Brazen and Breathless (Untouchable #6) - Heather Long Page 0,74
we had the morning routines down. But Jake and Archie had been pulling late hours on their super-secret project that even Coop had taken to guessing what it was.
“It’s a space ship,” was his latest inane thought. “Or at least a remote control one you fly using VR technology.”
My favorite had been an alien encounter because they were going to pull the most epic senior prank ever.
Still, they weren’t telling us anything, and I had decided I would not beg for the info. When they wanted to tell me, they would.
“Did I leave my wallet in here?” Ian asked as he ducked into my room. I was sitting on the bed tying my shoes.
“I don’t think so,” I told him as Archie called out to Jake again and rapped on the door. I pulled back the pillows and then we both ducked to look on opposite sides of the bed. I found Archie’s wallet and held it up with a wry smile, but not Ian’s.
We split up, and I headed for the living room, pausing to give Archie a kiss and his wallet, just as Jake opened the door to the bathroom. Archie glared at him, but I scratched my nails gently against the stubble on his cheeks. “It’s kind of sexy like this,” I murmured and winked.
“Yeah?” All at once, Archie’s irritation with Jake seemed to fade, and he gave me another long kiss. “I still need to shave, but nice save.”
I laughed and actually managed to slap his ass as Jake swatted mine, and then Ian was hustling us all out of the way. His wallet was in the fridge for some reason, and I found Coop’s shoes stuffed under the television. No one claimed the socks hanging from the mini-blinds with a resounding chorus of ‘not its,’ but Jake at least took them to throw in the dirty clothes.
After double-checking I had everything in my backpack, I got to the door first and opened it to let us out, only to frown at the note taped to the door. It was the kind we got from the apartment’s main office, usually when they were informing us of exterminators coming or they needed to get in to do some maintenance.
I slit it open and scanned the contents as the guys trailed out one at a time.
My stomach sank.
“Babe,” Archie said, leaning over my shoulder to stare at the note. “What’s wrong?”
It was a notice of intent from the apartment complex. They’d been notified that the lease holder was no longer staying in the apartment. More, that new residents had moved in, a number in excess of those on the lease.
“They can’t kick you out,” Archie told me flatly. “You’re paid up through the end of May. They can try, but they cashed the check.”
Panic scrabbled against the inside of my gut and dug its claws into my spine as I read the legalese and warning. They’d been informed.
Maddy’s last message.
Call me. Don’t make me do something you’ll regret.
“Hey,” Jake said, rubbing a slow circle against the small of my back. It was cold outside, our breath fogged in front of us, but I barely felt any of the chill. At least not the external one. “What can we do?”
“I’ll take care of it…” Archie began, but I shook my head.
“No,” I told him, not losing my grip on the paper. “I have to do this one. I need to call Mr. Wittaker, if he’s still my attorney.”
“What do you mean if?” Archie cut a look at me. “He’s your attorney, babe. If he wasn’t going to represent you, he would have notified you already.” He scowled.
“Maddy mentioned that she knew I was using one of Mr. Standish’s attorneys.”
“He’s your attorney now, and this isn’t a matter against Edward,” Archie reminded me. “But call him and let him set your mind at ease, then we can tackle the apartments.”
I chewed my lower lip and caught Ian and Coop studying me. Coop radiated quiet support right now. He would be right there if I needed him, but Ian looked like he was trying to assess where best to help, even as Jake and Archie both hovered.
Hovered wasn’t the right word. They were right there, ready to throw down. But this was also my fight. My fight with Maddy, and this was her way of getting my attention.
“I’m going to take my car today,” I said, fully prepared for that to not go over well.