to know.
“Didn’t we already know that?” Wade asked. “They left the safe house, and Gabe has her somewhere else. Rick filled in Bast.”
Andy knew about Bast’s commanding presence. Knew all about Rick’s stubbornness. “I bet that was an interesting conversation.”
“Imagine lots of yelling when Bast found out someone in the CIA was having Natalie followed, despite the existence of an agreement that promises that sort of shit wouldn’t happen.” Eli being Eli, he laid out the issues clean and clear. No tact or waffling.
For some reason Andy felt the need to defend his difficult older brother. “Rick said he’s trying to work this out with his client.”
Eli nodded. “And Bast is applying pressure.”
“You mean threatening the release of whatever information they fear Natalie holds.” Andy didn’t blame Bast or Natalie. She had leverage and should use it. A file of information didn’t do anyone any good if the person holding it died before they could release it.
“Something like that.” From Eli’s tone it was clear he meant exactly like that.
“Is this why Natalie wants a meeting?” Wade glanced over at Eli. “Maybe we should talk with Bast.”
Before he could answer, Andy jumped in. “She asked for Eli specifically.”
“You’re sure she’s okay?”
The genuine concern intrigued Andy. The Eli Andy remembered didn’t do a great job with putting other people’s feelings first . . . or even third. Which probably explained how Andy ended up on the wrong side of the door the second after he floated the idea of them not seeing other people. But this version, the new and improved one, didn’t gloss over other people’s pain. That realization brought a fresh wave of disappointment washing through Andy.
“Did something happen between her and Gabe?” Wade asked, his voice echoing Eli’s confusion and concern.
“Nothing bad, to my knowledge.” But some things were private, so Andy stopped there.
Wade laughed. “Interesting answer.”
Andy pretended not to notice how good the guy looked and sounded. He turned to Eli before he figured out what Eli saw in Wade. “Gabe wants me to take you to Natalie.”
“So, she’s close.” Eli tapped his fingers against the table.
There were limits, and Andy decided now would be a good time to impose them. “I’m not going to answer that.”
“He’s going to be able to see where you’re going,” Wade said.
Eli laughed. “No, I’m not.”
Life operated in a much easier way when people understood the score. “Exactly.”
“Wade comes with me.” Eli sat back in his chair. “That’s the deal.”
Not that Andy had much choice. Natalie was his client, and she asked for something Gabe thought they could give. That meant dealing with Wade along with Eli. “I’m starting to think you two are a matched set.”
Wade nodded. “That would be a wise conclusion.”
Rather than sit through another he’s-my-boyfriend-and-not-yours lecture from Wade, Andy stood up. “Can you be ready this afternoon?”
One of Eli’s eyebrows lifted. “Do we need to pack a bag?”
That seemed safe enough to answer, so Andy did. “No.”
Eli smiled. “Then we’re ready when you are.”
• • •
Gabe grabbed two water bottles off the counter. The fact Brandon left any surprised him. So did the sight of Natalie sitting on the end of the couch with her legs curled up beneath her. She wore those sexy jeans that made him want to drag her upstairs to bed and pull them off. Topped the outfit off with one of Brandon’s bulky college sweatshirts. Looked like the southern girl had some trouble adjusting to winter.
She turned pages and kept her head down. Gabe saw a flash of a photo here and there. The scene struck him as so normal when they’d both lived lives that were anything but.
He walked into the great room and handed one of the bottles to her. “What are you looking at?”
“Thanks.” She tucked the bottle next to her thigh and kept scanning. “Your photo albums. I found them on the shelf by the fireplace.”
He looked at the binders on the coffee table. They stretched back in time to the early days. Brandon learning to walk. Brandon in elementary school. One from around the time of his birth. She had to be bored if she fell back on this entertainment. He paged through them every now and then to remember, but these memories would mean nothing to her.
“I have a television.” He picked up the remote and aimed it at the screen he bought solely so he could experience college football practically life-sized.
“I don’t really have any family photos.” She flipped a page then her fingers and