Wild Justice (Nadia Stafford 3)

"So I'm supposed to let him help us, thinking it means we have a chance of getting back together? I can't do that, Jack. I won't."

"Don't have to. Just keep telling him it's over."

"Jack, I can't--"

"You think he'd want to know? Now? No. Tell him later. Like it took time for us. Make it easier on him."

While Jack was right, I knew he didn't give a rat's ass about Quinn's feelings. He'd use whatever he could to convince me to keep quiet about us, if it might cost us Quinn's help.

I sat there, looking toward the window. A half hour ago, I'd been lying on this sofa, happy, so damned happy.

"Nadia . . ." Jack's voice softened and I could see him leaning over, trying to get my attention, but I just kept staring at the window.

"Nadia . . ." He reached for me.

I stood up. "You're right. I hate it. I absolutely hate it, but . . ."

I trailed off and just stood there, frozen again, ensnared in my thoughts, feeling . . . Feeling like shit. Like I was a shitty person doing a shitty thing to someone who really didn't deserve it.

"No," Jack said, pushing up. "You're right. We'll send him back to New York. He can work from there."

"That doesn't solve the problem, Jack. He still thinks we can work things out, when I'm already with someone else--"

"His problem. You told him it's over. Didn't do anything wrong."

"I feel--"

Jack stepped in front of me, hands on my arms. "I know you feel guilty. But you've got no reason to. It was over. Completely over. I wasn't making a move until you were sure of it and I was sure of it."

I inhaled. "I know. I just . . ."

"Still feel guilty."

I forced a smile. "I'm good at it."

"I know."

His hands slid around my waist. He leaned in and kissed me.

Quinn rapped at the door. I pulled away and answered while Jack headed back to the sofa.

"You know what would make this much easier?" Quinn said as I opened the door. "If you got me my own key card."

I sidestepped to block the look Jack shot him. Then I took the gift shop bag. "Let me get dressed and we'll talk."

I brought Quinn up to date on the night's attack.

As Jack expected, there was a lot Quinn could do. He took the cell phone first and tried it out.

"Yep, that's a password. A lot of times these are simpler to crack than you'd think. Once this is cracked, I'll run Koss's home number and cell against this phone's call list. I'll also run Koss's number separately and see if he placed a call during or after your meeting. And I'll see if that fake ID pops anything."

"Thank you." I glanced at Jack. "Do we want--?"

My cell phone rang. My personal one. I glanced down at the number.

"It's Koss," I said.

Quinn motioned for me to answer but hold it away from my ear. I was sitting on the chair. He moved over, perching on the arm. Jack stayed where he was.