“Tackle already told me he told you. There’s nothing for us to discuss.”
“Interesting that you believe he told me about you when he obviously didn’t tell you about me.”
I knew she was attempting to goad me into asking if the baby really was Tackle’s, and I had no intention of falling into her trap.
“You don’t think the baby is his, do you?”
“Who the father of my baby is, is none of your business.”
She smirked. “You know what I meant.”
“We’re done here.” I got the door partway closed when she held up her phone.
“I can prove it to you. I’m sure he’s frantic with worry since he flew all the way out to California to reassure me that he’d be there for me and our baby. I’ll just give him a call, and you can hear for yourself.”
I slammed the door before she could make good on her threat.
28
Tackle
“You’re sure she knew I was coming?”
Ranger glared at me.
“Answer me, goddammit.”
“Fuck off, Tackle.”
“Yes or no?”
“I already told you she did. More than once.”
“So where is she?”
“I wish I knew. Instead of me standing here while you grill me, wouldn’t it make more sense for me to get out there and look for her?”
I picked up the keys to the rental.
“You should stay here in case she comes back.”
After Ranger left, I called Sloane, who didn’t pick up. It didn’t surprise me since, by now, she would be shopping with her mom. I ended the call without leaving a message and called Nick, like I had been every fifteen minutes since I landed and Ranger told me she wasn’t at the house K19 had set her up in. This time, she answered.
“Nick? Where the hell are you?”
“I’m in Chicago.”
“Chicago? What the fuck are you doing there?”
“Why are you swearing at me?”
“Cut the innocent act. You knew I was coming here to see you, at your demand, I might add.”
“No one told me you were coming to California, so I was on my way to you.”
“In Chicago?”
“I had a layover. That’s when I got Ranger’s message that you were there.”
I didn’t believe a word she was saying, and I was getting angrier by the minute. “What’s it gonna be? Are you getting on a plane and flying back to California, or should I tell Doc and the other guys that you’ve decided to wing this on your own?”
“Calm down, Landry. I’ll catch the next flight out I can get.”
I ended the call and immediately called Sloane. Not only did I want to hear her voice, I had to warn her that Nick and I had crossed paths in the sky and I’d probably be here another day at least. I left a message when the call went straight to voicemail.
If you see Sloane, tell her I’m trying to reach her, read the text I sent to Cowboy three hours later.
Roger that, he responded.
When I still hadn’t been able to reach her an hour later, I called him. “Have you talked to Sloane?”
“No.”
“Where is she?”
“Out with her mom and dad.”
“Her mom and dad? Where?”
“They didn’t tell me where they were going.”
“She was supposed to be shopping with her mom.”
“She was. When they got back, they left again, this time with her dad.”
“When’s the last time you saw them?”
“A couple of hours ago.”
“You’re supposed to be on her detail, Cowboy.”
“What the hell, Tackle? Her dad told me to take the rest of the day off and get back to the job site. What was I supposed to do?”
“You didn’t think to run that past me?”
“I don’t work for you.”
Since he was right, I didn’t bother calling back when he hung up on me.
I spent the next hour trying to come up with a reason to call either of Sloane’s parents to tell her to turn her damn phone on. By then, Ranger was back with Nick, and she didn’t look the least bit contrite. He, though, looked ready to kill.
“I don’t know why you’re so mad,” she said to him. “It was a simple misunderstanding.”
“You knew Tackle was on his way here, and don’t try to play it off like you didn’t.”
“I’m telling you, I didn’t.”
When I saw the veins in his neck bulge, I stepped between them. “Why don’t you head out? I can take it from here.”
Instead of immediately turning to leave, he looked at Nick.
“It’s fine. Go.”
He nodded and walked out.
“What was that all about?” I asked her once the door closed behind him.
“Nothing.”
I got the feeling there was something up between her and Ranger but doubted either one would give me a straight answer about it.
“Let’s talk,” I said, motioning to the living room.
When she sat on the sofa, I took a seat in one of the chairs.
“Nick, I’m going to say this one more time and then that’s it. I got you away from Caruso, even worked it so the asshole went to jail with the help of Doc and the other guys. But now, I’m done. You’re safe, and I have my own life to lead.”
“I should never have agreed to come to California. I hate it here.” She studied her fingernails and then looked back up at me. “I’m bored out of my mind. I want to go home.”
“You’re the one who told me your husband had ‘connections,’ Nick. Have you forgotten that?”
“He’s in jail, Tackle. He can’t hurt me from there.”
“You don’t think any one of those connections would be capable of carrying out his wishes while he’s on the inside?”
She shrugged. “None of my friends are here, neither is my family.”
“Make new friends.”
“I’m not interested in new friends. I want to go back to Boston.”
“If that’s what you really want to do, I can’t stop you. But I’ll warn you, if you do, you’ll be on your own. No coming to me for help. I’m not doing this again, Nick.”
“I’ve made up my mind.”
“Okay, we’ll fly back together tomorrow.”
Nick smiled and clapped her hands. “Perfect.”
“One of the guys will bring you to the
