“With that ringin’ endorsement, I can’t wait.”
“I found out why Blaze hired me to watch over him and Layna on their honeymoon.”
I waited but he didn’t elaborate. “Okay, I’ll bite. Why?”
“Michael Maldonado.”
Michael was the cousin of James Maldonado, the man who’d killed Layna’s parents. After Blaze and I sunk the yacht James was on, Michael tried to take over the family business but he was arrested as an accomplice in Layna’s parents’ death. “He’s in jail.”
“Apparently it’s not slowing him down. He put a hundred-grand price on Layna’s head because she took down his cousin.”
“Jesus fuckin’ Christ.” I scrubbed a hand over my face. “She didn’t take down shit.” Blaze and I had.
“You try telling an incarcerated felon to let it go when he’s got nothing to do except think about revenge.”
“So what’s the plan?”
“I got nothing. He’s in jail and I can’t touch him unless I want to risk my business. That’s why I’m calling. I can protect Blaze and Layna from this end but it won’t stop until the source dries up.”
I knew what André was asking. Even though he’d started his own security firm after he’d gotten out of the Marines and had more business than he could handle, I had connections he didn’t.
Goddamn it. “I’ll make some calls.” This wasn’t a favor I wanted to call in. I didn’t mind doing my own dirty work but this kind of bullshit? It led to bad news.
“Copy.” André started to hang up.
“Wait.” Shit. “Blaze know you’re callin’ me?” Minus his wedding, things hadn’t been great between us. Months ago, I’d kissed Layna. In my defense, they hadn’t been a couple yet and the day it happened had been a fucked-up situation all the way around. Layna and I had moved past it but Blaze hadn’t.
“Who else would I call?”
The door opened and Nic, Tongue Nurse and a doctor walked in.
“I gotta go.” I hung up knowing André had purposely avoided answering my question. “Any fractures?” I asked the doc.
In his sixties, with shrewd eyes, the doctor didn’t bother with formalities. “Zygomatic arch, orbital rim and anterior maxillary wall are all fine. Scaphoid has a small hairline fracture. Four weeks with a brace should take care of it. Kelly will fit her with one.” He looked at Nic. “Ice and Advil. I can write you a prescription for something stronger if you prefer.”
Nic shook her head. “No, thank you.”
“Any questions?” the doctor asked.
Nic shook her head again and the doctor walked out. Kelly, aka Tongue Nurse, followed, saying she’d be right back.
I sat Nic down in the only chair. “You got all that?”
She cradled her wrist and favored her thigh. “Yeah. Face fine, wrist broken.”
I fucking hated Randy. “Pretty much.”
“Did you date the nurse?” she asked, staring at her lap.
I leaned on the exam table. “Thought we went over this, darlin’. I don’t date.” I fuck. A lot. But I wasn’t about to volunteer that information.
Nic looked up. “But you slept with her?”
Her expression was so neutral, I didn’t have a clue what was going through her head. “Not sure I follow where you’re goin’ with this, or that it’s any of your business.”
“She’s pretty. How come you’re not seeing her anymore?”
I gave her my best smile. “You’re pretty.”
Kelly walked back in with a splint. “Okay, let’s get your wrist taken care of.” She spent the next few minutes fitting the brace on Nic and showing her how to tighten it and take it off for showers.
When she was finished, I helped Nic up and ushered her to the door. Right before we walked out, Kelly stopped me with a hand to my arm.
I looked over my shoulder at her, irritated.
“No more surfing accidents,” she warned.
“Not on my watch.” Randy was going to pay for this.
NIC WAS QUIET WHEN WE got back in the Challenger.
“You hungry?” It was well past lunchtime.
She stared out the window. “I’d rather have a shower.”
“Shower it is.” I turned around and headed toward my house. Pushing a button on the steering wheel, I gave the command to call the shop because if I called Kendall’s cell, she’d ignore me. After three rings she answered.
“Talon’s surf shop.” Kendall dragged the words out on a sigh.
“You forget the name of my business?”
“Fuck you,” she said, sounding bored.