Chasing Silver (6 page)

Nathan nodded. It made sense. It wouldn’t be enough for Tian to dance just out of the reach of the police; he’d want to build his power. “So we break up their little tête-à-tête, I get my bounty, and you get the new name in town. Works for me. When?”

Isaac pulled apart an onion bagel, stuffing a piece into his mouth. “Ten o’clock. But there’s a little problem.”

Nathan sighed. “Of course there is.”

“You’re on your own. I’m on strict orders to keep my nose clean with this one, so I can’t back you up.”

“Well, I appreciate the information anyway. Did your source know how many people would be there? Are we looking at just Tian and his supplier? Or will there be more?”

“So far as we know, it’s four guys. Tian, the new supplier, and one muscle apiece. Neither one of them wants a big scene, so the meeting is supposed to go down at Rojo. The club’s neutral territory.”

Nathan was familiar with Rojo. The small alcoves along the balcony would be the perfect place to bargain over drinks. He could slip in through the back and up the service stairs. “I think I can handle it on my own.”

“You sure? It’ll be crowded. The other reason they picked Rojo is because there’s some fancy shindig going on there tonight. Lots of people around. Lots of people with money. There can’t be a scene or this will explode into an even bigger mess.” He picked up the folder he’d brought. “That’s why I thought we’d go over the maps. You follow Tian out and snag him someplace else.”

“If there are as many people as you claim, I might lose him in the crowd.” Nathan didn’t want to admit Tian could outsmart him, but judging from their last four encounters, it seemed like a real possibility. “Give Tian the chance to run, even a small opening, and he’ll take it. Plus, Cesar is never far. He may not be part of the meeting, but he’ll be nearby.”

“Even more reason not to try and take Tian when you can’t see who’s there,” Isaac argued. “You’re good, but let’s face it. He’s learning your tricks. He’s going to anticipate that you might make a play for him at the club, and he’ll be prepared. Get him out, get him alone, get him down. That’s how this is going to work.”

“If Nate says he can handle it,” Remy said from the doorway, “maybe you should give him the benefit of the doubt.”

Isaac’s eyebrow shot up. “Nate?”

Remy folded her arms and leaned against the doorframe. She wore a clean shirt from his closet, a white button-down falling to her knees, the sleeves rolled to her elbows. Despite her near nudity and the fact she was barely a guest, she stared back at Isaac with unwavering eyes, daring him to say something.

“It’s okay, Remy. He’s right. I do need to get Tian alone, somehow.”

After a long moment, her gaze shifted to Nathan. While it was just as bold, something softened in the set of her mouth. “Is this the guy you lost last night because of me?” At his nod, she shrugged. “Then it’s royal. Let me get to him. I can have him anywhere you want.”

“Hold up.” Isaac stepped between them, his head swiveling back and forth before settling on Nathan. “She’s your partner now? What the hell happened here last night,
Nate?
”

Nathan held up his hands. “She’s not my partner. Nothing happened last night. And no, Remy, I’m not letting you be bait. It’s far too dangerous. Tian isn’t the only one learning about tricks, and I don’t want you anywhere near him.”

She snorted. “If you think I can’t hold my own, think again.”

Chin held high, she marched past both men to the counter and picked up the knife Nathan had used to cut his bagel. Her eyes held his, a hint of a smile curving her mouth, while her arm whipped behind her, releasing the blade.

Both men flinched as it sailed past them and embedded itself in the wooden jamb.

Remy plucked the half-eaten bagel out of Nathan’s hands and took a deep bite, chewing while they looked from her to the knife. “Don’t worry about me,” she said after swallowing. “I’ve got my own bag of tricks.”

“Okay, maybe she can be my partner,” Nathan murmured, looking to Isaac. He knew his friend was impressed with Remy, but not convinced she wasn’t bad news. His gaze slipped from Isaac’s face to her extremely nice legs. “You’ll have to find some different clothes, though.”

“And here I thought you liked me better out of them.” She sauntered past, heading back out of the room. Nathan was sure the sway of her hips was deliberate. “Guess I better make myself presentable for a shopping trip then. Be right back.”

Just as before, they were left staring at an empty doorway.

“You are so fucked.”

“Yes, and broke.” He looked at Isaac pointedly. “The woman’s got to have some clothes. You know I’m good for it.” Nathan sobered, folding his arms across his chest and leaning against the sink. “I think it’ll work, though. Tian would follow her anywhere. Who wouldn’t? She won’t have to be alone with him for more than a few seconds. We can end this tonight.”

“And you trust her with this?” In spite of the query, he was going for his wallet, thumbing through worn bills before extracting all but two. He passed them over. “Does that mean you got some decent answers out of her about what she was doing at the warehouse?”

“I’m working on it.”

“And her fake ID?

“That, too.”

Isaac shook his head. Nathan wasn’t sure if he’d believe him, either. “Last night you weren’t even sure she wasn’t crazy. I mean, yeah, okay, the knife trick was kind of cool, and yeah, you’re probably right about her and Tian. The man’s crooked, not blind. But now she’s wearing your shirts and calling you Nate? You hate being called Nate.”

Nathan folded the bills and tucked them into his pocket. “I know. I’m still not sure she isn’t crazy. But either way, I’m going to be stuck with her for a few days.” He held the kitchen door open and pointed to the coins littering the couch and the floor. “She’s hired me to help her. If she wants to, and she can take care of herself, why shouldn’t I let her help me?”

Isaac brushed past and walked over to the couch, bending over to pick up something from the floor. When he straightened, Remy’s little black bra dangled from his fingers. “Is that what we’re calling it these days? Helping?”

Nathan snatched the bra away and tossed it to the couch. “Is that all you think about?”

He held up his hands in mock surrender. “Fine, she’s Mother Teresa and you have not let her get under your skin.” He paused, lips twitching from a smile he was having trouble containing. “Nate.”

“Yeah, remember that time I broke your nose?”

“Popcorn still doesn’t smell right. But my ears are working fine, and yet, I can’t for the life of me decide if your new favorite saint really did say something was royal or if I’m just hearing things. What does ‘royal’ even mean?”

“You noticed that, too, huh? Earlier she said she had the sauce to tell somebody off. I figured it was an East Coast thing.”

Isaac grimaced. “I’ve been to the East Coast. It’s definitely not a thing.”

“Hell, if she can help me get Tian, I don’t care how odd her slang is.”

“And here I thought you were more interested in what came out of her shirt than what came out of her mouth.” Isaac shook his head. “Maybe you’re the one who’s crazy. It would explain a lot.”

Nathan sighed. “Isaac, you have no idea how right you are.”

“Yes, I do, but it doesn’t mean I always like it.”

“Please, you love it. My craziness is a constant source of entertainment. If I told you what really happened last night, you’d be laughing for days.”

Isaac held up his hands in surrender as he retreated for the exit. “Let’s let me keep the delusions I harbor where you’re actually getting some, okay? It means I worry less.”

“This is you worrying less?” Nathan shrugged as he opened the front door. “Have it your way. I certainly don’t want to share the humiliating details.” With a smile he added, “Thanks for the tip and the food. And the money. You’ll hear from me tonight.”

Swiping the lipstick one last time, Remy leaned away from the mirror in order to examine her handiwork. For being as out of practice with make-up as she was, it hadn’t turned out half-bad. Smoky liner deepened her dark eyes, and the slash of scarlet across her mouth made her lips seem fuller than normal. Even her hair had behaved, falling into loose waves around her bare shoulders that gleamed under the lights. Subtle without being slutty. Just enough to catch Tian’s attention in case the outfit didn’t do it for her.

The clothes were another matter. After she realized shopping wasn’t nearly as fun as it sounded when you had no idea what the current fashions were, Remy had kicked Nathan out of the one shop she thought she could afford and gotten help from one of the clerks. Everything had felt so heavy when she’d tried it on, buttons too big and fabrics too stiff to make wearing them comfortable. She’d also quickly vetoed most of the skirts the salesgirl had suggested. They made Remy feel like a little girl playing dress-up with clothes found in her grandmother’s attic instead of an attractive young woman supposedly on the prowl. Everything was too loose, and in her world where anyone and anything was looking for a way to grab you, loose was never good.

In the end, she had chosen fake black leather pants that looked like they had been painted onto her shapely legs and a tiny black camisole. The top was held in place by a string around her neck and a wide band around her waist. The front view was modest, but as soon as she turned around, the bare slope of her spine made promises the rest of the outfit didn’t. While the extra fabric at the waist covered her knife wound, she had to be careful with the side view. It would only take one wrong move for the soft swells of her breasts to become visible.

Taking a deep breath to steady her skittering nerves, Remy grabbed her new purse and opened the door to go join Nathan where he waited for her in the living room.

He was slipping his shoulder holster over his arm when she stepped into the room. She waited until he noticed her, but her patience was rewarded by the sudden widening of his eyes. His gaze swept down and then back up. Twice. He lingered on her chest. She didn’t have to look down to know her nipples were hard. She cleared her throat, and Nathan jumped, as if she had startled him.

“You look…nice.”

Remy smiled. The words might have been neutral, but the gleam in his eyes was anything but. His pupils had dilated to swallow the blue, matching the sharp black lines of his shirt and pants. Nathan looked like a living shadow—a gorgeous one—which she guessed was the effect he was going for. It kept him unnoticed by the people he was hunting. It didn’t keep him unnoticed by her.

She did a slow circle, giving him a good view of her bare back and then deliberately shifting her arms to allow a glimpse of breast as she turned to face him again. “Think it’ll get Tian’s interest then?”

“And the attention of every other man in the room.” He pulled on a light jacket, covering his holster. “Here.” He pressed a switchblade in her hand. “I don’t think you’ll need it, but better safe, right?”

It took a moment of looking down at her clothes for her to figure out where to put the knife, finally opting to slide it into the side of her boot. “You’re going to tell me the angle one of these days, right? I mean, other than find Tian, use whatever means I need to get him alone, and then give him to you.”

“No, that’s it. We’re going to wait until after he’s done with his deal. He’ll work the club a bit. Mingle. Talk to the right people. Tian isn’t small time anymore, and he likes to take advantage of that fact. Now, near the restrooms in the back is a fire exit leading to an alley. Get him to follow you out that door.” He gestured with his hands as he spoke, as though they were standing in the middle of the club instead of his living room. “Lead him north, to the narrow road behind the buildings. There’s another parking lot at the edge of the block. Tell him you’re parked there.”

“And you’re going to be there in the Mustang?”

“I’ll be there. But if he’s with a man a little taller than me with brown and white hair and a stud in his nose, then it’s off. That’s Cesar, and he’s crazy.” Nathan’s tone and eyes were dead serious. “You avoid him. Isaac doesn’t think he’ll be there tonight, but he’s Tian’s shadow. He shows up, you leave.”

“Avoid the crazy. Got it.”

With one last nod, as if he was confirming the plan to himself, Nathan led her out of the apartment and down to the car, silent the entire way. Remy was dying to talk to him about, well, anything, but he seemed lost in the grim reality of the night stretching in front of them, focused on the job at hand. She wasn’t even sure he had looked at her again since first appraising her attire. Her disappointment that his work was more interesting to him than she was took her by surprise.

“So, this Isaac,” she said, once he had pulled onto the freeway. “What’s his story?”

Nathan checked his watch and drifted into the far left lane. “What do you want to know?”

Remy shrugged. “I don’t think he likes me very much.” She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, but his attention was still on the road ahead. “Does he go mama bear on all the bounty hunters he hires, or does he hold a special spot just for you?”

Nathan smiled. Well, only the corner of his mouth moved, but Remy thought it counted as a smile. “Isaac doesn’t have anything against you. As for his mother bear tendencies, he’s just cautious.” Nathan paused. “We used to be partners.”

“Really? Huh. I wouldn’t have pegged him for a bounty hunter.”

Nathan chuckled. “No, Isaac would never be a bounty hunter. He’s LAPD.”

That explained more than if he’d offered some lengthy dissertation on what his relationship with Isaac was. If there was something Remy understood, it was cops.

She froze. Fuck. She was lusting after a cop.

Ex-cop, she hastened to correct.
Used to
meant Nathan had quit, and now hired out his services for what he was worth, rather than relying on altruism that would only earn him an early grave. Being hot for a bounty hunter was still twisted, but more realistic than if he’d still had a badge.

“It’s good to have somebody watching your back. I miss that.”

“He’s always been there.” He looked at her and opened his mouth, closed it again, focused on the road. Long minutes passed before he asked, “Does it bother you?”

This time, she shifted to look at him. A bevy of potential answers tumbled through her head, but without being certain what he meant, she wasn’t sure which one he was looking for. “Does what bother me?”

“Isaac? That I used to be a cop? That you miss having somebody to watch your back, somebody you can watch after in turn?” Nathan shrugged. “Take your pick.”

His barrage of questions could have meant he was interested in knowing the answers or he was filling time until they got to the club. Remy decided she was going to believe the former.

“I’ve never been friends with a cop before. Or an ex-cop. It doesn’t bother me. It’s just new.” Her gaze caught the landscape blurring past her window. “A lot of stuff is new.”

“I know the feeling.” Signaling, he switched lanes. A large sign proclaimed the Wilshire exit was only one mile away. “Look, Remy, are you sure you want to do this?”

Her answer came without pause. “I don’t do anything I don’t want to. That goes double for people. If I wasn’t interested in you, I would’ve sallied off long before you rolled out of bed this morning.”

“I didn’t mean…” He stopped to consider something for a moment, then nodded. “I’ll take your word for it.” He exited the freeway and pulled to the red light at the foot of the ramp. “Traffic permitting, we’ll be there in about ten minutes.”

He was changing the subject. The problem with that was she wasn’t done with the old one.

“Listen to me.” Unbuckling her seat belt, Remy slid across until her thigh was pressed to his, startling his attention away from the stalled traffic in front of them. “I don’t trust easy. If there’s one lesson I’ve learned in life, it’s people always find a way to stab you in the back. I didn’t have to do this tonight. I could’ve stayed at the apartment, waited for you to get home, then jumped your bones when you got in. Hell, that would’ve been smarter. But I heard you and your friend talking, and the only thing I knew was…” She had to lick her lips; her mouth was dry. “You didn’t have to help me last night. But you did. No way am I going to turn my back on that now.” She couldn’t. Even if she wanted to.

The light turned, flashing green across his face. He rolled through the intersection before stopping again behind a long train of cars. When he turned his intense gaze upon her, she held her breath in anticipation of what he would say. But Nathan surprised her. Again. Instead of speaking, he dipped his head and kissed her. His lips touched hers so briefly she barely had a chance to respond.

It left her floundering in the wake of her roaring nerves to try and understand.

Carefully, she scooted back to her side of the car. She couldn’t read him. She wasn’t sure she had ever met a man as unfathomable as Nathan Pierce before in her life. But she did know one thing.

She hadn’t been this excited about someone new in…ever. Maybe the fresh start offered by this escape back in time could mean sticking around L.A. for longer than she had angled for. It might even mean having the luxury of discovering what made Nathan tick and seeing where that information led her. It was risky to want it so bad, but then again, her whole life was a risk.

The traffic didn’t thin as they crawled through each intersection, and ten minutes stretched to twenty. Remy was about to say something—anything—to break the silence, when Nathan made a sharp right turn without warning. The side street was crowded with pedestrians, and she couldn’t believe the way they swarmed down the middle of the road without thought or consideration for the oncoming traffic. Nathan just pushed the Mustang through, until they reached the end of the block and the small parking lot.

“We’re here.” He put the car in park and killed the engine. Glancing at his watch, he added, “Tian might be finishing up with his meeting by the time you get inside.”

Remy nodded as she watched everyone stream in and out of the club area. There was laughter and drunken stumbling. One girl held another girl’s hair back as she got sick in the gutter. Remy smiled. In spite of the chaos, some things never changed.

“Give me half an hour.” Her eyes twinkled as she pushed open the door. “If I’m not back by then, send in a search party. Just make sure he’s tall with a killer accent.”

His ghost of a smile followed her as she slammed the door and headed for the club. The distant music made the air pulse, echoing through her skin and into her blood, charging her for what she was about to do. She wasn’t scared, but the anticipation of the encounter had her a little jumpy. For Nathan’s sake and for her own peace of mind, she didn’t want to fuck this up. She needed to know she could survive here. She needed to know once she and Nathan parted ways, she wouldn’t be worse off than if she’d stayed in 2084.

Every step drew an appreciative glance from both men and women. The ends of her hair tickled along her spine, the slight breeze lifting loose tendrils around her face. By the time she reached the burly black bouncer, the faintest touch could have set Remy off.

His eyes bored into hers. “You on the list, doll?” He didn’t even have to raise his voice. The deep bass undercut the music like sliding across silk.

Though her smile didn’t waver, a moment of panic sent Remy’s mind racing to improvise. She leaned forward, pressing her breasts along his tree trunk biceps, her mouth hovering at his ear. “I’m here for Tian. And he was expecting me ten minutes ago.”

Mentioning the gang leader did as she’d hoped. The bouncer tensed, head snapping up as his gaze swept over her one more time. Remy didn’t have to wait more than a few seconds before he stepped to the side, releasing the catch on the red velvet ropes to clear the path for her to enter. Giving him a wink, she walked past and went into the club.

As soon as she crossed the threshold, the intoxicating scents of sweat and alcohol assaulted her. She hesitated, eyes flickering shut as she focused on how alive the place felt, wondering if it was possible to forget everything she had promised to let the crowd swallow her up. It would be easy. Too easy. She was a pretty girl, and nobody knew her here. A fresh start. That was what she wanted, after all.

But blocking out the club’s visuals brought the image of Nathan’s solemn face, the green light strobing across his skin, as he’d looked at her in the car.

She straightened. Opened her eyes.

She wasn’t going anywhere.

Spotting Tian was simple. Nathan had shown her picture after picture of the gang leader until she had him memorized. As Tian rose from a table tucked in an upper alcove, Remy decided the photos didn’t do the man justice. He wasn’t tall, but his compact build was clearly displayed in the silk shirt and trousers he wore, and his dark eyes were bright with intelligence, even from that distance. His black hair was shorn close in the back, but a long hank fell across his forehead, making him seem almost boyish as he worked the crowd.

Her gaze scanned the room. Nobody matched Cesar’s description.

Here goes nothing.

She navigated through the throng, ignoring the various pinches and grabs from wandering hands along the way. Once or twice, she lost sight of him, taller bodies blocking him from her view, but then the masses would thin and she’d spot the purple shirt gleaming under the lights a few feet from where he had last stood. She was about to brush against his arm and get his attention when a man with a stud in his nose melted out of nowhere to stand in front of him.

Remy stopped. It was the crazy Nathan had warned her about.

Cesar leaned down to whisper in Tian’s ear, but the music and distance made it impossible to hear what he was saying. The smile Tian had sported since she’d spotted him vanished, and for the first time, she saw the danger Nathan had hinted at settle like a mask over his face. Without a glance at the others surrounding him, Tian pushed past the crowd, angling for the front of the club. Cesar was close on his heels.