Part 17 (1/2)
”No, well, not right now. After this semester, during winter break. I can't focus on a move at this moment with my upcoming exams, but definitely when it's all over. That is, if you still want me?”
”Are you kidding? You can move in tonight. h.e.l.l, you don't need to move a thing. I'll do it all so you can focus on your studies.”
Laughing, I rolled my eyes, ”Marcus, you can wait a few more weeks.”
”What if I withhold s.e.x from you until you move in? Would that make you move in any faster?”
My jaw dropped open with a gasp. ”You wouldn't dare.”
With a mischievous grin, he leaned back in his chair, placing both his hands behind his head. ”Oh, how the tables have turned. You remember that two-week bet? It'll be a bit similar.”
My expression fell. He did not just go there! I reached for the napkin and tossed it at him. He burst out laughing.
”That is so not fair.”
”Maybe you're right, but I remember having that same argument about your little arrangement.” He winked.
When I went to speak again, his phone beeped. He grabbed it from the table and swiped the screen to read the message. His facial expression went from humorous to unreadable within a matter of seconds. ”Everything okay?” My eyes scanned his face.
”Yeah, but I need to get going.”
”What? You mean our night is over?”
He glanced at me with apologetic eyes. ”Yes, babe, I'm sorry. I have to be somewhere, and it's very important.”
”Where do you have to be?”
”I have to meet with Jimmie.”
”For what?”
”To collect some information.”
”What kind of information?”
Our eyes locked. We were pleading with each other; he was pleading with me to stop the interrogation and I was pleading with him to answer.
”Mia, can you just drop it? The information is confidential.”
I dropped my gaze. ”Okay. I'm going to use the restroom and then we can go.” I stood from my chair and began to briskly pa.s.s him when he caught my wrist.
”Mia, just trust me, okay?” I nodded and hurried to the restroom.
After Marcus paid the bill, we jumped in his car and drove in silence back to my apartment. For the entire drive, my mind raced, wondering what the information could be that he claimed was so important. I shouldn't be upset that he was leaving, but in a way, I couldn't help it. I hadn't seen him in over two weeks, and I wanted to be selfish, even if it was for one night.
As he pulled up in front of my building, Marcus tugged at my chin for me to look at him. I tore my gaze from the pa.s.senger window and focused on him. ”Mia, I'm sorry. I promise we'll have plenty of nights together. I just really need to take care of a few things. I'm working on our future.”
What was that supposed to mean? But I knew that questioning him was problematic, so instead, I leaned in and kissed him. ”I know you are.” I gently smiled. ”We have the rest of our lives together, right?”
His eyes gleamed. ”Exactly.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE.
MARCUS.
After Mia entered her apartment building, I waited for a few minutes and then sped off. As I kept my eyes focused on the road, I quickly dialed Jimmie's number, only glancing a few times at the screen. On the third ring, he answered, his voice in surround sound coming out of my car speakers. ”Are you on your way?” He asked.
”Yeah, you're home, right?”
”Yep.”
”Are you going to give me any clue about this urgent info that you retrieved?
”Nope.” The information he had must have been intense because he didn't disclose it over the phone.
”Fine, I just dropped Mia off. I should be home in forty minutes.”
”See you soon, Bro.”
With traffic, it was impossible to go any faster than I was already going. As I ripped through the hectic city of Greater Boston to Back Bay, where trucks double-parked and pedestrians hadn't a care in the world as they risked walking in front of moving vehicles, my mind was immersed in the last couple of weeks. Mia was busy with school, which prevented her from questioning my absence. Jimmie and I had been working hard on trying to find any piece of information that could link us to who Michael was working with. We searched old doc.u.ments and emails he had sent us.
It was difficult to trust anyone, so we walked on eggsh.e.l.ls and were careful with whom we spoke. We knew that any of Lou's men were out of the question. Even if we suspected one of his men, we couldn't risk it. I hadn't spoken to that b.a.s.t.a.r.d since our encounter at Gio's home a couple of weeks back. Jimmie wasn't thrilled with it, but it got us away from Lou, for now at least, until we found something to bring the f.u.c.ker down. Lou used the club last Sunday for the first time. I had heard it was a smooth transaction, but I knew that it wouldn't always be the case. For the life of me, I couldn't figure out his infatuation with the d.a.m.n club.
After a pain-in-the-a.s.s car ride, I finally reached my home. Hopping out of the car, I hurried into the house, tossed my keys onto the table by the door, and entered the living room area. Jimmie was there with Elle. He nodded in acknowledgment.
”Uncle Marc!” Elle squealed in excitement. I hadn't seen Elle for the past couple of weeks either, with her being in school and with my sleeping in my d.a.m.n car at night watching Mia's place.
”Hey, sweetheart.” Elle ran over to me and pulled me into a hug.
Jimmie stood up from the couch. ”Elle, Uncle Marc and I need to talk, and it's past your bedtime. Get ready for bed, and I'll be up in a little while to tuck you in.”
”Pfft.” She sucked her teeth. Jimmie sent an authoritative glare her way. She slightly pouted and bowed her head. ”Sorry, Daddy. Good night, Uncle Marc.”
”Night, baby.” I waited until she made it up the stairs then shot Jimmie a narrow glare.
”What?”
”Why are you making my little girl pout?” I asked him.
”My little girl, Marcus. Remember that.” He shook his head. ”She's been giving me a lot of att.i.tude lately. I need to show her who's the parent, or she'll walk all over me, as she does with you.”
”Whatever.” No point in getting into that. ”What's going on?”
He looked over my shoulder and then leaned in to whisper, ”I found out who was working with Michael, and you won't f.u.c.kin' believe who he is.”
”Who?” He nudged his head behind me. I turned to see my office door closed. ”He's here?” Jimmie nodded. ”What the f.u.c.k, Jimmie? Are you sure he's not working with Lou?”