Chapter Fourteen
Declan appeared in Trick’s doorway. “Still no word on Jay?”
“Nope, but I told Max not to strain himself. I believe he's wasting his time. The guy could be in Mexico by now.”
“Max hates loose ends, even ones that don't belong to him.” Declan strode inside and uncharacteristically sat in the chair in front of Trick's desk. “I'm surprised you're not more eager to find him.”
“No one’s more surprised than me, but it's been a long three years, Declan. I have Rachel, and, believe it or not, she is enough.”
“You could be exonerated if—”
“All I want is a life moving forward. It’s time to let go of the past.” He’d gotten what he needed. Rachel believed he was innocent. “I’ve seen other men, good men, spend their lives chasing ghosts to clear their name at the expense of having a life in the present. I won’t do that.”
“I see.” Declan didn’t appear convinced.
“What else is on your mind?”
“I'm going to give you some advice. Hear it or not. Rachel may not be able to move on without finding Jay. Your ‘present’ might jeopardize hers.”
“Yes, Dad.”
Declan smiled at the sarcastic moniker. He slapped the desk and rose. “I sure hope you know what you're doing. Women are stubborn.”
“Speaking of which, how's the Sunset?” Trick asked.
Declan turned in the doorway at the mention of the woman he'd been in love with for more than a year, though he'd never admitted it. Trick couldn’t figure out why the man never made a move, but Trick had his hands full with his own love life without trying to fix his friend’s. Declan smiled and strode out without another word.
Trick believed Rachel could move on with his help. She needed time to settle into this new life as assistant manager of Shakedown, as his girlfriend, as a college student, and maybe his wife someday. While he'd never practice law or work for an investment firm—he'd lost his taste for that world— there was no reason why she couldn't fulfill her dream.
~~~~~
Rachel couldn't help herself. Every day she dialed Jay's number at least four times and listened to that same, double-pulse sound signaling the number was disconnected. Sighing, she killed the call. She tucked her phone away and closed her laptop lid. While her feet no longer ached from running from table to table, now her brain hurt from running inventory numbers. She supposed pain always would be part of her life. It was just a matter of choosing which kind of pain.
The clock had struck midnight long ago, and the distant sound of drumbeats and whistles filtered in from the showroom to tempt her with laughter and escape.
“You busy?”
She nearly jumped out of her skin at seeing Max standing in the doorway.
“Sorry. Didn't mean to disturb, but I got your note.”
“Oh, no, it's fine.”
He stepped inside. She rose and circled the desk to shut the door of Trick's office where she'd been working while Trick was out on the floor schmoozing with customers. “Thanks for coming. I wanted to talk to you.”
“About Jay.”
She liked Max’s abruptness. His gang tattoos made him scary-looking, but the way he got straight to the point was strangely comforting.
“Trick told me if you couldn’t find him within a few days, you could stop looking,” she said. “We had one hell of a fight about it.” Man, did they ever argue when she'd learned Trick might give up.
“Don't agree with it,” Max said.
“I don't either. That's why I want you to keep looking. I can pay you—”
“No need, Miss Grant.”
“Rachel, please.”
“Okay, Rachel. I'm glad to hear you're interested in finding him. Anyone who does that to his own kin doesn't deserve to get off.”
“I agree. It's just . . . I'm not looking for him to be harmed if you don't mind me saying.”
“Don't mind at all, and you don't have to worry.”
“Thank you. I appreciate it. So you'll keep looking?”
“Since you asked, you can count on it.” He turned for the door but then paused in the entranceway. “I had a sister once. Lost her a long time ago.”
“I'm sorry.”
“I'd give anything to have her back, so your stepbrother? He's a fool.” Max strode out the door without another word.
Yeah, this place was full of stories—some covered up in makeup and some hinted at through information as cryptic as what she'd received from Max. Now if she could get her own story in order.