My life was on hold.
Greyson wasn’t home, but he’d been here since I left. I could tell by the way things were arranged. By the folders left out.
He didn’t expect me back here. I was supposed to be heading to the hotel tonight, and I’d counted on it. Retrieving my stuff was just an excuse.
I looked down at my phone and bit my lip. This wasn’t going to be enjoyable.
I want something to hold over Fitzgerald. Get it to me, Jo. I hate to harm my own brother.
A single text from my uncle told me what I had to do. It reminded me why I was here with Greyson. I swore Uncle Dennis wouldn’t hurt me or my father, but from the threat I could tell I was wrong.
I’d underestimated the man, but I couldn’t afford to do that again. I wasn’t here because I got to be with Greyson but because I had to steal from him. I didn’t want to help my uncle, but I had no choice.
Grabbing my things was all an excuse to get me back into the apartment when he wasn’t expecting it. I had to do the one thing I didn’t want to. The one thing I’d been sent to do. I had to get information.
My uncle wanted information, and he was expecting me to get it. He’d threatened me, my father. I knew that he would make good on those promises.
If I just gave him what he wanted he would leave me in peace.
He would leave my family in peace.
I walked towards the folders on the coffee table and sat down. Research was my forte, and this was going to be easy. It would take time, but not as much as pulling documents from an archive.
Two hours later I had nothing. I leafed through each document. Invoices, employment records. It was all mundane. Nothing that was going to help me at all.
Dammit.
I stood up and sighed. I needed a drink.
I padded out to the kitchen and grabbed the rum that I knew was in the freezer. I’d put it there two nights ago. What I needed was a mojito.
Just as I grabbed a glass I heard the door shut.
“Joanna?” Greyson’s voice called from across the room.
“Yeah, I’m here.” I tucked my hair behind my ears and set the unopened bottle back in the freezer. “Had to bring back my things from the office.”
“So it’s done?” he asked as he entered the kitchen.
I nodded.
“It doesn’t have to be forever, Jo. I told you, we just need to be married long enough to appease our families, then we can walk away and you can get back to your life.” Why did it sound like he didn’t want that?
Did I?
“Can we not think about that right now?” I said as I wrapped my arms around him.
“We can do whatever you want.”
“How about a shower, you’re sweaty.”
“I was working out at the gym down in Glen Burnie.”
“You drive all the way down there?” I asked.
“I made a promise, and besides, it’s close to work.”
I nodded. “How about that shower?” I asked.
“I’ll get it started,” said, but I stopped him, and pulled him close.
“Let me undress you,” I said as I started stripping off his clothing. It didn’t take long, but it was all I could think of. If I could get his cellphone, I could get what my uncle wanted.
I kissed his neck as I stripped off his shirt and then started working on his pants. I pushed them down along with his boxers. It was a job only I could do, but damn, if I didn’t enjoy it.
“You’re in a hurry to get me naked, aren’t you?” he asked.
I nodded.
“Go turn on the shower?” I asked.
“What are you going to do?”
“Pour you a drink.” I grinned.
“Deal.” He turned and walked out of the kitchen leaving me alone with his discarded clothing. It only took me a second to rifle through his pants and find what I was looking for. His phone.
I grabbed my cellphone and dialed my uncle. “I have his work phone,” I whispered. “Is that enough?”
“That’s perfect,” he said.
“I need you to send someone to meet me, and you have to get it back to me, can you do that?”
“How long do I have?”
“An hour, two at most.” I said, honestly.
“I’ll send a delivery by right now.”
“You have a guy?” I asked.
“I always have a guy,” Dennis answered. He hung up the phone, and I walked out to the wet bar, pouring that drink I promised.
I jumped when I heard the knock on the door.
“I’ll get it!” I said, “Mary said she was having last minute arrangements sent to the apartment,” I shouted towards the shower.
Greg was waiting at the door. He was my oldest cousin.
“You were quick,” I said as I handed him the phone.
“Returned invitations, you need to call Meg and Sarah and let them know about the wedding.” Meg and Sarah were my cousins over in Bowie.
“Gotcha. I need that back. Soon.”
“Shouldn’t take more than fifty minutes. Travis knows what he’s doing,” Greg whispered.
I closed the door and set the invitations on the coffee table.