Page 24 of Loki’s Spellbinder (Hunters Creek Archangel’s Warriors MC #14)

In the building, the security guard scanning everyone through the metal detector called me by name, and I greeted him by name.

Everyone seemed to have a smile and kind words for Braelyn.

She had the same for them. Brae would ask about their family by name or situation.

She genuinely cared for people, and they responded to it.

The first part of the day, after we got our coffee, was spent with her working in her office, so I could sit there with her.

I stayed quiet unless she asked me something.

I didn’t fidget. I worked on my phone. There were things I could do for the Abodes remotely, such as paying bills, scheduling maintenance, or buying supplies.

We had a guy who did the routine maintenance on the building.

I wasn’t able to do it all. There were his paychecks to process.

Occasionally, I’d get up, tell her to lock the door behind me, and take a walk to check out the perimeter.

During those walks, I searched for any sign that suspicious people were accessing the floors they shouldn’t.

I didn’t see anyone, but my hyper-alertness remained.

I saw Hendrix lurking around more than once, and it wasn’t right outside Eli’s office.

I almost ran him over when I came out of Brae’s office the first time this morning.

I wondered if Eli had him spying on us and listening through the doors. I wouldn’t put it past him.

We went to the nearby café at lunchtime, where she loved the food.

I didn’t find it bad either. She introduced me to their food last week.

It was busy, but we got our meal relatively fast. We sat there enjoying it, chatting about what to have for dinner.

Brae told me she planned to call Betty when we got home tonight.

We were almost ready to leave when I glanced around, doing one of my scans, and my gaze stopped on someone I thought I recognized.

I glanced down and looked back up, but I did it out of the corner of my eye.

I didn’t want to freak some guy out if it wasn’t him by staring.

I didn’t want to draw his attention if it was who I thought it was.

I had to be wrong. My second perusal confirmed the man looked like Nelson Newman.

Nelson was my club brother, Iceman’s dad.

He’d been in prison until about a year and a half ago.

When Iceman found out his dad had gotten out early, he’d been furious.

Who could blame him? His dad had killed Iceman’s mom.

Of course, Iceman wanted nothing to do with him.

But Nelson didn’t take the hint to stay away.

Even after Iceman, point-blank, told him he wanted nothing to do with him and ordered him to stay away from him, his woman, Meadow, and her sisters, Sage and Aspen, Nelson still found ways to do it.

Nelson would often accidentally run into them when they were out and about. He’d stopped by the construction company a few times on one pretext or another until they threatened to call the cops. Iceman told the rest of us he was over his dad’s attempts to get in good with him.

It couldn’t be Nelson. He was on parole and wouldn’t be allowed out of Tennessee. And even if he got permission, why would he be in Georgia? Whoever the guy was, he was Nelson Newman’s doppelg?nger.

I went back to finishing my last two bites of food. I’d just finished and was ready to pay when the hairs on my neck raised a moment before a man said my name.

“Loki, is that you?” the man asked.

I turned to find the doppelg?nger standing next to us. Up close, and the fact that he knew my name told me it was Iceman’s dad. I raised my brow and pretended not to know him. “I’m sorry. Do I know you?”

“We met several months ago at my son’s work, AW Construction. I’m Nelson Newman, Iceman’s dad. I thought I was seeing things when I saw you. I thought I was wrong when I didn’t see a cut, but it is you. What brings you to Georgia?”

He was very jovial, which put my teeth on edge.

I detested the man simply for what he did to Iceman.

Add to it that he was a wife abuser and killer, and I would gladly kill him to rid the world of vermin.

I had no desire to speak to him, but I did want to know why he was here.

Anything I found out, I’d let Iceman know. I forced myself to speak to him.

“I’m here on vacation. Wearing your cut in another club’s territory isn’t a good idea. That shit will get you killed. What brings you here? I didn’t know you knew anyone in Georgia. Or do you live here now?” I didn’t mention that I knew he was still on parole and couldn’t be living here.

“No, I don’t live here. I would never leave Tennessee or move far away from my son.

I’m here checking on a friend. I’ll head home soon.

What are the chances of us both being here?

And at the same time? It means it was meant to be.

Hey, since we are, I’d like to speak to you about something. Do you have a minute?” he asked.

Everything in me shouted to tell the fucker to get lost before I killed him, but my trouble sensors were blaring at me not to be hasty.

Play along, and I might find out something useful.

“I’m just finishing lunch, and we have to get back to her office.

If it’ll take no more than five minutes, I guess,” I told him.

“I’m sorry, how rude of me. Forgive me. I get single-minded and don’t see anyone else. I saw who I thought was Loki, and there went my manners. I’m Nelson Newman.” He smiled at Braelyn.

I clenched my fists under the table. Out of nowhere, I felt Braelyn’s hand touch mine. I unclenched one hand and took hers. She gave him what I came to know as her professionally polite smile. She used it on those she didn’t know or who she disliked but had to be courteous to.

“Hello, Mr. Newman. I’m Braelynn Hill. Loki is right. We do have to get back to my office soon, but we can spare a few minutes. Please, have a seat.”

Nelson didn’t waste time plopping down across from us. Our waitress came up, and I handed her my bank card as she went to put down the bill. She took it and walked off. I prodded him to start.

“What is it you wanted to talk about?”

“I wanted you to help me get Iceman to talk to me.”

“That’s not happening. Even if I were to talk to him, he’s not doing it, and you know why. You can’t blame him.”

“I know why he won’t, but there’s more to the story than he knows.

If he’d give me a chance to explain, he’d see that.

I know that the man I was when he was growing up was a terrible person.

However, I’ve changed. I’ve been working hard and staying the course.

I’ll be off parole in six months. I want to talk to him about us, but I also have a business opportunity that will make him and your club a lot of money.

Will you please ask him to consider it? I don’t want to wait too long and let someone else snap up this deal.

If they do, I’ll hate that my son’s club missed out on the deal of a lifetime. ”

I couldn’t imagine why he would believe Iceman or our club would be involved in any deal he was associated with, but I didn’t say it. Instead, I gave him the answer he wanted to hear—not that I wouldn’t tell Iceman about this conversation.

“Nelson, I’ll speak to him, but you know I can’t promise you anything. Iceman is his own man. I might be his club brother, but he makes up his mind. That’s all I can promise. I’ll talk to him.”

He gave me a cheerful smile. “I’ll take it. And I thank you for doing it. Let me know if I can do anything to repay you. Now, I’ve taken enough of you and this lovely woman’s time. Again, thank you, and have a wonderful rest of the day.”

He stood up and then presented his hand to me. I hated to touch him, but I shook it. After we shook hands, he smiled at Brae, told her it was a pleasure to meet her, and walked off. As he did, I saw the waitress returning with my card.

“I know you want to know what that was about. Let’s wait until we’re back at the office. I don’t want to talk about it here,” I said softly to Braelyn.

Braelyn nodded. It took a short time to get back on our way.

The first thing I did after we were back in the courthouse and she was safe was to go to the bathroom and wash my hands.

I wanted nothing of that bastard on me, not even his germs. I’d have to call Iceman as soon as possible to inform him about this run-in. I knew my brother would be furious.

Braelyn was waiting for me when I returned. I closed her office door for privacy. “Clearly, you dislike that man. Dare I say, you hate him. He’s Iceman’s dad, and he’s on parole. Can I ask why Iceman wants nothing to do with him?” she asked immediately.

I swiftly explained Iceman’s history and what happened with Nelson over a year ago. By the time I was done, Braelyn was shaking her head.

“See what I mean. People like that should never be allowed out of prison. And here he is, free and trying to insinuate himself into his son’s life. How can he be so stupid as to believe that Iceman will ever want a relationship with him?”

“I don’t think he’s stupid. He’s up to something, and whatever it is, we’re better off knowing what it is rather than being blindsided by it.”

“So you’re going to ask Iceman to speak to that horrible man?”

“I am, but only so we hopefully discover what he’s up to. You know that he’s here illegally. I doubt his PO gave him permission to be here.”

“If it were work-related, his parole officer might. Do you want me to call and find out? If he didn’t have permission, it’s probably enough to get him thrown back in prison.”

“As tempted as I am, hold off. I’ll speak to Iceman, and if he doesn’t want to pursue finding out what Nelson is up to, then we’ll do it. However, my gut is saying that bastard is up to no good. Who better to see you in a state you’re not supposed to be in than a prosecutor for the local DA?”

She chuckled. “So true. Okay, do you want to call Iceman and let him know now?”

“Will it disturb you if I do? I can take a walk and do it, but I’d like you to lock the door behind me.”

She shook her head. “No need. I checked my email while you were in the bathroom. Eli wants to meet with me in ten minutes in his office. He says we have a case to go over. You can call Iceman while I take care of that. I have no idea how long it’ll take.

Hopefully, not the rest of the day. Sometimes, he can get long-winded. ”

“More like he talks to keep you near him,” I grumbled.

“Alexander, stop it. I doubt he’d do that. I know you don’t like him, but he is my boss, and I can’t say no to legitimate work business.”

“As long as it’s legitimate and he doesn’t make any overtures of a personal nature to you, then I’ll be okay. But if he does, you tell me. Don’t hide it from me,” I warned her.

“I won’t hide it, but I don’t think you have to worry. Okay, I need to go to the bathroom before the meeting. Let’s go.”