Tackle (K19 Security Solutions 9)

“What happened when you were there?”

“Nick said she wanted to move back to Boston. I told her I believed it would be dangerous for her to do so. She said she’d made up her mind and that was what she was doing.”

“What else?”

“I told her if she did, I wouldn’t step in to help her again. Nor would K19.”

“I guess she did it anyway.”

“She probably thought I was bluffing. I guess it didn’t take long for Caruso’s crew to find her.” I shook my head, wishing she’d just listened and stayed in California.

“He probably thinks it was Nick who got him arrested.”

I agreed.

“Go check on her,” said Sloane.

“Absolutely not. One, I’m not leaving you. Two, your brother is down there, seeing what he can find out. Three, I warned her, and she refused to listen.”

“No guilt?”

“More like no regret. Doc told me early on that I needed to separate myself from her, not let her manipulate me. I feel as though that’s exactly what she did.”

“She didn’t get her way, though.”

“You’re right. She never would’ve either.”

“Tackle, can you do something for me?”

“Of course.”

“You said Knox was seeing what he could find out.”

“That’s right.”

“Have him ask about a baby.”

Sure, it bothered me that Sloane didn’t believe me when I told her Nick wasn’t pregnant, but asking for that little bit of reassurance for her, certainly wouldn’t hurt me. Instead of texting Halo, I called him and put the phone on speaker.

“Any word?”

“Not yet. They won’t let me back there, which isn’t a surprise.”

“If you’re able to talk to anyone, ask if she’s pregnant.”

“Pregnant?”

“She told Sloane she was.”

“Let me guess. Your baby?”

“I saw her a few hours after your sister did, and she didn’t look at all pregnant. Sloane said she did.”

“Easy enough to shove a pillow under your sweater, I guess.”

Sloane rolled her eyes. “Like I wouldn’t have known the difference, Knox.”

“Aren’t there costumes or something that you can wear to make you look pregnant?” he asked.