Page 15 of Christy

CHAPTER SIX

There’s a moment almost every family dinner where I think you’re pretty fucking smart, but then you open your mouth and prove me wrong. Every fucking time.

~Text from Max to Ry~

Max

The last couple of days have been fucking fantastic. After spending the whole day together, Christy and I have met every evening after work, and it’s been great. We’ve talked a lot, and I feel like I understand her and her fears so much more than before. I also promised to bring her to the family dinner tomorrow at Ma and Pa’s. I know most of the family by now knows that we were seeing each other, but I never want Christy to feel like a dirty secret again.

Even though it’s Saturday, I’ve got to go into the office for a few hours to catch up on things. I promised to just spend the morning here so I can take Christy for a ride in the afternoon. I left her asleep in my bed, and it took all I had in me to get out and not stay there with her.

I get into my office, sit down, and start up my computer when my phone dings with an incoming text. I’m expecting it to be Christy with a good morning text, but as soon as I unlock my phone, I realize I’m wrong.

Unknown number: We need to push that timeline up. Things are moving.

Me: How soon are we talking about?

Unknown number: It’s gotta happen today, as in I’ll be there in twenty… thirty minutes max.

Me: That doesn’t give me time to set up anything.

Unknown number: It has to happen now, or we’ll lose our window forever.

Me: Fuck. If my woman comes after me after all this, I’m throwing you under the fucking bus. I don’t care if it makes the one you want stop talking to you.

Unknown number: Only you would threaten a federal officer, Weston.

Me: That has nothing to do with it, and it’s not a threat. It’s a fucking promise.

Unknown number: Whatever. Be ready. We’ve got to move as soon as we get there.

Fuck. Christy might just actually kill me this time. If she doesn’t, Jon just might.

Christy

I wasn’t totally surprised when I woke up alone in Max’s bed. He told me he needed to go into the office this morning to catch up on a few things, but promised to be back in time for a ride this afternoon.

After I got up and got ready for the day, I tried to sit and read, but it just wasn’t happening. I quickly grabbed my stuff and found myself in my car heading toward town.

It takes me just a few minutes to get to my destination. I grab a couple of Max’s favorite breakfast burritos, a coffee for myself, and his favorite energy drink. I pull out of Sooner or Later and drive the few minutes over to Max’s office. I know Haley won’t be in, because Max insists the weekends are for her to spend with her little boy, Benji.

I pull in and park next to Max’s bike. I grab the food and drinks and head to the building. There are other offices in the building, so it’s pretty common for there to be a few vehicles in the parking lot. I make my way inside the building. As soon as I open the door, I walk into what feels like a wall but makes a sound. “Oof!”

I look up and realize I crashed into Tripp. I look past him and see the lobby is filled with Ben, Mike, and Erik. They’re all on their phones and look worried, immediately making me question why they’re here. Before I can ask anything, Tripp speaks up.

“What are you doin’ here, darlin’?” I look at him and the other guys who are waiting for my answer. I hold up the bag. “I was bringing Max some breakfast while he catches up on work. Why are you guys here, and where’s Max?”

I move to walk over to his office, but Erik steps in front of me, blocking my way. “We came to look over some papers of mine that Max has.”Okay.

That doesn’t tell me much other than why the hell they’re here. I may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but I know something’s wrong and worryingly wrong.

“So you answered me why you’re all here, but where’s Max, and what aren’t you telling me? Where. Is. He?” I watch as the guys look at each other and do that silent communication thing that normally impresses me, but today has me wanting to yell at these guys. I normally would say they are good guys, however, today I’m about to call them all a bunch of fucking assholes. All of them.

Mike speaks up. “Max isn’t here. We don’t know where he is. His bike is outside, but he’s not here.” I look at Mike, trying to gauge what he’s not saying, but I don’t know him well enough to really get a feel for it.

I hear Ben behind me say that Pa, Jon, and some other brothers are on their way over here, but I’m not gonna wait when noone is telling me anything. I bet they haven’t looked in his desk, especially where he keeps his file of threats that he’s gotten from people. The man’s a criminal defense lawyer. He’s got some people out in the world who’d like to do him harm.

I interrupt their conversation because they’re just stalling for time. “Have you found his phone or his file of threats he’s received?” This gets their attention, and Erik moves right in front of me again.