Javier
Present Day
“Whoever chose Miami as a training grounds in summer is a total jackass.” My roommate for the week, Brandon, throws me another bottle of water.
I peel my T-shirt, soaked in sweat, off my torso. “Won’t argue.”
“These four-a-day workouts, in this heat, are killing me,” he complains.
“Agree. Mind if I hit the shower first?”
“Have at it.” He takes a chug of water.
I go into the bathroom and turn on the shower. It doesn’t take long for the water to get where I want it, and I stand under it for my fourth shower of the day.
I wonder what she’s doing right now.
Stop thinking about her.
You should text her and see if she’s okay.
Connor said to stay away. You need to respect it.
I finish my shower, secure a towel around my waist, and open the door. “All yours,” I tell Brandon.
I get dressed and open my computer. Gabriella never gave me her number, but I found it in the FBI database. We aren’t supposed to use it for personal reasons, but I figured if my boss ever questioned it, I could always claim it had to do with the case since her brothers are involved.
For the hundredth time this week, I almost hit the button on my phone to call her.
Don’t do it.
It’s not fair to her.
I need to know how she’s doing.
I start typing on my laptop and find Connor’s cell number.
I call him. It rings twice, and he answers. “Connor speaking.”
“It’s Javier.”
“How did you get my number?”
“You remember what I do for a living, right?”
“Isn’t that against some law or something?”
The kid isn’t stupid, that’s for sure.
“Listen, I need to know how Gabriella is doing.”
“You didn’t call or text her, did you?”
“No.”
“Good. Don’t.”
“I won’t. But please, I need to know if she’s okay.”
“Why? You made it clear where you stand. Gabriella’s health, whereabouts, or anything else isn’t your concern.”
My pulse increases. “Her health? What happened?”
“Nothing. Chill out. I’m just stating a fact. You can’t have your cake and eat it, too.”
“Connor, stop being a dick and tell me if she’s all right.”
“I’m not being a dick. You don’t have rights on my sister’s status.”
I rub a hand over my face. “Can you tell me just this once? I won’t bug you again about this.”
“No.”
Seriously? I’m going to kill this kid the next time I see him.
“Connor. Stop trying to prove a point and tell me if she’s okay or not.”
“No. Don’t call me again about this.” He hangs up on me.
What the?
I call him back, and he sends it to voicemail. I text him. “This isn’t the way to go about things. Please answer my question.”
“Don’t text or call me again about this matter. If you do, I’m sure some people would like to know about this conversation we’re having.”
“I’m not scared of your brothers.”
“I wasn’t talking about my brothers.”
Not his brothers?
He means your boss.
That little fucker.
I text him back. “Do not ever threaten me.”
“I don’t make threats. I follow through with action.”
“Stop being a cock sucker and tell me how she is doing, or I’ll contact her.”
My phone rings. “Glad to see you’ve come to your senses. Now tell me how she is,” I say cockily.
“If you ever contact Gabriella, I will kill you myself when I see you. You have no right to ask anything about her. The chance to step up and be the man she needs came and went. You chose not to be. Do not contact her and screw with her head.”
“I’m not trying to screw with her head. I just want to know—”
“Goodbye, Javier. Don’t call again.” He hangs up.
“Fucking little cocksucker,” I yell out.
“Whoa! What’s going on here?” Brandon asks.
“Nothing.”
“Doesn’t sound like nothing.”
I ignore him.
I wonder if Chloe has heard from her?
I call her.
“Javier, how’s Miami?”
“The new guns are cool, the rest of it sucks. Any new developments?”
“No. The marina owner still isn’t back, and Veronica hasn’t been at work since last week. Her co-worker thought she went on a party bender.”
“Jeez. What a life.”
Chloe snorts.
“How is our favorite family? Any interaction with them?”
“Nope. I haven’t seen them since the cookout.”
Guess that means she’s staying away from Ryland.
Exactly what you should be doing with Gabriella.
“But that was such a fun event. Just like the party,” I sarcastically say.
I expect her to laugh, but she stays quiet.
“What did I say wrong?”
Chloe sighs. “I want to make things right with Gabriella, but I’m not sure how. Any ideas?”
Maybe I could send Chloe over to check on her?
No, don’t do that. She will start asking questions.
“She probably just needs some time. Give her a few more days to cool off.”
“I really did want to be friends with her. This sucks that she’s a Brooks.”
Tell me about it.
“Okay, well, if anything pops up, let me know.”
“Will do. Enjoy Miami.”
I grunt. “No chance. See you Monday.”
“Bye.”
I hang up, no further along than when I started.
I text Connor again. “Please, just tell me if she is okay.”
“No. Stop contacting me. The answer isn’t going to change.”
Gotta give this kid credit.
Still going to kill him when I see him next.
“Javier, time to go, or we’ll be late for our session,” Brandon tells me.
I throw my phone in my pocket along with my room key.
For three hours, I sit in training, not hearing a word the instructor says and only thinking about Gabriella.
Several times I pull out my phone to text her but stop myself.
After training, I eat dinner in another mandatory meeting, barely tasting my food.
When we finally get through with all the required events, it’s after ten. I go directly to the room and pack my bag.
“Are you leaving?” Brandon says.
“Yeah. I need to get back.”
“You aren’t going to hit the clubs with us?”
“No. Sorry. Not this time.”
“Dude, we’re in Miami. Tonight is going to make this entire shitshow of a week worth it all.”
“Another time. Have fun. See you at the next event.” I slap his hand and sling my bag over my shoulder, leaving the room.
It’s after two in the morning when I get back to Anna Maria Island, no closer to figuring out how to find out if Gabriella is doing okay or not. And I’m starting to wonder how I’m ever going to keep my word and stay away from her, or why I’m even trying.