Miah-1(Lane Brothers, Book 2)(25)
“And the other?”
“Roman’s in with the dirty cops and they should invite him to a meet sometime soon. We’re hoping they let their guards down and take him into the fold.”
Not that I’m counting on that happening yet. These cops are smart and organized and vet their members very well. I suspect that they’ll want him to prove himself before they let him into the inner sanctum, but as opposed as I am to it, it seems to be the only option left to us.
My superiors have vetoed sending another operative in, so it’s just me and Roman right now, unless something big goes down soon.
“Tell him to watch his six.”
“Will do. Gotta go, bro. I have a scene to process.”
It’s a lie and he knows it, but I can’t tell the guy half the things I do because as close as we are in the field, this stuff is still classified enough that if I tell them too much, I could face a lot worse than a court-martial if it gets out.
“So, we ready to start making things happen?”
“Yes, Mr. Impatience, let’s go see if we can stir the pot and be home on time for dinner. Ma’s making meatloaf.”
***
Clara
Someone’s watching me and I know it. I just don’t know what to do about it since I’m standing on the main sports field right now with a class full of kids doing PT drills.
My first impulse is to hustle them and myself back to the main class area to escape the feeling of some freak’s oily eyes all over me. I choose to stay where I am, instead, and keep the kids moving through the routine while I glance around covertly, hoping to get a look-see of the idiot.
It takes another twenty minutes before all the kids have hula-hooped, skipped, and completed the ball skills program, and I reach my class with a sigh and a feeling of relief that has my knees shaking.
I’m about to get my phone and call Miah when I feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end and I turn to see Nick standing in the doorway, his eyes smiling as he takes me in and says hello to the kids.
“What are you doing here?” I hiss once I’ve given my class enough work to keep them busy and pull him out into the hallway.
Nick, as usual, ignores the irritation I’m not trying to hide and shrugs easily.
“You haven’t returned my calls and you sent the clothes back, Clara.”
“Because I told you I didn’t want them and I asked you to leave me alone, Nick. Jesus, can’t you just take a hint for once? We are over. Done. Caput. I am not coming back to you, ever, and it’s time you got that through your thick skull.”
He’s not used to this level of ferocity from me, and I see it in the way his eyes stretch before narrowing on me in that way that tells me his temper is piqued. He’s not usually violent, but Nick is no pushover.
“You’re making a mistake here, Clara, and I won’t let you continue to be unreasonable. We belong together, and it’s time that you realized that,” he says, attempting to grab my arms.
I dart to the side and face him with a look that would strip paint.
“Don’t you dare touch me. We are so done, it’s not even funny, and you want to know why I say that, Nick? Because I’ve moved on. Yes, that’s right. I am not single anymore or on the market for whatever it is that you seem so fixated on. Stop watching me, calling me, and sending me things, Nick. I’ll say it again. We are through, and we have been for a long time.”
His eyes lose that cajoling twinkle and he takes a step closer, raising his hand.
“Miss Elms, you know that family is not allowed on school grounds unless vetted by myself or the vice principal.”
My heart stops clambering in my chest when Principal Jones comes stalking our way, her heels clicking over the floor with enough force to echo off the walls.
Nick drops his hand and plasters a smile across his face before turning away.
“My apologies, ma’am. I haven’t been able to get in touch with Miss Elms all week and I became concerned. I won’t drop by uninvited again,” he drawls, using that smooth voice of his to have the middle-aged tyrant tittering like a schoolgirl.
“Oh, well, as long as you’re leaving soon it should be fine. Why don’t I walk you out? You have a class to teach, Miss Elms.”
I’m left with a bitter taste in my mouth and the certainty that this is not something I can keep to myself if I want my relationship with Miah to work.
Telling him this is so not going to set the mood for a night I had hoped would finally lead to some good love making.
“Cripes. Now I’m never getting laid,” I mutter beneath my breath as I stalk back into class and go for my phone in my bag.
“What’s laid?”