Page 33 of King of Ruin
I hear Roman sigh. “I’ll pick up a few supplies while I get your clothes.”
“Thank you, Roman,” I breathe knowing that the cat will give me something to focus on. Dropping to my knees again, I softly call to the cat, who does not come out but has stopped hissing. “Before you go,” I speak softly, still down on the floor. “Can we pull out the bed to see if my phone is behind it? That’s the only place I can think of.”
“Maybe you left it in Vigo’s car when we drove here?” He asks, the tenor of his voice changing again. “Like you did on your date?”
“No. I know I had it in the bathroom,” I answer and then I make a few kissing noises at the kitty. “If I can get the cat out and find my phone I can send a few pics to Lucia.”
“Use mine,” he answers quickly. “It’s no trouble. Since Jack is here, I’m going to have him help me pick up clothes and supplies, but I’ll only be gone a few hours. You can call me on his phone if you need me.”
Then he walks toward the kitchen. “Let me leave you a plate of food before I go. You should eat.”
I nod my thanks, completely intent upon the cat. While Roman is gone, I can compile a list of logical questions that help me better understand him and this crazy situation. But for the moment, it does me good to focus on the furball under the sofa. Something that has nothing to do with anything.
Or so I assume.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Roman
I headdown the elevator and find Mason waiting in a Honda Civic. He slides out of the passenger’s seat and climbs into the back, Jack taking the driver’s seat. Driving Mason is one of Jack’s regular jobs when Mason is in Vegas.
Mason is about six feet tall, and I’m closer to six-one, making the back seat of an economy car a tight fit. His feet fill the entire space behind the driver’s seat.
“Interesting choice,” I say as I climb into the rear passenger’s seat and shut the door with a resounding thunk. I’ve never felt more like a sardine in a tin can.
“Looks like a Civic, outfitted like a tank,” he answers.
“Bulletproof glass and everything,” Jack adds as he backs out of the parking spot.
That’s when I notice the rips on the seat in front of me. “Apparently the upholstery isn’t quite so sturdy.”
Mason grimaces. “I had this car made to look as economic as possible. It’s like a cloaking device of sorts.”
“You couldn’t have picked an Accord? They’ve got a lot more room.”
Mason ignores me. “And had it fortified so that if we didn’t blend into the crowd, we’d still be safe.” He turns to me then, glaring. “What I never planned for, was having to chauffeur the meanest cat in all of Christendom.”
“That’s Jack’s fault,” I point at our long-time employee and friend. “He picked the cat.”
“This was all your idea. That vet tech picked the cat. And he seemed pissed after this morning, so I should have known he’d give us a mean one,” Jack fired back, before shaking his head. “But I have to admit, it worked like a charm. She’s completely focused on the cat.”
My shoulders sink down as the gate opens and we slide into Las Vegas traffic. “Thank you. I’m going to need every distraction I can get. She figured out that I’m a Kincaid.”
“Already? How’d she do that?” Mason asks, his irritation clear.
“The tech is pissed because when he went to pick up the birds, Maddie’s best friend Lucia, a vet, showed up and demanded to know why the animals were being removed from a state-sanctioned sanctuary. And when Lucia tried to call Maddie and couldn’t get through…”
“Shit,” Mason rumbles.
“Yeah. By the time the phone rang through on my end, panic had ensued.”
“That doesn’t explain how she found out,” Jack points out.
“Lucia realized the moment that Maddie shared my first name,” I glare back. “Smart as a whip and super sassy, that woman.”
Mason grimaces. “It’s unfortunate, but it can’t be helped. She’ll be more suspicious of any overtures you make toward theproperty now, though. Don’t bring up the sale if you can help it. Not until we’ve got a solid strategy.”
I nod. “Fine.” But I’m starting to hate all these lies and half-truths. From omitting my last name, to manufacturing a cat in need, I’m playing on her sympathies and distracting her while we search her phone and attempt to abscond with her home.