their food kept going to waste. It was heartbreaking.
I walked through the kitchen and worked on a stir fry for lunch. The tension fell away as I focused on dicing and slicing. I rarely cooked at home. My meals were delivered by my nutritionist every week. This was fun though; maybe I could also try baking since I was falling off the low carb wagon.
I finished cooking and set the veggies to low to keep warm. The rice still had another ten minutes or so. My eyes darted around the kitchen, looking for something to pass the time when they landed on my laptop case. I’d set it on top of the refrigerator to keep it safe from Noodle but then forgot about it. This was the longest I’d gone without turning it on in… well, I couldn’t even remember.
I nibbled my bottom lip. I could turn it on for a few minutes. Yes, I was on leave, but if it was my choice to look, it was fine. I could check my emails, make sure there wasn’t anything too pressing. They might need me. Payroll went out yesterday; I should make sure everything went okay.
The case felt heavy in my hands as I pulled it down from the fridge and carried it to the table. The cold metal was a familiar comfort.Long time no see, old friend.My pulse raced as I opened the laptop and pressed the power button.
“Need any help with lunch?” Dad shuffled into the kitchen, wiping the sleep from his eyes.
I jumped in my seat, slamming the laptop closed.Focus, Kat!I’d spent years prioritizing my career over family.
“No, I’m good. The rice should be ready now if you’re hungry.”
Dad looked over at the laptop and back at me. “I hope you aren’t sticking around here on my account. If you need to go back, you go on. I was doing fine before you came down, and I’ll be doing fine after you leave.”
My heart clenched. It’s not like he’d had a choice before.
“No worries, Dad. They overworked me for years. I’m enjoying the break. In fact, I’m pretty sure it’s going to earn me a raise when I get back, now that they understand how much work I do for them.”
Dad grinned. “That’s my girl.”
“But you can help me with something, actually. I need to get my car serviced. I’m due for an oil change and tire rotation. I usually take it to the dealership, but I didn’t see one of those around here.”
Dad rolled his eyes. “I thought I taught you better than that. You never go to the dealer, they always charge too much. But I got a place.”
“Do you think I can get in sometime this week?”
“Katie girl, when I call them, they’ll fit you in after lunch.”
10
Maverick
Icleared my throat. “Look, man. Enough is enough. I’m tired. You’re tired. I’ve got shit to do. You’ve got…” I paused, taking in the battered man strapped to a chair.
Bear had worked him over good. His face was almost purple with one eye swollen shut and a few teeth missing. His chest was covered in bruises and dried blood, and based on the wheezing, he probably had a broken rib stuck in his lung.
“And you’ve got dying to do. Tell us what you were doing last night, and we’ll end it now. Keep up with this shit, and I’ll turn you over to him.” I nodded toward Blade, who was sharpening a long bowie knife. “This guy’s got all fucking day.”
The man spit on the floor. “Provalivai.”
Thank fuck. It was the first word he’d spoken in twelve hours, but it was enough. Baller had clocked the guy on one of our surveillance cameras. He’d come into the bar and nursed one beer over several hours. His focus stayed on the brothers and the door that led from the bar to the main clubhouse. The one thathad a special code on it. Eventually he made his move to sneak through the door behind a brother, but we were ready for him.
“He’s all yours.” I patted Blade on the shoulder as I opened the shed door. “Bear, come on. You’re with me.”
He huffed like a kid who had his toy taken away but followed me out. As much as I sympathized, I needed Bear working on the first real lead we had in months. We walked along the path in the woods toward the clubhouse. I’d have much rather been on the path that led to our sexy as hell temporary neighbor. I sighed. Maybe it was time to visit Ol’ Larry. I had plans for Kat, and our time was running out.
“You wanna clue me in, VP? He had at least two more rounds in him. He was starting to warm up to me.”
I shook my head. “He’s not going to talk. You heard what he said.”
“I heard something—provolone or some shit.”
I rolled my eyes. “He didn’t say provolone.” I opened the door to the clubhouse and led the way to my office. “He said, well, fuck, I don’t know what he said. But that’s because I don’t speak Russian.”
