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“Logical guess.”
“Simon was rattled.”
Margo shook her head and moved back from the window to grip her elbows. “One way of putting it. Did you find out anything worthwhile yet?”
“Still digging. So far, a few things have popped.”
“Gonna share them?”
Li sighed and pushed a hand through her perfectly ordered hair. “Nothing of note. He was kicked out of two schools. Has a bit of a record.”
Margo’s heart went into a gallop. “For what, exactly?”
“Mostly the usual juvenile stuff. B&E, a couple of assaults—one at his last high school—and a few minor robberies. Little league stuff in the world of criminals, and nothing for a couple of years.”
“What about the family ties? Did you find a path back to Simon’s parents?”
Lila linked her hands at her waist and squarely met Margo’s gaze. “I haven’t gone through all the levels yet, but as it stands now, it appears valid.”
That single word—valid—knocked Margo back a step. “It’s true? No chance otherwise?”
“I haven’t finished digging yet.”
“But so far?”
“So far, yes.” Lila’s face softened. “Surely it can’t be that much of a shock that it could be true. You saw him. Heard him. I know his existence at all is disconcerting, but—”
“Disconcerting? Is that what we’re calling it now?” Margo couldn’t hold back her temper, so she let it fly. “Do you have any clue what his showing up—and how he did it—did to my husband?”
The door opened. Not the door to the suite, but the connecting one between them. Nick meandered out, bare-footed, scrubbing a hand over his crazy hair. “You women understand the concept of sleeping in, or what?”
“Simon is missing,” Lila said.
Immediately, Nick’s sleepy tawny eyes went sharp. “What the fuck does that mean?”
“He’s not missing,” Margo snapped. “He’s just not here. He’s allowed to leave the suite.” Hearing the defensiveness in her tone made her hunch her shoulders. She’d brought them into her problems after all, so it wasn’t fair to blame them for reacting. “I’m sorry. I’m just on edge.”
“Understandably.” Li rubbed Margo’s arm. “Where could he have gone?” she asked Nick. “Do you have any ideas?”
“How the fuck should I know?” But he’d no sooner asked the question that he went back into the other room and returned with his sneakers and a jacket. He sat on the edge of the bed and pulled them on before doing the same with his jacket.
Margo moved forward. “It’s my job to go look for him.”
Nick cocked a brow, his question clear.
Then what are you doing standing around?
A legitimate point, and one she’d only come to right then. But they were in London, for God’s sake. Should she search out Ian’s address—if it was readily available, and she had to believe it was if she thought Simon could’ve found it—and present herself there?
And then what? Drag Simon home by his ear? That was if he was even there. If not, then what?
She wrapped her arms around herself and bowed her head. “I was giving him space.”
“Yeah, well, maybe you should do that as the little wife. I’m not saying it’s wrong,” Nick held up a hand as his own wife pointed at him, “I’m just saying that’s not my deal. Simon may hate me for it half the time, but I go get his ass and pull him out of shit. Just as he does for me. You don’t have quite the same capabilities as I do on that level.” He rose and cracked his knuckles. “Maybe that Ian kid needs to be taught some respect.”
Lila charged toward him and got right in his face. It would’ve been amusing had Margo not been strung tighter than one of her bows. “Oh hell no. You are not going to get in a fistfight with some kid spoiling for a payday. Have you lost your mind?”
“No, I’m well aware what’s at risk. I also know Simon was my brother before this asshole punk ever showed up, and if I need to demonstrate that…” Nick shrugged. “A guy’s gotta do what a guy’s gotta do.”
