Finding Jordie: Things aren't always what they seem. (The Love Lies Bleeding Series Book 1) (23 page)

“Pick your battles, Jordie. Pick your battles,” I muttered.

“Hola por favor?” I heard Rachel yell from downstairs. The door to my apartment was still open. Rachel had absolutely no clue what she was saying in Spanish, but she said it all the time anyway.

“Hola!” I shouted back. I heard two sets of footsteps.

“Hey, bitch.” Rachel walked through the door.

“Hey, bitch,” Tyler said to Nathan as he walked in behind her.

“Place looks great!” Rachel was all smiles.

“Yes, it does. Thank you.” I side-eyed Frank, but he immediately shot Nathan a look and I think he blushed. “I haven’t gone upstairs yet. Care to join me?”

“Yeah, I have to pee anyways.”

Upstairs was in perfect order. There was a new bed, new linens, and not a feather in sight. I walked over to my closet and it was filled with all new clothes. I sighed and smiled as Rachel came out of the bathroom.

“Ohhh, it’s pretty.” She ran her hand over the new down comforter. “Eh, the asshole did you a favor. It was time you got rid of the old one. This is so cute!” She clapped her hands together as she walked over to my dresser. She picked up a picture frame that I didn’t have there before the break in.

“What is it?”

She flipped it towards me. It was a picture Emma took with Nathan’s phone of him and me.

“Awwww,” I squeaked out like a giddy teenager.

Rachel placed the picture back on the dresser.

“So what is going on with you and Tyler?” I smacked her arm lightly.

A huge non-Rachel smile spread across her face. “I don’t know. We flirted on the phone a bit when he called to see if he could play at the bar. We talked a couple of times more before he got here. Then when I met him last Friday he waited around for me to close up and we hit it off.” She shrugged.

“So that’s where he disappeared to? Nathan thought he took off with Spanx girl.”

“Nope, he was inside at the bar waiting for me.”

“How are things with Nate dawg?” She clearly wanted a subject change.

“Super.” I could feel the dopey grin return to my face. “Even with all this shit going on, I feel... great. Like, all of this is going to be all right because he’s with me. He adores Emma, he gets along with you, he’s the most giving and loving man I’ve ever met.”

“Yeah, I get it, Mushmaster Flex.” She laughed. “But seriously, I am so happy for you. I love you, bitch.” She hugged me.

“I love you, too, skank ho.” We laughed and headed back downstairs.

“I was right.” I heard Frank say to the older guy who had a laptop with a bunch of wires hanging from the phone jack.

“Appears so. Good call,” the guy said.

“What did I miss?” I walked over to where the guys were standing.

Nathan put his arms around me from behind and rested his chin on my shoulder.

“It seems your home phone has been tapped.” Frank pointed to the wires.

“Whaaat the...?” I drew out my words in disbelief. “How? Why? For how long? What about the bar?” I blurted out in one quick sentence.

“No way to tell how long, and I’ll check the bar next,” the man said.

“Jordie, this is Richard Dell. He’s an old military buddy of mine and an ex-FBI specialist.” Frank gestured between us.

“Nice to meet you.” I nodded. “Okay, so now what?”

“Well, I suggest you get the phone company out here to run you a new line altogether. Both lines, home and next door. I’ll come and secure the lines if you’d like.” He looked at me over his glasses.

“Yes, thank you,” Frank answered for me. “Let’s sweep the place for bugs and such too.”

“Sweep the place for bugs? Who the hell is stalking me? James Bond?” I looked back and forth between Frank and Richard. “Really, all this is necessary?”

“Yes, just to be sure. Whoever did this has gone to great lengths to keep tabs on you, Jordie. We’d like to be thorough.”

“If you say so, Frank. I just don’t know who would do any of this to me. It seems so... surreal.”

Rachel and Tyler left, and Nathan and I went to the rooftop while Richard and Frank did their sweeping. When I got to the window I noticed the new ladder first and then something else.

“Is this,” I pointed to a sensor on the window, “for a security system?” I was appalled, forgetting about the new ladder.

“It is,” Nathan said.

“Naaaathaaann,” I whined. “Seriously? These things annoy the shit out of me! They go off for no reason. You can’t get up and pee in the middle of the night without setting it off. Ugggh.”

“Appease me, Jordie, please. Just for a little while until all of this ends.” He sounded genuinely concerned. “I couldn’t stand it if something happened to you and Emma, especially if I could have prevented it.”

“More money.” I climbed the fire escape to the roof. “I’d offer to pay for all of it but seriously, I don’t have enough to cover it unless I dip into my savings and Emma’s college fund. I don’t have a huge disposable income.” I sounded ungrateful again. “Ugh, I’m sorry. It’s just, I feel like I’m taking advantage of you, Nathan, and it’s killing me that I am not as self-sufficient as I thought I was. I’m not with you for your money or your fame or any of that. I’m with you for you, and this makes me feel... bad.” I sat down on the bench. He straddled the bench facing me and kissed my forehead.

“I know that, but you need to just get over it, baby, and as far as you not being self-sufficient, well, that’s absolutely absurd. Look at everything you’ve accomplished, all that you’ve been through, and yet you stand here today, strong and willing to face any shit-storm that’s thrown your way with absolute confidence. That seems pretty self-sufficient if you ask me. You have the greatest kid I’ve ever met and you did that all on your own for eight years. Need I go on?”

“No.” I smiled, because I knew he was right. I
had
done a great job so far. “How is it possible that I love you this much already?” I leaned in to kiss him.

“I guess it’s just like they say, when you know you know. Me too, baby. Me too.” He shrugged and put his arms around me.

“Nate? Jordie? Can you come down please?” Frank yelled from the window downstairs.

When we got in the living room Richard was packing up the last of his equipment and snapped a case shut.

“It’s clear in here, but I’ll check again when the phone company changes your lines just to be safe.” He picked up the case and put it by the door.

The look on my face must have given away what I was thinking because Richard answered my unspoken question.

“You never know, Jordie. People will do anything for money.”

Just then Frank’s phone rang. He was quick to answer it. “This is Frank… Yes, hello.” You could tell he was paying close attention to whoever was on the other end. He just listened for a few moments. “I want a copy, and I’ve got some photos I’ll drop off to you when I come to pick it up.” He hung up and looked over at us. “Okay. The lab results are back.”

Damn, that was fast. Less than twenty-four hours.

“And?” Nathan asked anxiously.

“The specimens they collected were not from a human, but from a dog. Whoever it was wanted to send a message but was smart enough to not get caught.”

“I’ll need a copy of that as well, Frank,” Richard said.

“What kind of message are they trying to send exactly?” I asked. “They belong to the freak of the month club?”

“I’m not going to sugar-coat this, kid. This is some serious whacko, and I’d say it’s like he was leaving his mark, or marking his territory.” He looked at Nathan.

“Well, that’s just ridiculous.” I put two fingers against the crease between my eyebrows, trying to smooth it out. My hand was trembling. “There has to be a mistake or another explanation. I don’t know anyone who would think of me that way. Nathan is the first relationship I’ve had since my husband died eight years ago.”

“I’m sorry, Jordie.” Frank looked sympathetic.

“Thank you.” I glanced at the newly framed picture on the wall of Jason, myself, and Emma.

Frank followed my eyes. “He was military, I see.”

“Yes, Army Special Ops.” I took a deep breath and let it out.

“Interesting.” He exchanged a glance with Richard.

“Anyhow, do you think it’s safe for them to stay here then?” Nathan asked.

“I don’t see why not. With the security system and cameras installed, no one will get by us.” Frank sounded pretty confident.

“Good. Want to go back to the hotel and get our stuff?” Nathan turned to me.

“Sure. Frank, can I call now to change the number?”

He handed me his phone. After a few seconds I realized they were all staring at me as I dialed. “What? I’ve called them so many times recently I have the freaking number memorized.” I stalked into the kitchen for a moment’s peace.

When I returned, the three of them were huddled together, very involved in conversation. They spoke softly. Apparently, they didn’t realize I was there.

“Hey.” I put my hand on Nathan’s back.

“Hi.” He turned toward me, ending their conversation abruptly.

“The phone company will be here Monday nine A.M.,” I said.

“Sounds good then.” Richard nodded. “I’ll see you Monday around eight. I’d like to be here prior to any personnel arriving, to make sure everything is in order and on the up and up.”

Luckily we snuck into the hotel unseen. We got up to the suite and started to pack our stuff up.

“I don’t want you to go back to L.A.,” I said while I folded up my new clothes. He walked over from the closet, sat on the bed, and pulled me to him.

“Well, I have to go back, but you could come with me for a few days.” His blue eyes seared through me.

“Yeah right, I wish.” My voice sounded sullen.

“Why not?”

“You know I can’t. Emma has school and I have to work. I can’t just up and leave. Oh, and we can’t forget about my stalker.” The sarcasm in my tone was clear but he ignored it.

“Sounds like a good reason to me for you to get away from here for a few days—you and Emma both. Get her schoolwork for the week. I’m sure Rachel and those guys are more than capable of handling the bar.”

“I already owe her half a plane ticket for her Egyptian adventure in January. If I ask her this I’ll be paying for the entire trip.” I scowled. “Not that I wouldn’t want to, or I couldn’t afford it or anything.” Paying for all of her trip actually wouldn’t be a problem. It was just the thought of pulling three grand from my savings to pay for a ticket—it wasn’t something I wanted to do.

“I just think it’d be a nice break. Honestly, when is the last time you and Emma went on vacation?”

“Ummm...” I pretended to think for a moment. “Never.”

“Fine, it’s settled then. You two, one week, L.A. with me.”

“Nathan, I need to clear this with Rachel and Emma’s school first. We’ll see.”

“I’ll handle Rachel, you go call Cal.” He smacked me on the behind.

“Now?”

“Sure, why not? Have better things to do?” He smirked.

“Actually, I do. Also, it’s Saturday, Nathan.” I laughed. “I’ll call on Monday.” I climbed back on his lap and straddled him. He put his hands on my waist and pulled me as close as possible to him. I leaned in to kiss him.

“I’m not falling for your trickery, Ms. Spagnato. I know you can call him at home.” He brushed his lips against mine.

I pushed my hips against his body harder and I could feel him growing against me. “Oh, I beg to differ.”

“What you do to me, Jordan. It’s... you’re amazing.” His hand found the back of my neck and he grabbed a fistful of hair. Once again his touch sent me over the edge and I slid my hands into his hair and tugged on it gently. He groaned in response.

“Jesus Christ, Jordan, you make me crazy. I love you so much, baby.” He mumbled the words against my lips while he kissed me. I couldn’t respond; his tongue had taken over my mouth. He grabbed my behind and flipped me around so I was lying on the bed. He stood between my legs staring down at me with brooding eyes and that sexy mofo grin as he pulled off my boots. Next was his shirt. I sat up and undid the button on his jeans. As I finished he took my hand and placed it over his heart.

“All yours.”

I couldn’t do anything but smile because if I’d attempted to speak, I would’ve most likely burst into tears. He looked blissfully and hopelessly in love. Believe me, I knew there were things I didn’t know about him, and things he didn’t know about me. But I knew what he was made of—the good stuff. I knew the fundamentals of Nathan Miles Harper. He was kind, giving, and would never hurt us physically or mentally. He was good to the core, and I loved him. That was all that mattered.

“Holy shit, I love you.” I had a nut job smile plastered on my face and pulled him down on top of me.