Keeping You: KJ Elite Inc. (21 page)

I’m sure he’s proud for figuring it out but pissed and concerned for Jamie who he’s come to really care for as a little sister.

“How did you find out?” Dad asked. Worry etched his brow making him look all of his 50 years old plus a few extra.

“The same reason the FBI
and
CIA wanted my sexy fine ass. The reason why I found out who Matt really is and how I found Jamie. There is nothing in this world I can’t find with time.

Because I am Luke, tech God.” He bragged.

“A head that big is going to get you killed boy.” Our dad said quietly, shaking his head.

“Stuff it, Boy Ego. Where is Nolan?” I asked angrily.

That son of a bitch was the key to this whole thing. He knows what really happened to Jamie’s dad and who is chasing her today. I put my last penny on him keeping a close eye to Jamie’s life. There are some cases you just don’t let go. Ever. A case as big as Jamie’s would haunt any half-decent man.

“That, I am still working on. The FBI has really stepped up their security since the last time I dug around in unclassified files of things and people who don’t really exist. It’s like they don’t want me to look around or something.” Luke joked.

All I can do is shake my head; if I open my mouth, I may very well say something I will regret later. Dad’s right about his head. I know it’s no one’s fault, in this room anyway, what is happening but that doesn’t exactly a rational head, give.

“How long?” Charlie asked.

“No more than a week. I told yall before – they really bury these people. Fake lives and people to corroborate. Nolan’s file is pretty sparse as is. This may even take some footwork in whatever info I
do
manage to drag up. We have nothing to go off of recently because according to the FBI, he’s officially dead since that fire.”

“Do we have a first or last name?” One of my guys, Paulie asked.

He stood around an even six foot, muscles to boot like a real meathead. Paulie was feeling closer to this case since he was from New York – says kids from the projects gotta stick together. Jamie hasn’t met him yet since he was running surveillance today around the compound. I have a feeling they may know each other by the way his eyes lit up when he heard who we brought home. The rescue was all about family. Now that she may still be in danger, he’s more intense than normal. Paulie is a Marine vet that I served on a few missions with. He was a part of Mike’s team. Good guy; I trust him. And, after Dillon we reran all of our staff in an incredibly thorough and deep background checks. No stone’s unturned. Every step was accounted for since that was our mistake last time and we always learn from our mistakes. Well, as a company we do; as individuals it usually takes four or five times.

“No. It’s just Nolan a.k.a. No.” He answered, shaking his head.

“Alright. Devote all spare time to that while running these guys in town and following the emails. We know now that we aren’t chasing some runt rat; this is a dirty mother fucker with steep pockets and a lot of connections. They know what they’re doing and considering we have another rogue super soldier on the loose, my gut is tore up wondering if we’ll be so lucky this go round. We can only hope Nolan isn’t chasing Jamie.” I tell Luke.

It wouldn’t make any sense if Nolan was dirty. Why save the girls life and leave her to fight when he could have easily taken her at any time? Easy, he wouldn’t. Sure, there were some really twisted psycho’s out there but I don’t think that’s Nolan. Which means there is a sad sack out there that wants my woman and he’s got a fighting chance while he still remains a mystery. That’s his best bet – stay a ghost. Little does he know though, even if he manages to get to her, he’ll still have to go through me and come hell or high water I will move mountains to keep her safe.

I can hear everyone around me talking but it’s all bouncing off of the barrier that’s surrounding my head. If it’s important, they’ll shake me, they know the deal.

My eyelids shut like a store front at closing, locking in all my thoughts. I cover my ears and rest my elbows on the table trying to think this through. Luke spins himself, I shut everyone out.

* * *

“Quick, we probably only have thirty to forty minutes. Spill everything.” Taylor demands, flopping us down on a fluffy microfiber couch. I still don’t have much weight so both of us combined helps us to sink in real deep except we’re connected at the hip. Not that mind, Taylor isn’t a threat to me – that’s the one thing I know beyond a shadow of a doubt in this whole world.

“How was your honeymoon? How’s the apartment? And Mrs. Jenkins?” I ask, throwing the spotlight back on her. Waiting for her to answer, I twist and toss my legs to the left, laying my head in her lap. She picks up my hair to play with and narrows her eyes at me.

“Nice try. The honeymoon was fabulous except for the part where Jason showed up after hearing I was in town. Creeper status much? There were obscene amounts of hot, sweaty sex on pretty much every surface so be glad you aren’t going back. Oh, but not on your stuff, so you’re in the clear. The apartment is fine, being packed up as we speak and Mrs. Jenkins is still nosey as freakin’ ever, gardening to her hearts content which is actually a funny and ironic phrase considering Tommy told me what she’s actually doing on the roof. Growing pot. Says she has a bad heart. HAH! Can you believe it? Now your turn. Spill.”

My eyebrows were drawn in and I had to let all of her jumbled rant process. Why would Jason show up at our apartment? He was this insanely hot and very famous guy who was named America’s number one most eligible bachelor. Last I heard he was interested in Tay but considering the fact that Tay and Tommy were married it seems weird that he would show up.

“Why was Jason at the apartment?”

“Oh. Okay, so long story short he thought I wanted him chase me and he really digs that kind of shit. I told him no, Tommy told him no, he got your note that D-bag made you write and showed up to profess his undying like. Told Tommy it wasn’t over and if I ever doubted our union that he would sniff it out and use it against Tommy to win me over. I guess he thought I was in town alone? I don’t really know. Sorry, I forgot to tell you.”

I winced when she mentioned my note. Dillon held me at knifepoint and forced me to write something as if I were Taylor. At the time I was drugged and terrified so I just did what he said. It still hurt to know I caused some kind of turmoil.

I opened my mouth but she put her tiny hand over it.

“Stop. Don’t even try to apologize, it wasn’t your fault. The end.”

“What happened when he showed up?”

“Well, let’s just say that he won’t be seen in public for a while and if he is, it’ll be with about twelve pounds of makeup on.”

She wiggled her nose and giggled.

“Now what is going on with you and Noah?”

“Isn’t he like your brother? Do you really want to know?”

Taylor is probably the only person who knows most about me. More than anyone else at least.

I really needed her advice so I hope she says yes but I don’t wanna push her.

“I ain’t too proud to b-e-e-e-e-e-e-g, sweet darlin’!” She sang horrendously.

A loud laugh escaped my throat and my chest shook. There is nothing like having quality time with your best friend. I really took it for granted.

“Jeez. Noah was right. You really are doing so much better. I’m proud of you. Don’t let him win.”

Too sentimental right now.

“Noah put his fingers in me and then sucked on them. Then I gave him head in the shower.” I blurted. Then followed my “Oh my God” with a facepalm.

This is one of those moments like Mike Birbiglia talks about; “What I should have said was nothing, what I did say was, ‘you’d be surprised’.” Except it’s not about me being a potential rapist.

I’m pretty sure Taylor’s head just went through the roof and if this room weren’t sound proofed, she probably would have alerted everyone to run in here by her shrieking death siren. This time,
I
threw
my
hand on
her
mouth.

“Okay. Um. Wow. Let me process.”

“I don’t know what to do.”

“Jamie, that’s not just doing better. That’s like…holy crap.”

I just lay there and wait. My mind has had long enough to process our progress and surprisingly, I’m on board with it all. In fact, I want a lot more.

“Are you okay with how fast yall are moving? I mean, technically yall aren’t really moving all that fast considering you’ve been home for over a month and living in his house. Do you want some kind of commitment from him?”

“I feel pretty good about it. Honestly, my body just moves with him and my hormones take over. There isn’t much thinking happening. I wanted to give myself time to see if I’d flip out, but I haven’t. He’s…gosh, Tay, he’s surreal. On more than one occasion Noah has told me that he’s all mine and I have him completely.”

I bit my lip and her eyes widened to saucers.

“Jamie, that’s fucking huge. Noah has always been a downright whore.”

“Gee, thanks.”

“Shit, sorry. I just mean that he didn’t even have a steady girlfriend in high school. Noah never repeated a girl. Ever. I would bet it all that he hadn’t changed his ways since.”

“Great, so if I sleep with him, I’ll also sleep with every woman in Devine that yous guys went to school with?”

“I’m not making this better for him. You’re getting really annoyed.”

“Am not.” I grumbled.

“You just said ‘yous guys’. You only go straight New Yorker when you’re annoyed and or defensive.” She said pointedly.

“I have to ask you something and I really need to know the answer.”

“How do you know I know the answer?”

Now she was nervous. Good. She dug her own hole. Hers and Noah’s both.

“You know, that little sweetheart Louisa sure looks a lot like a certain black hair, grey eyed guy we both know.”

“No. Absolutely not.” Taylor said, her voice raised an octave, shaking her head.

“I need to know, Taylor. Please,” I begged.

“That’s what I’m telling you, James. Louisa is not his. First of all, he doesn’t do anything without protection. I mean condom and she has to be on the pill to have a shot at getting him in the sack. That baby is not Noah’s.”

“You’re absolutely positive?” 

I can’t help but bite my cheek nervously.

“One hundred and twelve percent. Tommy said he even announced it to the guys when he introduced Baby on Friday.” She nodded and went back to braiding my hair.

I closed my eyes, letting out a deep breath I was holding in unknowingly.

“Why not just ask him yourself, James?” Her tone wasn’t harsh or judgmental; just curious.

“I didn’t want to upset him. I mean, he mentioned he never thought he could have kids but that was before I saw little Louisa. It’s almost uncanny. And the way he dotes on her. I had to be sure. Even if she was his, I wouldn’t mind but I don’t know…”

“I get it. You trust him and that scares the pants off of you. You’re subconsciously trying to find something that makes it easier to break away if the time comes. It’s just how you’ve always been. Cut and run. Trust is scary.”

“Geez, is that what this is? I thought I was losing my mind.”

“Well, it’s trust
and
love.”

She winked and hugged my upper body to hers. I inhaled her soothing scent; Tay always smelt like strawberry gloss and candy – her vices. It was a smell I associated with safety and home. Probably because she’s been my only family and roommate for five years now.

“Love?” I cough-choked when I realized what she had said.

“L-o-v-e, baby! Doesn’t it make you want to puke and jump for joy?”

We both laughed, hard.

“I’ve never loved anyone, Taylor.” I said, sobering.

“Sure you have. You love Matt and me. It’s just different because, well, I think it’s obvious.” She grinned.

“So… should I tell him?”

“Hmm. I think that’s up to you. Some guys might freak out about it but Noah isn’t most guys. I don’t think it’ll make a difference either way. Plus, I think it’ll be fun to see his face when he finds out.”

“You lucked out.”

“Well, if Noah pussies out, I’m sure there’s a long line of men in this very building who are only too willing to step up.” Taylor said laughing.

I cringe at her use of the p word which only makes her laugh harder.

“Good Lord, Jamie. Just say it. Do it, one time. It can be shit, fuck, damn, bitch, ass, cock – anything. Just say a vulgar word. It’s good for the soul.”

I flew up and flipped around to face her.

“I can’t.”

“It’ll make you feel good. C’mon! Peer pressure, peer pressure, peer pressure!” She chanted, pumping her fists like a cheerleader.

She’s not going to leave me alone. Last time, she and Matt followed me around for two weeks nagging me until I whispered “Hell.” I’m pretty sure she won’t let me get away with saying it this time.

“Sugar-honey-iced-tea.”