AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Anyone ever tell you that you’re like the bossy brother I never had or ever wanted?”
Trent’s lips twist. “Just remember what I said. Nick has your best interests at heart. We all do.”
Liam is waiting just inside the door and holds it open for me. “You okay, Allie? If there’s something we should know, tell us. We can’t fix it unless you do.”
“It’s nothing to worry about, promise. Everything will look better with a good night’s sleep.”
Trent joins us, but Liam still doesn’t look convinced. “You good with covering around back?” Trent asks him.
“No problem at all.”
Trent guides me up to the hostess as Liam heads to the back of the restaurant to his stake out position. “Montgomery party,” Trent says to the blonde.
Bella gives me a wink and proceeds to sway her ass with exaggerated motion in front of Trent all the way to the table, where Sheldon and Lexie are snuggled in tightly next to each other. The only empty seat at the table is right between Lexie and Nick, and the devil himself watches me with an intense blue gaze that could crack more than ice at this very moment.
Chapter Eight
Nick
I’m still tryingto make sense of Allie’s unplanned departure from the gym and my conversation with Trent on the walk to my vehicle. But it and everything else slides down the rung of priority when Scottie’s voice comes over the speaker. “I’ve just sent you the files with full dossiers on the men involved. They’re boarding a plane as we speak, lad, and heading straight for New York City.”
It’s a good thing the ladies are going out tonight because they won’t have much freedom after these fuckers get on American soil. At least until they’re caught. I stare into the cold, lifeless eyes of Darwin F. Pierce on the image. A master at altering his looks, he could blend in with the surroundings and manage to go unrecognized even by the most seasoned of men. A chameleon that even the FBI had a hard time identifying through the gluttony of aliases. Still, those eyes are distinguishing, and I would recognize him anywhere. Unfortunately, we’re now dealing with three of his accomplices who have more on their rap sheets than he ever did. The network Darwin worked for isn’t going to send out their operatives unless something about the ladies' interactions with Darwin could trace back to their organization. Unless they’re after one or both of the ladies for the trafficking industry, either scenario of which I find un-fucking-acceptable.
We’ll share necessary information with the ladies tonight, but most will need to be deciphered and used for planning. I finish up with Scottie and head to my own place. The drive isn’t long but the tension after Allie’s unplanned departure and Trent’s vague comments about giving her a little space before meeting with her tonight leave my muscles tense and me on edge. I jump in the shower, letting the pelting water ease away some of the tension before getting ready for the night.
The ride to Donavan’s gives me time to think. Sheldon and Lexie are arriving just as I near the front entrance. “Congratulations on the engagement. Sorry we had to rush out so fast last night and missed the big proposal. I’m glad someone had the foresight to get it on video.” I give Sheldon a grin because who would have thought the man who didn’t ever date would wind up finding the love of his life in the middle of a coffee run? I give the hostess my last name, and she takes us to a round table near the back where we can see everyone coming and going from the front and can exit through the back door of the establishment if the need should arise, just as requested.
Sheldon holds a chair out for Lexie. I leave a seat for Allie next to Lexie, knowing they’ll want to catch up. I glance at my watch. The GPS on the SUV gives Trent an ETA of three minutes. I barely comprehend the conversation going on around me, waiting for him to arrive with Allie, but that’s hardly going to get her ass out of trouble for her behavior earlier. She removes her coat while talking with Liam just inside the entrance. Jesus, she’s beautiful. Her form-fitting cobalt blue sweater flatters her figure, and she’s curled her hair for the evening. Damn, she looks good. Allie turns to hang her jacket up, and my cock presses suggestively against the seam of my zipper. Long legs crawl right up to that ass in those tight-fitting jeans. My cock twitches hard to let me know he’s paying close attention to that. Yeah, me too, buddy, me too. My jaw tightens as Trent walks in a few moments later and puts his hand on the top of Allie’s back and escorts her toward the hostess.
Trent guides Allie to the table and makes small talk with Sheldon for a few minutes, nodding in my direction before excusing himself. I stand to hold out the empty chair for Allie. She’s quiet and tentative, looking around first as if seeking another option before settling on the one I’ve offered.
The waitress comes around to take drink orders now that the entire party has arrived. “The usual to start?” she asks Allie.
Allie laughs. “Sounds good, Stella. It’s been a rough couple of days.” The ladies both order a pint of Smithwick’s.
“Because it’s always Smithwick’s when at Donovan's.” Lexie beams up at Sheldon, and he looks down at her with a grin. I shift in my seat. That kind of intimacy is something I’ve never really thought about or considered wanting in the past.
The waitress soon brings a tray full of red-colored ale to the table. Allie lifts her glass. “A toast to Lexie and Sheldon. Congratulations on your engagement!” she remarks, as we all clink the edges in the middle of the table. “I’m sorry that I missed your proposal, Sheldon, but Lexie sent me the video earlier. Well done! I especially liked the down on your knee part, and this ring is to die for.” She holds up her friend’s hand, showing off the marquise-cut two carat diamond. “I’m so excited for you both.”
“Thank you,” he replies, squeezing Lexie with the arm that’s wrapped around her.
Allie’s pink-colored lips part along the rim of the glass. She takes a long sip before catching the waitress on her way back to the bar. “The ladies aren’t driving tonight, and I’m not the charge nurse on call, so you can just keep them coming.” Allie winks at her, who beams a conspiratorial smile in return.
“I’ll keep you ladies filled up,” Stella informs her, sashaying away to the bar, returning with two more drafts and placing them in front of each of the ladies.
Lexie grins and dramatically narrows her eyes at her best friend. “It seems you have a knack for getting me into hot water at Donovan’s.”
Sheldon laughs, smiling down at Lexie. “I seem to recall you didn’t need much persuasion the last time you two were here together. This time, a drink or two, and then we have some things we need to discuss,” he remarks after the waitress takes our dinner order.
Lexie tilts her head and looks up at Sheldon, her bright violet-blue eyes brimming with amusement. “I suppose we had a little too much to drink.”
“Something I should know?” I ask, watching the exchange.
“Inside joke,” Allie answers, sliding one empty mug to the center of the table and taking a large sip of another cold brew that has been placed next to her.
Lexie flushes, presumably with embarrassment at her friend’s behavior. She attempts to fill the awkward silence with the proposal and upcoming wedding plans, and the ladies manage to polish off their drinks before the waitress returns with another round, refills the water glasses, and pours another cup of coffee for Sheldon and myself.
The ladies continue to talk and sip on their drinks while I talk with Sheldon. “I think before they have too many more drinks, we should bring them up to speed on the latest update from Scottie.”
