Infuriating - Onley James Page 0,22

she turned on him. “What’s going on with you and Wonder Bread in there?”

“Don’t call him that,” Jackson said, side-eyeing her as they waited for the elevator.

“What? I’m just saying. You never bring clients to the house. Ever. And he’s real pretty. Like flawless. I know you’re a sucker for those boys with big blue eyes and a sob story. I saw the way you looked at him. You like him. Like, you like him-like him.”

Jackson rolled his eyes as they stepped onto the elevator. “What are you, in middle school? You sound like Mom. I met him yesterday morning. He’s a client. He’s…prickly, and he witnessed something pretty traumatic, so I thought he’d be more comfortable here than in some bare bones safe house.”

Ruby narrowed her eyes at him. “So, you’re willing to risk the lives of the people in this building for his comfort? Sounds like he’s more than a client. Besides, when was the last time you actually took on a client? Ever? You’re the boss. You have tons of employees.”

Jackson huffed out a sigh through his nose. “Ruby. Stop. He’s not a client. Not officially. Jimmy asked me for a favor. As Dad’s old partner. What was I going to say? No?”

Ruby shook her head. “You could just tell Mom the truth, you know? It’s been a long time. She’s ready to hear it.”

The doors to the elevator opened just in time. Jackson headed towards the front desk where a young desk attendant with brown hair flopping over his right eye was now seated. Jackson stopped at the desk, leaning over it menacingly. “Where were you when my sister got here ten minutes ago?”

“Wh-what?” the boy stammered, looking up at Jackson like he might hurt him.

“I pay an obscene amount of money for a desk that’s guarded twenty-four-seven and that’s what I expect. This desk is never to be unmanned.”

“I just came on shift. J-Just now. I’ll tell my supervisor.”

“AJ! Stop scaring him. What is wrong with you?” his sister asked, her tone taking on a sharp edge.

Jackson tapped his hand on the desk. “I’m sorry. Please let your supervisor know I want to speak with him. Jackson Avery. Apartment 2501.”

The desk clerk nodded, scribbling the details on a message pad. Jackson stomped towards his sister’s Mercedes SUV that she’d parked illegally. “What is it you just had to give me?”

“Shit about having a stranger in your apartment. Seriously. Are my children safe here? Is somebody coming after him?”

“You think I’d let anything happen to those kids? He wasn’t the target, just a witness, but it's highly unlikely the killer even knows who Day is or where he lives. Jimmy is just being extra cautious because the victim was a high-level target.”

“High-level target? You’re not exactly making me feel better here,” Ruby said, crossing her arms over her chest and cocking her hip to the side.

“Do you want me to watch your kids or not?” Jackson asked, leveling a stare at his sister. She was the only person who could make him lose his patience. “Just go to your luncheon thing and watch your husband get his award and leave the kids to me.”

She snorted. “You can lie to yourself but you can’t lie to me. There’s something about that boy in there, and you and I both know it.”

“Please, get in your car and drive away, woman.”

“K, love you, bye,” she chirped, using the same voice as his nieces.

Jackson watched her drive off before he started to make his way back up to the apartment, giving another wave of apology to the boy behind the desk as he went. When he reached his apartment, it was weirdly quiet. Jackson went to his office and flipped on the cameras. Keisha and Isaac were lying on Jackson’s bed, Keisha munching on her waffle and Isaac’s fingers flying on the controller. He flicked to the camera in the hallway just outside Day’s open door. Inside, Day sat on the floor with Chloe, who had pulled several items from Day’s drawers. She wore huge white sunglasses and a hot pink feather boa over her clothing. He had no idea what Day was saying to her but they were both emphatically gesturing to each other, like two old ladies at a cocktail party.

Jackson couldn’t help but laugh. He kept the cameras focused on both rooms as he sat answering emails and checking in with Jimmy on where he was with the case, asking him to send the file so he