Page 18

T wo days later, as Celia stood with Hiram at the bar, discussing the evening specials, Noah walked into The Trailhead with another man. Taller than Noah, he was equally muscular. He had dark hair, cut short, and light eyes. Celia watched as Noah smiled at Hiram.

“Hiram, I’d like you to meet Jake Dunbar. He’s an FBI agent from the Organized Crime Division. He’s here to talk to Nick. Get as much information from him as possible.”

Celia began backing toward the kitchen. She trusted Noah, mostly, but he’d been too damn insistent about her talking to the FBI. She wouldn’t put it past him to introduce her to the guy, along with a casual ‘she knows a lot about the Doyle family.’

When she was finally in the kitchen. Celia took a deep breath and dropped onto the desk chair. She didn’t think Noah would pursue her into the kitchen, but you never knew. If Noah brought that FBI agent back here, she’d duck out the back door. Run up to the safety of her apartment.

And as soon as she was up the stairs and into her apartment, she’d throw the last of her belongings into a bag and flee to Nick’s apartment. Almost everything she owned was already there. She could hide at Nick’s place until she had to start dinner prep. And before she returned to The Trailhead, she’d text Anne to make sure the FBI agent was gone.

As she was hyperventilating at the desk, the back door opened and Anne walked in. She took one look at Celia and rushed over to her.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

Celia jerked her head toward the bar. “Noah’s out there with an FBI agent from Organized Crime. I’m afraid he’s going to try to introduce me. Let the guy know that I spent six months living in Bobby Doyle’s house.”

“Noah would never do that,” Anne said immediately.

Celia swallowed the saliva that had pooled in her mouth. “Maybe, maybe not. He seemed pretty determined to have me talk to the FBI. And if he introduced me to the agent out there and said casually that I’d lived in Doyle’s house for six months, that guy’s gonna be drooling to talk to me.”

“I’ll make sure Noah doesn’t do that. Make sure that he doesn’t even introduce you to Jake. Okay?”

Celia nodded slowly, the knot in her chest loosening a little. “I trust you, Annie. And if you talk to Noah, then tell me he’s not going to spring a trap on me, I’ll believe you. But if he betrays me, I’ll kick his ass.”

“You’d have to get in line behind me,” Anne said. She grabbed Celia’s hand and squeezed it. “I don’t want you talking to that guy either,” she said. “Nick must have lots of information that the FBI can use. There’s no reason he’d have to talk to you, as well.”

The hard ball of tension in Celia’s chest softened a little. She drew in a deep breath. Blew it out. “Okay, Annie. I’m gonna believe you. But can you make sure Noah doesn’t bring that guy into the kitchen while we’re working tonight?”

“I’ll mention it to him. I’m not sure where Jake is staying, but he’s probably in a hotel in Helena. And I’ll make sure Noah doesn’t invite Jake to our little after-work get-together.”

Celia slumped back in her chair. “Thank you,” she said, closing her eyes. “I was afraid he might do that. And if he did, I’d go to Nick’s instead of staying here tonight.”

Anne raised one eyebrow. “Are you all moved into Nick’s place?”

Celia shook her head. “I have another couple of loads to move over there. But I should be there by the end of the week.”

Anne tilted her head and grinned at Celia. “Have the two of you given in to that tidal wave of lust that swirls around you guys every time I see you here together after work?”

Celia sat up straight. “We’re getting to know each other,” she said. “Catching up on all the conversations we couldn’t have when I lived in Bobby Doyle’s house.”

“And the reason you didn’t have them?” Anne asked, one eyebrow raised.

“Bobby Doyle,” Celia said. “And all his men who hung around that house. I wasn’t about to take any chances. And Nick knew better than to talk to me or flirt with me where Bobby or any of his men could see or hear us.”

Anne studied her, making Celia resist squirming in her chair. “I know you go over to Nick’s house after we’re done at The Trailhead,” she said. “And all you do is talk?”

“Yeah,” Celia said with a grin. “That’s all we do.”

Annie studied her. “I’m guessing that’s going to change before long.”

Celia shrugged. “We haven’t run out of things to talk about yet.” And they probably wouldn’t. Nick was incredibly easy to talk to. She’d shared things with him she’d never told anyone else, even Annie. And he’d told her things she was pretty sure he’d never shared with anyone else, either.

Anne grinned at her. “Noah and I were all over each other almost immediately. We did plenty of talking, but there was also a lot of, um, body language being shared.”

“I’m thrilled for you and Noah,” Celia said. “But I am not talking about my sex life. Not even with you.”

“Fair enough,” Anne said with a shrug. “I’ll make sure Noah gets rid of Jake before The Trailhead closes tonight. So you won’t have to worry about him. Okay?”

“Yeah, that’s great.” Feeling better after talking to her sister, Celia stood up. “I’m gonna head downstairs and start getting ready for dinner. You go out there and meet Jake.” She felt lighter than she had since Noah walked in with the FBI agent. “Just don’t let Noah bring him into the kitchen.”

“Don’t worry. Hiram would chew him a new one if he tried to do that, and Noah knows it. You’re safe back here.”

“Thanks, Annie,” Celia said, pushing away from the desk and standing up. “See you in a bit.” As Anne disappeared into the restaurant, Celia blew out a breath. Another one. Then she got to work.

* * *

Two days later, Nick stepped onto the sidewalk outside his apartment, took a deep breath, squared his shoulders and headed for the FBI office. It was several blocks away, but he’d decided to walk. Walking always cleared his head and helped him think.

He had no idea what the FBI agent would want to know, but Noah had given him a copy of the notebook Nick had kept, with dates and times of things he’d personally heard his father order done. And he also had a copy of the photos of Fingers beating his brother to death in that Las Vegas alley, along with a copy of the phone calls Bobby had made to Fingers, telling him what he needed from him.

Unfortunately, Fingers couldn’t testify, and he was sure that Bobby’s defense would try to throw out the recordings. But Celia had allowed Nick to listen to the handful of recordings she’d made for the Las Vegas Gaming commission and shoved into her fanny pack back in Las Vegas. He’d gotten lots of useful information from them. A number of things that would ensure Bobby Doyle spent the rest of his miserable life in prison.

When Nick stepped into the FBI office, the woman seated at the receptionist’s desk looked up at him and smiled. “May I help you?” she asked.

“I’m Nick Doyle,” he said. “I have an appointment that Noah Brewster set up with someone from the Washington office. From the Organized Crime division.”

The woman sat up straight. “Yes. Mr. Doyle, please have a seat. I’ll see if he’s ready for you.”

“Thank you,” Nick said.

As the woman disappeared into the back of the office, the outer door opened and Noah walked in. He nodded to Nick and took the chair next to him. “Said I’d be here, and I keep my promises.”

“Thanks, Noah,” Nick said. “I appreciate you showing up.”

“I’m glad you volunteered to talk in front of me. Means a lot to Anne. And me.”

“Don’t want any misunderstandings,” Nick said.

Noah nodded. “Yeah, I get it. I know you’re protecting Celia and Anne. I appreciate it.”

“Not doing it for you,” Nick said, his voice even.

“I know that. Makes it more impressive that you volunteered to let me sit in on your interviews.”

Nick swiveled in the chair so he faced Noah. “Got the impression you lumped me in with my father. Same bad blood. Same bad behavior. Just so you know, Bobby Doyle was never my father. He was my sperm donor. I was raised by my mother, who taught me right from wrong. Taught me what was important in life. I want Bobby to rot in jail as much as you, Hiram, Anne and Celia do. As long as Bobby Doyle’s alive, Celia isn’t safe. Hell, Anne’s probably not safe, either.”

“Yeah, I get that,” Noah said. “That’s why I got Jake here as quickly as I could. The sooner he gets all the information you have, the sooner he can arrest Doyle and the safer Celia and Anne will be.”

“My feelings exactly,” Nick said.

Before Noah could answer, the door opened and Jake walked out. “Noah,” he said when he spotted the two men. “I didn’t know you were gonna be here today.”

“Sitting in on your interview with Nick.” He nodded at Jake. “Nick Doyle, meet Jake Dunbar.”

Nick stood up and shook Jake’s hand. “Nice to meet you, Agent Dunbar.”

“Call me Jake,” he said, then nodded at the door to the rest of the office. “Let’s go get started.”

Four hours later, Nick and Noah stood up to walk out of the FBI office. Nick held out his hand. “I need that thumb drive back,” he said.

Dunbar frowned. “I need to authenticate it,” he said. “And we’ll need it for the trial.”

“Then you’ll need to make a copy,” Nick said. “And I’ll be watching the whole time. That tape stays with me. It’s the only proof I have that my father ordered my brother killed.”

Dunbar opened his mouth, and Nick held up his hand. “Yes, you can use the originals for the trial. But I get them back after you use them. Those recordings and photos will always belong to me.”

Dunbar studied him for a long moment, and Nick didn’t look away. Finally the FBI agent shrugged. “Whatever you want. Let me make a copy now.”

“Of course. But I’ll be with you the whole time.”

An hour later, Nick and Noah walked out of the FBI office. Neither of them spoke until they were about a block away. Finally Noah said, “Pretty ballsy move, forcing Jake to make a copy of that thumb drive.”

Nick shrugged. “Didn’t want it to ‘disappear’ while in FBI custody. Not everyone is as honest as Dunbar.”

“As much as I hate to admit it, you’re right. It was a good move.” Noah shook his head. “My God, Nick. With the information you gave Jake, he’ll get your father locked up for the rest of his worthless life. What kind of man orders his own son killed?”

Nick shrugged. “You heard the tape. Saw the photos.”

“They made me sick to my stomach. I’m just sorry that Fingers is dead and can’t be punished.”

Nick blew out a breath. Stood straighter. The hours-long interview, discussing all the murders Nick knew his father was responsible for, had made him queasy, too. “Yeah. I wish Fingers was still alive to be tried and sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison. But the copies of the tapes I gave Jake should put my father away forever. That’s all I want -- for him to be held accountable. Unable to hurt anyone else, especially Celia or Anne.”

They reached the corner where Nick had to turn for his apartment. “You all going to be at The Trailhead after work tonight?”

“Absolutely,” Noah said. “I think we all need it.”

“I’ll see you then,” Nick said.

Noah held out his hand. Nick stared at it for a long moment, then extended his own hand. “Thanks, Nick,” Noah said. “It couldn’t have been easy to talk about all the things your father has done.”

Nick tightened his grip on Noah’s hand, then let him go. “Actually, it was easier than I thought it would be. Bobby really didn’t have much to do with me when I was growing up. He was all about Robert, and we both know how that turned out.” He straightened his shoulders. “I got my mother, and I got the best of the deal by far.”

“Your mother raised a good man,” Noah said. And to Nick’s ears, he sounded sincere.

“Thanks, Noah,” Nick said as he turned down his street. “See you later tonight.”

As Nick trudged up the stairs to his apartment, he heard a sound coming from inside his apartment. Almost like a pan hitting the stove. He shoved his hand into his pocket and found the knife he always kept there. Opening the blade, he held it by his side as he unlocked the door. Stepped inside.

The kitchen went silent.

Nick closed the door behind him and walked toward the kitchen. Before he reached it, Celia stepped into the living area. “Hey, Nick. How’d it go?”

Staring at her, Nick folded the knife and replaced it in his pocket. “Celia, what are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at The Trailhead? Cooking dinner?”

She smiled. Shook her head. “Annie sent me over here. Said she’d handle dinner tonight. I told her I’d help her, as usual, but she refused to let me stay. Said she’d handled dinner on her own before I ever showed up in Helena. Told me you’d probably need me. So I’m making you dinner.”

“How far along are you?” Nick asked.

“I’m making steaks, double-baked potatoes and a salad. Salad’s done. Potatoes are ready to go back in the oven, and the steaks are marinating. Do you want to tell me how it went with the FBI?”

“We can talk about that over dinner,” Nick said. “Right now, I have a better idea.” He pulled Celia into his arms and held her tightly. “We’ve talked a lot over the past several days. Shared a lot. I think we’ve talked enough.”

He felt Celia chest rise and fall against his. Heard her breath sawing in and out. She swallowed. “Yeah, I think we’re all talked out for now, Nick.”

“Good. Because I need you tonight, Celia.” He smoothed his hands down her face. “I always need you,” he murmured as he swept his mouth over hers. “You’ve been an ache in my chest since the day I met you. But after talking to Jake Dunbar all day today, I need to obliterate the memories of my father killing Robert. You’re the only one who can do that for me. I trust you, Celia. And tonight I want to show you exactly how much you mean to me.”

Celia swallowed. Drew in a breath and blew it out. “Good,” she whispered. “You know I love talking to you, but I’m ready to stop talking. I want to start showing you how much you mean to me, too.” She draped her arms around Nick’s neck and melted against him. “Indulge in all the fantasies I’ve had about you since the day I moved into your father’s compound.”

Nick tightened his arms around Celia and pressed her closer. She smelled of the spicy marinade she’d made for the steaks, and beneath that, the subtle, sensual scent that always clung to her.

Celia pressed closer, and the softness of her breasts flattening against his chest made him groan. He bent to kiss her, suddenly wild to taste her. Everywhere.

Celia opened her mouth to him, making tiny noises in the back of her throat as he kissed her, and Nick sighed against her lips. When she opened her mouth to him, Nick tightened his arms around her until she was pressed close to every inch of his body. Then he swept her into his arms and carried her into his bedroom.