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Loch levelled him with a look, and it hit him. “Yeah, her,” he whispered as Levi looked around the door.
Seeing no one else up front as the pretty, young woman and her mother stood there, he said to Loch, “You wanna know her name, right?” His brother nodded. “You know how old she is?”
“Not a damn clue.”
“Let’s go.” He pulled the door open before Loch could argue, and announced their arrival. “Welcome, I apologize for the wait. How can I help you?” His words were for the mother, but his eyes did a quick run over the girl.
“Oh, hello, I was hoping to see Mr. Hogan.” The older woman’s face was serious and her tone was put upon.
“I’m one of the Mr. Hogan’s.” He stuck his hand out to her. “Call me Levi.” He smiled when he saw the girl’s eyes dart quickly to Loch.
“Mrs. Marlowe,” she said. “I’ve been dealing with another man, though. I’d like to see him.” Her tone was getting less and less friendly, and she wouldn’t take his hand.
Dropping it, he pointed to his brother. “That’s my other brother Lochlan. Was it him you were dealing with?”
“No,” she damn near snapped. “It was another. Perhaps, I’ll just come back.”
The girl's smile died, and Loch froze just as he was about to walk forward. Christ, he knew he had to watch his own attitude for Loch’s sake with the damn girl, but the woman was pissing him off.
“Alright, Mrs. Marlowe. If you and…” He let his inquiry hang so he could get the girl’s name.
“Sage,” she whispered, catching onto what he was doing. Smart kid.
“Sage, if you’d like to have a seat, I’ll give Nox a call and see where he’s at. Can Loch get either of you something to drink while you wait?” He could be diplomatic, dammit.
She looked at him, about to say something, when her mother interrupted. “No. Now please, could you call Mr. Hogan?”
The girl wilted like a flower at first snowfall. Her features crestfallen as she sat. Loch slinked back to the shop, defeat written in his eyes. And the mother, the evil witch of the damn west, had a triumphant look in her eyes.
She was a customer he had to keep reminding himself as he walked back to Nox’s office to call the man.
“Yeah?” Nox answered on the third ring, out of breath, and he knew immediately what the man had been up to since Soph was nowhere in sight either.
“Ya know what? Never mind. Back to the baby making, big bro.”
“Levi!” Nox yelled before he could hang up.
“Yo!”
“What the hell do you want?” he asked.
“Mrs. Marlowe is here.” He didn’t get a chance to say more.
“Daughter with her?” Nox asked.
“Sure is.”
“Brake fluid,” he replied hanging up.
Looking at the phone, Levi muttered, “Alrighty then.”
“God fucking dammit!” Well shit. Asher and Eli had collided.
“Hey!” he snapped and whistled as he walked out of the office. Mrs. Marlowe was pale and horrified at Eli’s outburst, and when she went to smack Asher, the woman damn near fainted. “Shit. Would you two stop? Just stop. I don’t have time for this. Either walk away or go fuck. I don’t care which but piss off already.”
Too late, his words had done their damage, and Sage and her mother were walking out. Loch watched with what could only be described as a broken spirit because they both knew if she left, they weren’t coming back.
“I’ll fix this!” Levi called to his brother, rushing after the two women. “Mrs. Marlowe, wait! Please wait!” She paused by her vehicle.
