57. Zane

57

ZANE

"This is not the kind of boy's night I'm familiar with."

Jace laughs. "You're the dad of a four-year-old now. You better get familiar with it. Little boys think homemade slime is the coolest shit ever."

I grab my duffel from the passenger seat and climb out of the car. Practice was a bitch today and I need a long, hot shower. Preferably with Mira under the spray with me.

"This Friday?" I ask, thinking through the schedule in my head. "We have a game."

"Which is why Rachelle will be the master of ceremonies for this sleepover," he explains. "Gallagher has decided hockey is boring and begged her not to make him go to the game this week. Like the wonderful godsend of a mother that she is, she caved and suggested a sleepover instead. Between you and me, I think she just wanted to stay home so she can finally watch the finale of The Bachelor . Either way, Aiden's was the first name out of Gallagher's mouth when she asked who he wanted to invite."

The first few days of school were rough on Aiden. He was worried about making friends and had a hard time with the new schedule. But within a week, he'd hit his stride.

He's doing well in school, he is happy and playful at home, and he's settled into my group of friends like he's been here his whole life.

It feels really fucking good.

"It'll give you and Mira some alone time," Jace adds, unnecessarily sweetening the pot. "We'll keep the boys as late as you want Saturday morning. We can even drop him off at your place."

"Alright, alright, I get it. You're desperate to hang out with my cool kid."

He barks out a laugh. "This is what is known as ‘the long con,' my friend. I watch your kid for the weekend now. Later, you are obligated to repay the favor. This is just a down payment for me."

I punch in my passcode for the resident's entrance and bite back a groan when I see the Out of Order sign slapped on the elevator. Today was leg day and my quads are dead. I shuffle to the stairwell.

"Long con or not, you've got a deal. Aiden still doesn't love the big crowds at the game, so if he's at your house, that means Mira can come watch me play."

"And seeing you on the ice will get her all hot and bothered and you can take her home and?—"

"We get it," I interrupt.

Aiden is at preschool for two more hours. If Mira is home, then I'll have just enough time to get her in that shower before I need to go pick him up.

"It's not every day I get to be my winger's wingman. Mostly because, in all the years I've known you, there's never been a woman for you to woo."

It's starting to sound like Jace has read the same articles Daniel has. I had no idea all of my friends were such mushy monogamists.

Or that I'd turn into one right along with them.

"Yeah, well… There's one now. Will be for a while."

I can practically hear Jace's smile over the phone. "Fuck yeah, man."

He says Rachelle will text the sleepover details later, and I hang up just as I reach the landing.

"I'm Zane's assistant, not hers ." Hanna's voice echoes around the curve of the hallway, as sharp as the click of her heels against the tile. "I don't get paid to pass messages along to the nanny."

I frown and move silently down the hallway.

After I told Hanna a few weeks ago not to show up at my apartment unannounced, she's kept her distance. Purely professional emails. Brief, informational phone calls when absolutely necessary.

So what is she doing here now?

"I've knocked. She isn't here," Hanna snaps. "And I don't want to get fired, so I'm not giving you the address. Whatever you have going on with his nanny, sort it out on your own time."

I round the corner and Hanna jumps out of her skin.

"What in the hell is going on?"

She silently panics for a few seconds and then chirps, "Please hold," into the phone before slapping her hand over the mouthpiece. "Zane. Hello."

"You aren't supposed to be here."

"I know how this looks, but I'm not dropping in. I didn't even bring my key."

"It doesn't matter. I changed the locks."

Something unreadable flashes across her face before she continues. "I didn't come here on business or to talk to you. I'm here to talk to the nanny." Hanna doesn't quite nail the casual tone she's going for. "Some guy has been calling me nonstop trying to talk to her."

I bristle. "What guy?"

She shrugs. "I don't know and I don't care. I told him I'm your assistant, not hers, but he won't give it up and she won't return my emails. I thought I'd come here and let her talk to this guy, but she isn't home."

After days of Mira coming on my cock with my name on her lips, I should be able to ignore another man trying to get in touch with her.

But I'm clearly not as evolved as I thought I was.

I snatch the phone out of Hanna's hand. "Who is this?"

"Who is this ?" a deep voice parrots back. "I'm looking for…" He pauses over the name. "Mira McNeil."

"Who are you?"

"Are you Zane Whitaker? I saw photos of her with your son," the guy says, not answering the question. "I've been looking for her for a long time."

"Why have you been looking for her?"

There's a pause before… "It's private."

"So is the personal information of my employees unless I have a good fucking reason to share it."

"She's family," he finally says. "She's been missing for a long time. I'm trying to put together a reunion."

Mira has never breathed a word about her family. And that is not by accident. She aggressively dodges the question anytime it comes up. Now, this guy appears and barely even knows her name?

Whoever he is, family or not, I know for a fact Mira doesn't want to see him.

"You're out of luck."

"I know she works for you." There's a dark undertone to his words. An unspoken threat that has my hackles rising.

"She used to work for me," I lie. "I found her through an agency. Then she let paparazzi get too close to my kid, and I fired her. I haven't seen her since the day those photos were taken."

"Do you have her new number? Or her address?" he asks. "Your assistant thought she still lived with you."

"Don't call this number again."

"I'm going to find her one way or?—"

I hang up and hand Hanna her phone back before I accidentally crush it in my fist. "If he calls again, don't talk to him. Forward it to me."

"You don't want to know why he's looking for her?" she asks.

"Just forward the calls to me, and—" I clench my jaw. "—don't tell Mira about this."

She's been on edge since all of the articles started popping up online. Things are just starting to ease back to normal. I don't want to freak her out over nothing.

Besides, it doesn't matter. I'm not going to let that motherfucker anywhere near her.