Neil (The Uncompromising Series Book 2) (25 page)

Viking studied me a second then glanced at André. “Have one of your men get her clothes from her apartment. I will meet him in the garage when he gets here.”

André’s glare didn’t lessen but resignation filtered into his frown. “You’re asking for trouble. If we do this my way, I’ve got my guys in place ready to take Candle when he surfaces.”

“He is not going to surface where your men are watching.”

“So you wanna draw him out to a crowded restaurant with a bunch of innocent bystanders?”

“Get her clothes.” Viking walked out of the apartment, leaving me and André standing there.

“Where is he going?” He’d said he was going to change.

André swore under his breath then pulled his phone out. “No clue.”

“This isn’t his place?” He’d said it was.

“One of them. What do you want from your apartment?”

I was so far out of my element that I didn’t even balk at a strange man going through my shit or question why Viking was going somewhere else to change. “A dress and heels. And some makeup.” I wasn’t going out to a five-star restaurant with a black-and-blue face.

He dialed and held the phone to his ear. “Get the suitcase out of the guest unit upstairs then go to Ariel’s and grab a dress, shoes and makeup… I know. I want you followed… Text Christensen when you’re in the garage.” He hung up. “You sure you want to go through with this?”

“I don’t want to hide up here forever.”

His jaw ticked. “It won’t be forever, just long enough to get Candle.”

“That’s not going to eliminate the threat.” Viking said there was more than one LC looking for the guns.

He exhaled. “It’ll go a long way in handling it.”

Something in the way he sighed seemed suspicious. “What aren’t you telling me?”

His hands went to his hips and he ducked his head for a moment. When he brought his gaze back to mine, he looked resigned. “You really don’t remember me,
chica
?”

Something close to alarm prickled across the back of my neck. “When is Neil coming back?”

“Shit.” He drew the swear out. “He got his hooks in you that deep already? You know he won’t keep you.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about the little man who’s got your laugh. Hasn’t he been through enough with your ex?”

It felt like a knife sank into my heart. “You know Jason?”

André snorted. “Yeah, I know him.”

Embarrassment stiffened my back. “I protect my son from Jason’s bullshit.”

“And Christensen’s?”

Wow. Okay. “You got a reason to be jealous or are you just an asshole by nature?”

A wry smile touched his full lips. “Hard to believe you lost your memory,
chica
, because your fire hasn’t taken a hit.”

I barely refrained from telling him to fuck off. “You didn’t answer my question.”

His face sobered. “I’m not jealous, I’m concerned. We’re both from the same neighborhood and I look out for my own. I’m just being straight with you. I’ve never seen Christensen stick to a woman and I’ve known him years. You’re a good girl,
chica
. You want a man, you’re barking up the wrong tree. Christensen’s more elusive than the fucking wind. That’s all I’m saying.”

I wasn’t an idiot but hearing André say it, it made it a hundred times more real and stung a hell of a lot harder. “I’m not with him.”

“He sure as shit is acting like you are.”

“Acting how? Like an alpha asshole? Like the exact same thing you’re doing right now?”

André shook his head and his shoulders relaxed. “All right, all right, I hear you.”

“Where did he go?”

“Honestly?” André rubbed a hand over his face. “No damn clue. The high-rises he builds are like fucking mazes to me and they all blend together after awhile. A bunch of steel and glass and right angles.”

“He built this place?”

“His company did. This and lots of others just like it along the ocean.”

Jesus, he wasn’t just rich, he was seriously loaded. “I’m not going to fall at some guy’s feet because he has money.” I didn’t know why I was trying to justify myself to him.

“Most single moms would.” He shrugged like it was no big deal.

“Are you saying I’m cheap?”

“You’re practical and he’s the opportunity of opportunities.”

“I’m no gold digger.” Was I?

He held a hand up. “Never said you were, but you’re raising a kid on your own and Christensen shows up. He throws down a little cash, drives you to your friend’s wedding in the Keys.” He raised an eyebrow. “And now he’s pulling your ass out of the fire, or with his crazy-ass plan tonight, placing you directly in it. Either way, it’s a hard temptation to resist. You wouldn’t be the first to fall for it.”

The second he said wedding, an image of tea lights and soft ocean breezes surfaced in my memory, but then nothing. “Wow. Do you hate all your friends as much as you hate him?”

“I never said he was my friend,
chica
. Remember that.” His phone rang and he answered. “Luna… Copy that. Five minutes.” He hung up. “I’ve gotta go. You sure you want to do this tonight?”

I wasn’t sure of anything. I just wanted to see my son and get my damn memory back. “I want Conner with me.”

André nodded like he understood. “Wait for Christensen. You’re safe here.” He walked to the door and I swore I heard him mutter under his breath,
for now.

M
Y STOMACH GROWLED.
I
FOUND
some fruit on the counter in the kitchen but a few bites in, anxiety twisted my gut all to hell, making me more nauseous than hungry. I stared at the panoramic view of South Beach as the day slipped into dusk and the aqua water turned every color of the sunset. I could remember a lot of sunsets but none with Viking.

A clock ticked somewhere but other than that, all I could hear was the sound of my own breathing and it was making me more anxious by the second. I couldn’t even go sit on the balcony because I couldn’t figure out how to get the damn glass door open. There wasn’t even a handle anywhere.

I contemplated a shower for the hundredth time in half an hour but I didn’t want to be surprised by someone walking in on me. The tenuous grasp on fake calm I had was slipping with each second I spent alone. I hated not remembering how this all had happened and worse, I felt helpless as hell. I didn’t have any money or a way out of here and I was at the mercy of men I didn’t know or trust. And if the LCs got to André or Viking, then I was really fucked because I couldn’t even think of a single person I could call.

I leaned my head on the window and a sharp knock sounded at the front door. My heart jumped but I told myself an LC wouldn’t knock, neither would Viking. With no peephole or chain on the stupid fancy condo door, I raised my voice. “Who is it?”

“It’s Tyler. I’ve got your clothes.”

I opened the door a few inches and a clean-cut guy in the same exact outfit as André—but with his left arm all bandaged up—pushed past me. Pulling a rolling suitcase I recognized with a garment bag folded over the top, he stopped a few feet in and turned to me. “Hey, babe.” The hand on his good arm reached to my forehead and gently pushed my hair back as he grimaced. “I’m sorry about that.”

Why the hell did all these men think they could touch me? I stepped around him and tried to act casual. “Not your fault.” I guessed.

“I know but I’m still sorry. I should’ve been quicker.”

I had no idea what he was talking about. “How’s your arm?”

“Just a through and through. It’ll heal.” He winked at me then inclined his head at my suitcase and smiled. “I hope I grabbed the right stuff.”

His smile was making me uncomfortable. “Thanks. I’m gonna shower.”

“You want me to stick around?” He lifted his injured arm. “Luna sidelined me. I’m bored as hell.”

“Um, no, I got it.”

He laughed. “I didn’t mean to watch you get dressed. Relax, babe, just company.” He turned to close the door behind him and Viking strode in. In a suit.

His glare trained on Tyler, he looked no less menacing than if he’d been in fatigues with guns strapped all over him. “I gave instructions to text me from the garage.”

“Just keeping her company, Christensen.”

“She does not want your company.”

Tyler chuckled but there was a nervous edge to it. “Ten-four, boss.” He glanced at me and his tone went all formal. “My apologies, Miss Walsh.” He walked out and quietly closed the door behind him.

“Jerk,” I muttered.

Viking leveled me with a stare that was one hundred percent pissed. “Do not open the door for anyone besides me or Luna.”

“He had my clothes.”

“You should have told him to leave them in the hall.”

Right. “Nice suit.” My tone was sarcastic as hell.

“Get dressed.”

He took his phone out and strode to the balcony. He touched the edge of the door and the mullion slid open to reveal a handle. He opened the slider, stepped out and shut the door behind him as he put his phone to his ear.

Fucking fancy condo.

I pulled the suitcase and bag to the guest room and took my time showering. I found my hair dryer and makeup bag and even my jewelry bag in the suitcase. Most of the clothes looked familiar and having my own stuff gave me a sense of calm, but nothing triggered any more memories.

I carefully did my hair and makeup so you couldn’t see the bruising. The whole time, I tried like hell not to think about Conner or how he was doing. But by the time I sifted through the three cheap dresses in the garment bag and pulled one on, I was intent on hearing my son’s voice.

I strode into the living room in heels that made me appear more confident than I felt and found Viking standing by the windows, his hands in his pockets. “I want to call Conner before he goes to sleep.”

Without turning, Viking placed a call on his cell. He spoke a few words in Danish then held the phone out without making eye contact.

I stepped forward and took the phone. “Conner?”

There was a shuffling noise, his giggle, then, “Mama?”

Relief washed through me and I sank to the edge of coffee table. “Hi, baby. It’s Mama. How are you?”

“Ice cream!” he squealed in delight.

“Aw, c’mon, C-man,” a male voice said in the background. “You just threw me under the bus. Tell Mama you ate your vegetables.”

Conner dissolved into giggles. “No carrots. Ice cream!”

I smiled. “Enjoy your ice cream, sweet boy. I just wanted to say I love you and I’ll see you soon.”

“Lubboo, Mama!” He put the phone down and I heard silverware clanking then the line went dead.

I set Viking’s phone on the coffee table and made my way back to the bathroom in the guestroom. Gripping the counter, I breathed through my nose and tried not to cry.

“He is fine.” Viking’s deep voice cut through my pity party.

“I know.” I straightened and turned.

Leaning on the doorframe, one hand on his hip, Viking had pushed his jacket back just enough to reveal a shoulder holster with a gun on his left side. “Ready?”

I was sure his stance was purposeful to show me he was armed. “And if I’m not, does it matter?” I walked toward him and he moved out of the way.

“You need to eat.”

Yeah, food. Because that’s all this was,
a date
. I scoffed. “At Pietra’s.”

“You will enjoy it.”

“I’m sure.” Was he out of his fucking mind? “Between looking over my shoulder and the scintillating conversation with you, I can’t wait. Let’s get this over with.” I walked to the front door and reached for the handle.

“Stop.”

He moved in front of me and blocked the door. “Left side, one step back. If I give you instructions, follow them. Questions?”

I was too damn nervous to be offended by his bossy attitude. In fact, I would never admit this to him, but I was starting to rely on it. His unwavering alphaness was the one constant I’d had since I’d woken up in that warehouse. “What if Candle doesn’t show?”

“He will,” he said confidently.

“And you know this, how?” I couldn’t decide which I liked better, him shirtless or in a suit.

“His moves are predictable.”

I had to point out the obvious. “Yet he was able to kidnap us both.”

For two heartbeats, he stared at me. “I was not going to let a woman get taken alone,” he finally said.

I blinked, immediately understanding his nuance. “You let him take you?”

“Yes.”

“But you said you made a mistake.”

“On purpose.”

“So…” Oh my God. He didn’t make a mistake. It was calculated. Everything Viking did was calculated. My thoughts, my gratitude for him just seconds ago, it all swung in a pendulum and I was staring at a man who had
zero
feelings for me. It didn’t matter everything he’d done for me, I couldn’t see past what he’d just admitted. I was just a
woman
to him. I could’ve been any woman. André was right. I mentally shoved everything down because any emotion I showed, I knew Viking would read into it.

I nodded and used my best matter-of-fact voice. “I’m ready.”

He opened the door and I followed him to the elevator.

I tried not to think about the last twenty-four hours but my mind was reeling. I watched him glance in every direction and take in his surroundings. His awareness wasn’t practiced or even an act, it was ingrained. None of his movements were wasted. Every one of them was purposeful and he thought fifteen steps ahead of anyone I’d ever met, maybe more.