Without slinking away like a coward the way he probably expected me to do, I swung my forearm up and collided it with his to remove his hand from my shoulder. All the while, I shot daggers at him with my eyes. However, it didn’t seem to faze him. Instead of reacting, he simply smirked and said, “I’m on my way to get some coffee. Why don’t you take my spot upstairs for now?”
I hated the way he made it sound like he was doing me a favor. As if this was a choice he’d made out of the kindness of his own heart. Then again, this was nothing new. This was exactly how I remembered him.
“Go ahead and print her a badge if you would, please, Darla.” He may have been speaking to the elderly woman, but he never took his eyes off me. “She’s been estranged from her mother for some time now, and I think the right thing to do would be to let her have a few moments to make peace with her, considering the severity of the situation.”
Finally breaking eye contact, I retreated one step and turned my attention to the woman with silver, wispy hair, who managed to avoid us while tapping on the keyboard. Within a few seconds, she had a printed visitor badge for me to stick on my shirt.
It took mental effort to lose the attitude when thanking her. After all, she wasn’t the villain here. She was simply an employee following the rules—who may or may not have become friendly with the heartless man in front of me.
When I moved to step around him, he held out his hand and caught me around the waist. Instinctively, I shoved against his chest, freed myself, and picked up the pace as I walked away. And once I reached the elevator banks, I took a deep breath and allowed the anxiety to dissipate.
Giving the tiniest space in my chest for pride to swell.
I didn’t back down. I didn’t cower in a corner or concede to his manipulation. It may not have been much, but it was enough to make me believe I could win.
I waited for the elevator with a smile on my face…and dread in my heart.
18
Cash
“You’re going back in there, right?” Stevie’s voice was full of concern as she strapped the car seat in the back of her Camry. “Like…you’re not leaving her in there all alone, are you?”
I glanced over my shoulder at the bright lights on the tall building while holding an almost-asleep two-year-old in my arms. “No, I just had to wait out here until you came. I sent her in to find out what she can and told her I’d find her after you leave. Why? What’s going on?”
Aria squeezed my neck as tight as her sleepy arms could, which only slightly distracted me from the panic emanating from Stevie. I held her close for a moment before I buckled her in the car. Once the door was shut, I leaned forward, nearly trapping Stevie between the vehicle and myself. I needed to get a good read on her expression, as well as make it clear that I expected answers.
“What’s going on, Stevie? Don’t bullshit me. Jade was apprehensive about going in alone, and now you’re acting like I have a reason to be concerned. Is there something you need to tell me?”
Her gaze shifted over my shoulder and then right back to me. She shook her head and dropped her attention to my chest. “No. She doesn’t deal well with hospitals. I think it has something to do with her dad dying. He was in a motorcycle accident and spent three days in the ICU before passing away, so this is probably bringing back those memories. I don’t think she should be alone, that’s all.”
Jade told me about her dad dying, how a driver had cut him off without paying attention and caused him to crash, but I’d never heard the part about his hospitalization until just now. I wanted to believe that was the reason for Jade’s hesitation, but something told me differently. However, the more time I spent out here, pushing Stevie for answers, the longer Jade was inside by herself.
I couldn’t risk getting in there late and missing Jade. The thought of having to wait for her to find me when she was done didn’t sit well with me. It was clear she needed me—or at least, someone—and I wanted nothing more than to be there for her.
“Thanks again for watching Aria. You’re a really good friend, Stevie.” I offered a half-smile and then opened the back door, finding an angel on the verge of sleep. “Night, Tyke. I’ll see you soon, okay?”
“Night, Daddy.” I swear, right or wrong, my heart grew impossibly larger.
I didn’t bother to look at Stevie as I closed the door and turned around. Whatever her feelings were in regard to hearing Aria call me “Daddy” were none of my concern. Instead, I allowed the euphoria to fill me as I made my way inside.
The sight of Jade’s long, curly, cocoa-colored hair from the entrance pulled me from the cloud I rode in on. I had her name on the tip of my tongue, ready to call it out to gain her attention, but before I could utter the first sound, I was stopped dead in my tracks. She was with a man, and it was clear to anyone watching that she was uncomfortable. When she tried to walk around him, the man reached out and touched her. My blood boiled at the sight, followed by a rush of blinding rage so hot it left my body ice cold. But before I could do anything, she pushed him away.
I couldn’t take my eyes off her as she ran around the corner, making sure she got away safely. Once she was out of sight, I pulled my attention back to the guy at the front desk. He leaned over the counter, saying something to the woman in front of the computer, but all I could see were his lips moving. I couldn’t hear his words, although whatever they were made her smile. After a quick laugh, he slapped the counter and turned to leave, heading straight for me.
My pulse strengthened, something I was used to in the field when on high alert, and I quickly ducked into the hallway before he could see me. As he approached, I studied him, really taking note of his features, almost memorizing every pore on his face, as if my instincts told me I needed this information. I recognized him from somewhere, but I couldn’t place it. His sharp, angular nose brought my attention to his thin lips. His chin came to a point, his jawline forming a V. There was something off about him. It was written in his sneer, resounded in every heavy step, and was reiterated by his rigid posture as he made his way to the exit.
“Oh, Mr. Pierce?” the woman from the desk hollered.
He turned around, but I didn’t hear anything else. I had seen him before, in the file I’d created during Jade’s background check. It had information on every person in Jade’s family, including her stepfather. Aside from having basic details on him, I didn’t know much else. But his face…I recognized that face.
And once I realized who he was, I couldn’t stop replaying their interaction from a few moments ago. The way he tried to grab her, touch her, how she pushed him away. I was aware they didn’t get along, so it wouldn’t have come as a surprise to most to witness her avoidance of him. But for me…I saw so much more.