Maximum Commitment (Sin City #13) - Tricia Owens Page 0,54

to the wedding.

“Everything I’ve seen fills me with confidence,” he’d told her. “Continue with your plans. Ethan and I are nothing but pleased by what you’ve organized so far.”

Ethan thought about Max’s words on the drive to the airport.

“You’re setting up a head-on collision, I hope you know that.”

“I’m driving in my lane.”

Ethan smiled faintly. “Your mom and my mom and us. Marcela is going to need time to accept that venue under those conditions.”

“Possibly.”

“There’s no ‘possibly’ about it. I’d bet a stack on it.”

“Knowing your history with gambling, I should probably take that bet.” Max ran a hand casually through his hair, seemingly unaware of how sexy he looked while doing it. “The wedding will work itself out. I don’t want you worrying over it.”

“It’s difficult not to. I feel like there are a lot of obstacles.”

“Please trust that they will be resolved in time.”

“I will, but only because it’s you saying this. If anyone can pull this off, it’s you.”

“It will be our mothers, actually.”

Ethan shook his head, still unconvinced, though he remained hopeful. “We’ll see.”

He startled at the vibration coming from his pants pocket. “Uh oh.”

Max glanced over at him as Ethan pulled out his phone.

She won’t believe me. No one believes me anymore.

“It’s Theo,” Ethan said after reading the text. “He says Veronica won’t believe him. Sounds like he hasn’t tried, though.”

“Ask him for details. If he provides none, you’ll know the motive behind this.”

Ethan typed back.

What is the issue? What makes you think I’ll believe you after what you pulled?

He probably shouldn’t have added the last bit, but he was still a little ticked off with Theo’s stunt.

I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Ethan. I shouldn’t have done that. I know I betrayed your trust. I was a major asshole to you.

“He finally admitted he tricked me,” Ethan murmured. “Progress.”

Max glanced over again but remained silent.

But you have to believe me. I’m telling the truth now. Someone is after me. They’re going to attack me here in Vegas.

Ethan frowned. How do you know that? he typed back.

This person has been following me from event to event. He doesn’t want an autograph. He wants to hurt me.

The words concerned Ethan, his naturally protective nature coming out, but he reminded himself to treat everything with a grain of salt when it came to Theo.

Did you point him out to Veronica? To event security?

No! No one believes me!

“Theo...” Ethan groaned. He typed, How do you expect anyone to help you if you don’t ask for their help?

I’m asking you for help right now! Fuck!

That sounded like the Theo he semi-knew. Ethan could imagine him cursing and muttering as no one met his expectations.

I’m no longer your agent, Ethan typed to him. If you feel this man is a genuine threat, inform Veronica. She WILL help you. If she refuses, contact me. Okay?

Ten seconds passed. Thirty. A minute stretched into five with no new text.

“Well?” Max prompted.

“I don’t know,” Ethan admitted, lowering his phone and accepting that Theo wasn’t going to respond. “If I knew him better, I could tell you if this is all one big PR stunt for him. But I couldn’t get a good bead on him while we were together. He never played it straight with anyone, least of all with me.”

“Try Veronica. See what she thinks of this.”

Ethan brought up her number and sent a message for her to contact him when she had a moment. Five minutes later his phone buzzed with her text.

Aren’t you supposed to be on vacation?

He smiled and typed back. Short vacation. We’ll be home this evening. I heard from Theo yesterday. He’s concerned about a stalker. Anything on your end?

No one has stood out. Did he give you a description?

Only that it’s a male.

As he typed his answer, he flashed back to the attacker at the airport, Freckles. The man had been Theo’s friend or co-hort. What if Theo was using the same man again for this new scenario? Ethan would recognize him, but Veronica wouldn’t and would believe he was a genuine threat.

Ethan puffed his cheeks and blew out the air. If Theo used Freckles again, it would be beyond ballsy. It’d be borderline delusional, perhaps suggesting that he suffered from mental issues.

Veronica took a few extra seconds to respond with, That narrows it down a lot but I haven’t noticed anyone suspicious.

Ethan was about to recommend that Veronica look up the airport video so she could familiarize herself with the fake attacker, when a new text came