3. John

CHAPTER 3

JOHN

The concerned look on GQ's face put me on edge. Our casual conversation about how fast kids grow was quickly forgotten when he stood from his chair and relayed what had happened.

The ride across town was filled with one-sided conversation, but no matter what he said, all I wanted to do was see Brent. And that was new territory for me.

"One of the perks of working for EHM is the condo. When we first moved the company here, we leased it so my team would have a place to stay. We still had outside contracts to fulfill, and I didn't want them to pay rent when they might not even be in town. When Simon was ready to sell, it made sense tax-wise to buy it from him."

"That's a pretty good perk," I agreed. "If you don't want privacy."

He smiled, then glanced over at me. "True. But you could live there if you take the job. But it would be with him. And Daredevil unless something changes."

I furrowed my brow. "You mentioned that yesterday. What could change?"

He sighed as he slowed at the light. "His brother is trying to buy a hockey team and wants him to come back to Chicago to help run it. I think he's considering it."

My eyebrows shot up. "They've got that kind of money?"

He nodded. "Yep. Texas oil family."

That made no sense. "Why the hell was he in the Navy if he had that kind of life waiting for him?"

"Austin didn't want it. Wanted to be his own man."

I chuckled and ran my hand over the back of my head. "Do you think he'll go back to Chicago?"

GQ gave me a sardonic smile. "Not if Greer Rowan has anything to do with it."

Before I could ask who Greer Rowan was, he turned into the parking area beside a residential building. It wasn't difficult to find where they were parked with the two police cars out front.

My eyes sought out the man I'd been waiting to see. The man ten years younger than me who'd caught my attention when we met a few years ago, then recaptured it in Vegas.

"John, you okay?" he said as he looked at me with a knowing smile.

Clearing my throat, I nodded. "Yeah, I was just getting a lay of the land." I was such a liar.

GQ laughed, bringing me back to the present. "You're gonna have to get out of the car for us to do our job."

Normally I would have barked out a harsh response to his smartass comment, but who was I kidding? My life was on hold until we talked. So instead, I got out, closed the door behind me, and smoothed down my shirt and dark jeans.

A wave of realization washed over me. Shaking my head, I chuckled at my ridiculous behavior. I was acting like I wanted to impress him. But reminding myself I'd already had Brent didn't quell the nerves. My hair had a little more gray than before, and deep down I hoped he still found that sexy.

When we closed the distance to the group, I looked over the faces of the men standing before me. But the one face I wanted to see wasn't there.

GQ spoke to the police officers while I looked around for him. While they filled him in, I looked at Daredevil. "Where's Brent?"

I was ninety-nine percent sure Austin knew what had happened between us that night in Vegas. He was at the club and watched us groping each other. It was embarrassing, really.

"Gone," he replied.

A pang of disappointment shot through me. "What do you mean gone?"

"I mean he's not here. His mother called right after he called GQ. Evidently his father was rushed to the hospital in Colorado Springs. So he left for the airport."

Concern and disappointment filled me as I ran my hand over my head. "What happened?"

"I have no idea. She called and asked him to come home."

Propping my hands on my hips, I wanted to go back to PDX and go with him. That was my big flaw. I tended to be overprotective, and I was almost positive he wouldn't like that.

GQ turned back to us after he ended his call.

"The dealership is sending two tow trucks." He looked around and frowned. "Where's Dreamboat?"

Daredevil explained the situation, making GQ frown. "It has to be bad for her to call him."

I was confused. "Why? The man is his father."

He nodded. "Yes, but it's his story to tell. Get enough alcohol in him and he'll sing like a canary."

I knew he was trying to lighten the mood, but I wasn't feeling it. "Should someone go with him?"

"No. If he needs us, he'll call," Daredevil added. "He's a grown man."

I raised one brow at his smart answer. But I let it go.

"Well, this day has already been a shit show." GQ looked at Daredevil. "You take my car, and I'll have Phantom drop us back at the office. It looks like we'll be rescheduling our meeting."

I ran my hands over my head. I detested feeling out of control, but this is what came with being emotionally invested in someone else.

It wasn't long before the tow trucks arrived and loaded the SUVs on the flatbed, leaving us free to head back to the office with Phantom. I heard them talking, but paid little attention to what was being said. I picked up bits and pieces of a conversation about Patrick Griffin's rehab after his automobile accident and the implications for the startup for Fallen Angel's late summer tour.

As I stared out the window unseeing as we made our way through downtown Portland, my mind kept wandering back to Brent. Why was his mother calling him such a big deal? I looked down at my phone and wanted to text him, but I didn't have his number. We'd never exchanged them in Vegas. No reason to, really. Even though I could ask GQ for it, I wouldn't put him on the spot, considering the circumstances. Brent had enough to deal with, but it still didn't keep me from worrying.

My mind continued to jump from one thing to the other until Phantom pulled up to the office. It was located in a gated, residential neighborhood behind Aidan and Marcus Monroe's home. The way GQ explained it Aidan wanted to be closer to home for their three children since Marcus still played for the Portland Pirates. I had to give it to the guy because I'd missed out on most of Laura's life. It was time I wished I could get back.

"We'll reschedule as soon as I hear from Dreamboat," GQ said to Phantom.

The big guy I knew to be a cyber specialist looked in the rearview mirror at me. "Glad to have you on the team, Commander. Don't worry about Dreamy, he'll be okay. We've got him."

I tried to smile and nodded. "Thank you. I guess we'll see what happens."

He chuckled. "That we will."

When he pulled away, GQ led me back into the office. It was quiet, so I knew we were alone. When we sat down in the comfortable chairs in the lobby area, he looked over at me.

"Why don't you come to stay with us at our apartment? We have more than enough room, and under the circumstances, maybe give Brent some time to get back here. I know that doesn't help with your decision."

Rubbing my fingers across my jaw, I wanted to ask for his number, but relented. "Okay. I'll stay with you and Dominick until we can talk face-to-face. "

GQ nodded. "Fair enough. Let's get your bag from the hotel, and then I'll take you for the best burger in Portland and get you set up with some contacts."

I nodded and got up. "Sounds like a plan."