Turn Over(145)

“I will, sir.” Mark shrank against the potted palm next to his desk.



I flipped the lights on in my penthouse, and threw the keys on a side table. I was going to show all of this to Sydney. I wanted her to see where I lived. See the view I coveted from this floor. It felt stuffy even with the air conditioner running. These windows didn’t open. It wasn’t like the condo in Padre, always circulating with salt air.

I looked around, it wasn’t anything like Padre. This place was cold and unfeeling.

I opened the bedroom closet and stared at the two racks of white shirts. Some had been monogrammed with my initials on the cuffs. Others were designed with a close fit by my tailor.

I shut the door when I heard a strong knock. I crossed the hardwood floors to get to the door.

“James, come in.” I showed the tall man into the penthouse.

“You sounded out of sorts, Mason.” He took the Stetson from his head and placed it next to him on the couch.

“I am. I need you to find someone for me.”

“Another missing family member?”

I shook my head. I had used James’s services last year when I wanted to make sure Grey was Dad’s grandson. James had done all of the investigative work for me. I could trust him.

“It’s a girl.” I pulled up a picture of Sydney on the beach. “I brought her with me to Dallas this morning. She might be headed back to South Padre.”

The older man eyed the picture. “Pretty thing.”

“Yes, gorgeous. And I have no idea where she is.”

“Why is she missin’?” He eyed me.

“She’s upset.” I paused. “With me.” It didn’t seem to faze James. He only wanted details if they would help him find Sydney. “She was at the office and got some news. She took off and no one knows where she went.”

“Shouldn’t be too hard to find her.” He pulled out a small notebook from his starched jeans. “I need her number.”

I wrote it for him. “And that’s it?”

He grinned. “Pretty much.”

I felt like I could breathe again. He rose to leave. “James, I have another project for you.”

“What’s that?” He tucked the notepad behind his wallet.

“Do you think you could find someone who didn’t want to be found?”

He played with the inside brim of his hat. “Sure could. Who doesn’t want to be found?”

“I don’t know much, but I can give you what I have.” I motioned for the notepad again.

I jotted down Hailey’s and Gracie’s names. The town in Virginia where they lived. Anything I could remember Sydney telling me about her sister. I handed my notes to James.

“You have unlimited hours on both of these. Sydney is the most important right now, but as soon as you’ve found here I want you to start looking for Hailey. I know it might take a while.”

“Will do.” He fixed the Stetson on top of his head. I admired a man who could wear a hat like that.

“I’ll be here. I’m not going to leave Dallas until I know where Sydney is.” I decided if she went home she would be safe and I could fly out later. If for some reason she had stuck around the city, I couldn’t leave her here by herself.

It was a strange instinct that kicked in when she was around. I had this need to protect her. To keep the bad out. To keep the hurt and danger far from her. Only today I had failed. I had done it all wrong.

I closed the door behind James. I tried her number one more time, but I got the same result. She was sending me a clear message. I had to figure out how to send her one.



I circled the apartment, checking my phone after I did a few laps. I turned on the business channel, then flipped it to the weather channel. There was a storm brewing in the Gulf. It didn’t look bad, but it was enough to have me worry if Sydney was in its path. I sank into the leather couch, angry, nervous, frustrated. She was out there somewhere and I was in here.

I couldn’t help her from here. I couldn’t do a damn thing but wait for James.

I checked the pantry for food, but I rarely cooked and the only thing that was meal-worthy was a box of pasta. I slammed the door, knowing I didn’t really want to eat anyway. I turned back to the TV, watching the swirling storm edging closer to South Padre.

It was close to eight before I had a call from James. I answered immediately, my heart thumping loud and strong when his number flashed on the screen.

“She’s back in South Padre, Mason.” James didn’t rush the delivery of information.

“And you’re sure?” The searing pain between my ribs finally subsided.

“I got a ping off her phone about thirty seconds ago. She’s on the island.”