The Damaged (The Insiders Trilogy 2)

I guess we were now, and I didn’t mean that in a snarky way. I meant that in a belated, I-feel-like-shit way, because I hadn’t even thought about offering. I was glad Erik did, and I felt his eyes on me as I was thinking all of this.

“Where are you going?” Liam had migrated over after the call.

Melissa shot straight up. “Girls’ night. You’re not invited. And I hope we go to Naveah at some point.” She leaned into me, her side brushing my arm. “That would be amazing.”

I gave Liam a grin as we started to head out. “This’ll be awesome.”

He grinned back. “Have fun.”

We went outside and got in the waiting SUV. The guys all sat in the front while Melissa and I were in the back.

“Where to?”

Melissa gave him directions to her apartment and my phone was buzzing as we started going. Kash.

You’re with the girls tonight?

I reiterated about Tamara.

That sucks. How was your day?

He asked the same thing every day, once I got into the vehicle. And it always had the same effect; pure golden warmth washing through me.

Day was good. Did you catch any more Calhoun moves and counter them?

I asked every day. This was another routine I’d fallen into.

Every day. I’ll be working from the Naveah office tonight if you’re there.

My heart fluttered.

I’m sure that’ll happen. Torie said dancing.

And Naveah was one of the hot spots to dance at in Chicago.

If you go to Octavo, tell me. I know the owners, but I want extra security on you if you go there.

Me: Okay. I’m sure we’ll stick to Naveah tho.

Kash: Still.

Me: Okay. Love you.

Kash: Love you. Have fun tonight.

Me: Please don’t work so hard.

Kash: I won’t. Love you.

I noticed Melissa watching me as I put my phone away.

“What?”

She had a weird look in her eyes, one I’d never noticed before. She shook her head, her mouth twitching. She kept looking at where I’d stowed my phone away. “Nothing.”

I saw the grin. I also saw the fight to keep it back, and I rolled my eyes. “He’s my boyfriend.”

“He’s one hot boyfriend.”

Melissa’s grin was wide. It kept widening until we got to her place.

She lived in a cute smaller apartment building that housed ten units. There was a buzzing system. The front door was locked, but once we got inside, the only other security was the apartment door. As we walked in, two doors opened and I was staring at two elderly residents. One was a man wearing suspenders, a stained white muscle shirt, and baggy jeans that were only held up because of the suspenders. His hair was a mess, with two days’ worth of beard on his face. The other resident was an older woman. Her hair was wrapped up in a fancy up-do, dyed black, and she had a heavy dose of makeup on her face. Her mouth had eight coats of red lipstick and there was an equal number of coatings of blush on her cheeks. Unlike the guy, she was dressed to impress. A suit jacket and skirt, both a lavender color with white lace fringe. She was just missing lavender high heels. She had pink fuzzy slippers and cotton between her toes.

She was getting a pedicure.

“Liss, who’s this?” From the woman.

“This is a classmate of mine!” Melissa was bouncing, still grinning, and her elbow jostled me. “Get this, Esther. We’re going drinking, dancing, and Taco Bell. I’m going on a girls’ night.”

The alarm faded from Esther and her smile softened. “You deserve it, Liss. You’re a good girl. A night out having fun is something you should’ve been doing for ages.” Her sharp eyes went to me. “You take care of our girl. You hear?”

I opened my mouth.

Melissa got there first, saying, “No. We’re totally covered. Bailey’s got guards on her at all times. I thought it was only three, but we got in her car today and I saw she had a driver too, so four. It was two before, but this week’s been four. We’re safe. Totally.”

Esther’s eyes had started to wander, but at the mention of my guards, they were razor-sharp again. “Four?”

The guy harrumphed, “Guards? Why the fuck you need guards?”

“Harold,” Esther hissed. “Language. They’re still young.”

“Excuse me.” His hands went to his suspenders and he arched his back, then bellowed out, “Four fucking guards? Why the fuck you need four fucking guards?” He aimed a glare across the hall. “That better for you, Est?”

She sucked in a breath and looked to be counting under her breath. After a bit, she nodded at me. “You keep her safe or you’ll deal with us. Don’t care who you are. We’ll get to that another time, and why you need four guards, but I got bridge tonight and need to head out of here.”

Her door was closed and Harold guffawed. “Don’t know why she’s in such a hurry. She’s only walking to A2. It’s the building next door. We’re the B building. And she don’t need to dress so hoity-toity. Only does it to rub it in the other ladies’ faces that her husband was a banker. I know she does it to piss Gail off. She’s married to Henry, who once made a play for Esther. Esther wasn’t having it, but she doesn’t want to quit bridge. You play bridge, and you learn it’s the social hour around these parts for us. Every Friday night together. Damned ruthless over there sometimes.” He took a beat and focused on me. “Why do you need guards on you?”