When I walked into the office, everyone was standing around grumbling as they drank their morning cup of coffee. I smiled and tried not to act too eager about getting back to my office. I wanted to check my email. I hadn’t been online since yesterday afternoon, and I was curious to see if Kane had messaged me back.
As soon as I sat down at my desk, I saw that I had a message in my inbox. I anxiously clicked the button to open my emails, and his name was the first one that caught my attention.
May 2, 2015
9:45 p.m.
Kane Blackwood
SF Construction
Like that I’m getting to you, babe.
Night.
*
May 3, 2015
9:08 a.m.
Allison Parker
Department of Children’s Services Morning, :)
Hope you’re having a good day. I’ve been thinking about you. Wondering if you’re as good with your hands as you say you are….
*
Just as I was about to click the send button, Neil walked into my office, interrupting my train of thought. “Daniel sent over the changes to the blueprints this morning. Have you had a chance to look them over?”
“I was just about to ask you about that. Do we really have to take out the meeting room?” I asked with a sad sigh.
“Allie, it’s just not in the budget. If you can find a way to fund it, then you can have him put it back in the plan,” Neil said as he leaned against my doorframe. His arms were crossed and resting on his protruding belly. I had to fight the urge to roll my eyes at him.
“Maybe we could reduce the size of the fitness center,” I suggested.
“We’ve already made that deal with Health and Fitness Retro. We can’t risk losing their sponsorship.”
“You’re right. I just hate to see things get taken away. We’ve worked so hard. I want everything to be perfect.”
“Focus on finalizing the bids. I want to have it on my desk by Friday afternoon. I need to check everything over before the board sees it on Monday,” Neil told me.
“I’m meeting the contractor on Thursday.”
“Be ready to present any new ideas to them on Monday. They’re eager to hear what you’ve been working on.”
“I’ll have everything ready,” I promised.
He nodded and stepped into the hall. “Looking forward to it,” he called back.
I turned back to my computer and started to gather my files.
May 3, 2015
12:25 p.m.
Kane Blackwood
SF Construction
Are you questioning my abilities, All-Star?
*
May 3, 2015
1:10 p.m.
Allison Parker
Department of Children’s Services I know better than that.
*
May 3, 2015
1:15 p.m.
Allison Parker
Department of Children’s Services Anyway, Mr. Confident,
I am actually looking forward to seeing you live up to this reputation of yours. :) *
May 3, 2015
1:35 p.m.
Kane Blackwood
SF Construction
Ms. Curiosity,
I will. Don’t you worry about that, sweetheart.
*
I was trying to think of a flirty response to Kane’s last email when a text message from my brother popped up on my phone. My heart dropped. I hadn’t heard from him in weeks and seeing a phone number I didn’t recognize really made me start to worry. There had to be something wrong. There was a time that I’d thought Tony was the best brother in the world. I’d looked up to him and thought he would always be there to protect me. In his defense, I think he tried. I knew a part of him worried about me, but his life had taken a different turn than mine. He didn’t want me involved in the things he was dealing with, so he pulled away from me… only sending text messages or emails to keep in touch. I hated it. He was the only family I had left, and he chose drugs and money over me. It hurt.
Need to talk to you. It’s important.
T
*
Well, shit. That didn’t sound good. I had to wonder if he was in some kind of trouble. The last time we talked, I could tell that he was upset about something. He wouldn’t tell me what was going on, but I could see the concern in his eyes. I didn’t think twice about confirming that I would be there. He was the only family I had left. I had to help him if he needed it.
*
Chapter 4
Guardrail
?
“Need to know where we are with Tony,” Cotton told me. As club president, he ruled with an iron fist. When he gave an order, he expected results… immediate results, and I had nothing. He was depending on me to deal with Tony, and I could tell he was getting restless.
“Meeting the sister today,” I told him assertively. “I’ve got this, Pres.”
“We’ve got to make an example of him, Kane. No one fucks with the club… no one.” The deep crow’s feet around his dark eyes crinkled as anger crept over his face.
“He’ll slip up, and when he does, I’ll be there. You can count on that,” I told him, trying to reassure him.