Page 59 of Embers of You
“Okay, then I guess I’m going to New York,” she practically squeals.
Stu steps over to a drawer, pulling out an envelope and handing it to a confused Maria.
“What’s this?” she asks, opening it. “Plane tickets. For the day after tomorrow?” She looks at Stu, then Kenz. “Why do I feel like you all planned this?”
“Because we did, Mom. Now, go get yourself packed.” Kenz leads her off upstairs to start packing.
As soon as they are out of earshot, I turn to Stu. “What happened with your contact?”
“Not here. Let’s go to the office,” Stu says, heading in that direction.
When we get to the office, Stu closes the door, then asks me what happened with the tail today. After I explain that we managed to lose him, without giving anything away about Drake or Dom, I ask him about the Titan file from Archie’s records.
“I looked everywhere for that file after Archie died. Seems someone beat us to it, which means it’s probably important.”
“Or Archie knew and hid it someplace. Got any idea where that might be?” I ask, just as Kenz walks in wearing her uniform.
“In his safe?” he says, pointing over his shoulder.
“Nope, already looked there the other night,” Kenz tells him, not skipping a beat. “So, what did Jonathan say?”
He rubs the back of his neck. “He wants you kept out of it. It’s too dangerous and today just proved that.”
“And he doesn’t trust me, right?”
“No, it’s not that. At least I don’t think it is. You’re a risk he doesn’t want to take a chance on because of how closely Titan are watching you. You’ve already been run off the road, Kennedy. You have to realize just how much danger you’re in.”
“And you think that keeping me in the dark will keep me safe? ‘Cause I don’t. If anything, it will just make me more vulnerable.”
I let her have her say, but if I’m honest, I wish she wasn’t involved either. But it’s too late for that and she’ll do it regardless. Something Stu obviously hasn’t realized but is about to.
“I don’t need you or Jonathan. If you’re not interested in sharing information, then I guess I’ll just carry on as I have been.” She looks at her phone, checking the time. “I need to get going. Let Mom know that I’ll be around tomorrow to go to Morning Kick with her and go over everything.” And with that she turns tail to leave.
“Kennedy, wait,” Stu calls, but she ignores him. “You need to stop her, Asher.”
I hold my hands up in a defensive gesture. “Sorry, Stu. I don’t like it any more than you do, but I also know it’s better to work with her and try to keep her as safe as possible. You want my advice, talk to Jonathan again.”
I leave Stu standing there and jog after Kennedy, who is outside waiting by my car by the time I catch up to her.
* * *
Luke spotsme as soon as I enter with Kenz, coming to greet me before telling me he’ll join me shortly. I find a seat close to Kenzie’s roulette table but enough in the shadows you’d pass over me when looking around the room. Luke joins me once everyone is set, bringing with him a bottle of bourbon and two glasses.
“Dom tells me you had a spot of trouble this morning,” he states, pouring us each a glass.
I nod, raising the glass and taking a sip. “It’s complicated.”
“That’s a blanket statement. Care to elaborate a little.”
I think carefully about my words. It’s not that I don’t trust Luke or Dom, but it’s always best to keep some information back. I decide to start off low level. “You ever heard the name Liam Carmichael?”
Luke looks up at me. “Should I have?”
“Nah, just thought I’d check. But you know who Calvin Carmichael is, right?”
“Yeah, he’s made quite a name for himself. Word is that the guy is close with the owner of Titan Industries, which I’d hazard a guess is the real reason you’re asking.”
“You sound like you might know something?” I ask, throwing a question back at him to avoid his.