10. Nash

CHAPTER 10

NASH

The name was barely out of my mouth before Spencer stomped back from the bathroom to my side of the bed, stubbing his toe on the bed frame. He jumped around, cursing for a minute, before sitting next to me. "Are you joking?"

I dropped the remote onto the mattress. "Why would I joke about that?" Seemed like a trivial detail to me.

"Caroline Bering-Turner is married to Senator Frank Turner. He's the senior senator from Georgia. I have a history with him." Spencer's announcement had me cocking an eyebrow at him.

"Not like that. I went against him during a vote a few months ago, and he's not one to forget. I wonder if he's behind all this bullshit?" I knew he wasn't asking me. Nevertheless, I wanted to help him.

"Uh, I could do some poking around with Caroline. If I get a few cocktails in her, she gets loose lips—and her lips want to wrap around my cock. She's been with most of the guys and some of the girls who work for her, but not me. I don't believe in mixing business with pleasure."

"Wait, you wouldn't— No, I can't ask you to sleep with her to get any information. That's unethical." Spencer's outburst made me want to laugh.

Ethics? He was worried about ethics? Someone had totally fucked him over and torpedoed his career, and he was worried about me doing something unethical to get information for him? Could he be for real?

"I don't know shit about ethics, okay? I know street justice, and if someone fucks with someone I c-c… Someone who doesn't deserve it, then they have earned whatever retribution is headed their way."

Was I going to say I cared about him? How the fuck could I care about him when I didn't know him.

No attachments. No regrets.

Getting involved in Spencer Brady's clusterfuck wasn't on my radar, so why was I putting myself out there to do something for him that I wouldn't even do for myself?

What the hell was going on with me?

Spencer was pacing the room as he furiously pecked into his phone. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. When he didn't move to answer it, I walked over and looked out of the peephole to see Vani standing at the door, fist cocked to knock again.

I unlocked and opened the door for her to come inside. I pulled on my shoes to give them privacy and took the elevator to the lobby to get fresh air. I walked out through the sliding doors, feeling the bite of cold on my cheeks. It was November in the mid-Atlantic, and as I was coming to learn, the weather could turn on a dime.

I saw a convenience store across the parking lot and decided beer sounded good, so I took the walk. I was still spinning as I considered the idea that I was not only attracted to Spencer Brady, but I genuinely cared about what happened to him and Vani.

Vanessa had explained to me earlier that they didn't have a typical marriage. She said they'd never had sex, which I found hard to believe, initially.

They were both gorgeous, but when she explained her sexual identity to me, I understood. While it was clear they loved each other, and they'd been together for a long time, which created an intimacy between them I'd never had with another soul, they weren't physically attracted to each other.

I couldn't say I was jealous of their relationship, but I was a little green-eyed when it came to his former lover, the news guy. It seemed like the reporter cut and ran when things got tough.

I pulled out my phone and scrolled through my contacts, finding a number I never thought I'd use. The offer—"If you ever need anything, make me your first call,"—would surely apply under the current situation.

"Hey, Nash. What's up?"

"You told me if I needed anything, I should call you. That still stand?" There was silence over the line.

I heard a car horn in the distance before his throat was cleared. "Yep. Where are you?"

"I'm in Blacksburg, Virginia. I'm with Senator and Mrs. Spencer Brady. They're my friends, and they're in a bind." I believed it only right to give him the option to say no.

"So, it's not for you? What's in it for me?"

Whatever it takes. "Whatever you want." The words came out easily. I never knew I had the ability to be self-sacrificing. I'd just learned something new about myself.

Wednesday morning, I took Vani and Spencer to campus so they could check on Jay. I waited outside on a bench in front of the dorm to give the family their privacy. The deep rumbling sound caught my attention before I saw the bike.

A sleek Road King glided into the parking lot adjacent to the dorm. Denver Wilkes stood from the huge bike looking in my direction. He took off the helmet, stashing it into the saddlebag, before striding to where I was sitting. The grin on his handsome face made me happy to see him.

"How'd you get away by yourself?" As the Road Captain for The Devil's Volunteers, a motorcycle club out of Sparta, Tennessee, he usually traveled with a large crew. It was a surprise to see him alone.

My time with the club was relatively short, but when I left for something else, I left a piece of my heart there with Clinton Barr—my best friend and mentor in the group home who had already phased out of the system.

Clint came back for me when I was fresh out of the system at eighteen, helping me survive the streets as we left Texas to start a new life anywhere but the Lone Star State.

We ended up doing some handyman work for the Volunteers that summer when we stopped in Sparta, and unlike me, Clint had taken to club life like a duck to water. Sadly, he was killed in an accident a few years earlier. Denver and Clint had been in a relationship at the time, and I knew Denver took it hard. I went back to Sparta for the funeral, and I'd hung with the guys for a few days to ensure Denver was okay. I rarely heard from him, but as he'd promised when I left after Clint's funeral, he was there if I ever needed him. And he'd kept his word.

Denver brushed his hand over the black leather jacket he was wearing, which contained no club markings. "Incognito, man. Not my first time around the block. How've you been, little brother?"

I hugged him, clapping him on the back a few times in return, hoping he knew how grateful I was that he'd come. "I've been fine, really. I sort of stumbled into this problem…"

Denver laughed. "What's her name? She the senator's daughter?"

Oh, shit. "Uh, no. See…" I mumbled, not sure how to explain things to him when he was looking right at me.

"Nash, dear, is this man giving you trouble?" Vani asked as she sidled up next to me and gave Denver a withering stare.

"Vanessa Brady, this is Denver Wilkes, an old friend of mine. He's, uh, passing through and stopped by to see me. Where's Spence?" I heard the nerves in my voice.

"He's talking to Jay. They had some air clearing to do. So, Mr. Wilkes, it's a pleasure to meet you. Nash is a wonderful guy. He was kind enough to drive us down from Northern Virginia. Our son was in an accident yesterday, and we were too upset to drive, so Nash, here, agreed to bring us. Would you like to go over to the food court to get a cup of coffee?" Vani gave us the up and down. I wasn't surprised she was suspicious. Denver was an intimidating guy at six seven. He was a bear of a man, who looked like he could snap me with two fingers.

Denver looked at me for guidance, so I nodded. "Yeah, let's go. Vani, send Spence a text where he can find us." Once she was finished, the three of us strolled across campus, Vani interrogating Denver like he was under a hot light in a police holding cell.

We went into a large building where, not surprisingly, tons of college kids were milling around a dozen food and drink options, finally taking a seat near a gourmet coffee cart. "I, uh, what can I get everyone?"

I worried about leaving Vani and Denver alone at the table. I wasn't afraid he'd say something to offend her. I was worried about what she'd do to him.

"I'll have a cappuccino with extra foam and brown sugar. Two lumps." Vani gave me a smile and batted her lashes.

I turned to Denver, seeing a smirk I didn't expect. "I'll have what the lady's having," he announced, bold as balls, the bastard. I shook my head and walked away, hoping Vani hadn't gutted him by the time I returned.

I ordered two cappuccinos and two regular coffees, preparing Spencer's the way I knew he liked. The young barista handed me a cardboard holder for the drinks, so I handed over a ten-dollar tip.

As I started to return to the table, I saw Spencer standing next to Vani's chair, looking none-to-happy at the sight of the massive man who was sitting next to his wife. Again, another red flag. Maybe he was less gay than he thought?

I hurried over, placing the cardboard carrier on the Formica to get everyone's attention. "Spence, this is an old friend of mine, Denver Wilkes. Denver, this is Senator Spencer Brady." I was sure Vanessa had already dispensed with the pleasantries, but I hoped my introduction would cut the tension I sensed, based on the expression on Spencer's face.

"Yes, so I've been told. It's nice that your friend stopped to see you. How did he know where to find you?" Spencer's question came out through clenched teeth.

"Tracking software. Little brother didn't even know I had it installed in his phone, but I wanted to be able to find him if he needed me," Denver answered. I knew that was bullshit because I'd bought a cheap piece-of-crap phone when I went to work for Caroline so she could get in touch with me when I had a job. I seriously doubted Denver knew how to work a smartphone, much less track me from it.

Spencer stared at me for confirmation, so I nodded. I wanted Spence to trust Denver because I knew he'd be able to help us out. He didn't know shit about technology, but Denver had told me the club had a new member—okay, he said geek —who could work miracles. I just needed to know who sent those pictures to the media back in August that led to the scandal, and then, who followed up by sending the rest of the photos to NBS which cost Blaire Conner his job.

We all sat at the table in the food court, making small talk for about an hour. Spencer cleared his throat. "So, uh, I guess we better get on the road, team, huh? It'll be late when we get home."

I felt Denver grab my arm. "Didn't you tell them you're going with me?" I nearly did a spit-take as I tried to swallow my coffee. It was news to me that I was going anywhere with Denver.

Before I could say anything, Denver took my hand. "We have some things to discuss. He'll be in touch." He glared at me. "Let's get your stuff and head out. It's a five-hour ride." Denver's announcement was for the benefit of our companions, I was sure.

"Oh, uh, yeah. We'll walk with you. Here are the keys." I handed Spence the keys to the SUV. We walked out to the vehicle, and I grabbed my duffel, slipping the strap over my torso. I was going to be riding the bitch seat for five hours to Sparta and not thrilled about it at all—especially in November.

Vani wrapped her slender arms around my neck. "You stay in touch, Nash. I don't like this one bit, but you're an adult. Please, don't ghost us." I nodded and broke the hug.

I turned to face Spencer, seeing him side-eyeing Denver. Of course, the larger man was fighting a smile, seeming to pick up on the sexual tension between Spencer and me. I couldn't wait to hear what he had to say about it.

"I'll call you. I owe Denver a debt, and I'm going to pay it." I sounded cryptic, but if he knew what I was going to do to get the information I wanted, he probably wouldn't be happy.

"Be safe. Stay in touch with Vani." Spencer's response was more of a demand, though he seemed to try to distance himself from me.

It wasn't what I expected, and not what I wanted to hear from him. The previous night after I returned with a twelve-pack, the three of us played cards and drank beer, gossiping about people we knew in DC.

I had walked Vani back to her room, and she'd told me she thought I was good for Spencer. It made my heart beat a little faster but hearing Spence tell me to stay in touch with his wife had me wondering if I'd mistaken any attraction between us.

"Yeah. You guys okay to get back?" I shook his hand, feeling a tingle up my arm at the contact.

"We'll be fine. You stay safe on the back of that rolling casket." Spencer glanced to where Denver was waiting for me by his bike.

"It's no more dangerous than…" I started, remembering how Clint had died. A trucker hauling a load of sheep fell asleep behind the wheel and ran Clint off the road on I-81. It was late at night and there was fog, according to Denver, but my friend was just as dead.

"We'll be careful. I'll be back to DC in a few days." I meant it from the depths of my heart.

Spence pulled me in and hugged me. "We just started getting to know each other. I feel like things are unfinished, but you do what you must. Take care." He kissed my temple and stepped back, waving to Denver as he walked to the passenger's side of the vehicle, helping Vani inside.

I headed across the parking lot where Denver was waiting. He handed me a helmet and a set of black leather fringed gauntlets. "Here. It's gonna be cold as fuck. Hang on and remember to lean with me. We're not going far." I had no idea what Denver meant, but he pulled his helmet on, and we were on the road before I could ask.

I was surprised when we drove about fifteen miles down the highway and pulled into the parking lot of a Best Western. There were three other bikes on the lot, and a couple of guys sitting outside the rooms in chairs on the sidewalk, smoking and drinking in the frigid afternoon air. "I thought you said you came alone." There was a mic in my helmet, which surprised me. The fact Denver had Bluetooth blew my mind. I'd never call any of The Volunteers tech savvy.

"Well, you needed to track down information, and you needed it faster than we used to be able to get it in the old days, so come say hello. You and I will talk later." His response echoed in the helmet.

I had no idea what was going to happen, but I'd set things in motion. If I wanted to help Spencer, I had to commit to the task completely.