Boost by Vi Summers
Chapter 42
-Greer-
Ringing Raf was straight-up pointless. I’d tried over a dozen times and each outcome was the same; unsuccessful. Either his phone was off or he was purposely declining my multiple attempts to contact him.
I didn’t want to pick a fight. Quite the opposite, actually. We needed to talk, to hash things out, and him ghosting me made that impossible. I needed to tell him that I knew he didn’t mean to lash out. And other than stunning me, it hadn’t hurt—not really. Not compared to what Bryce used to do.
My throat tightened from that thought alone. I’d known my own hell. Lived it. Endured it. Survived it. Manipulation was Bryce’s middle name, and I still kicked myself that it took me months to find the courage to walk. I was forever thankful that I got out when I did and moved states to go to college. There I met Christian and re-built not just my life, but all my confidence and self-assurance that had been stripped away during the previous year.
I sighed heavily and looked up to meet Tian’s eyes where he lingered at my doorway. His expression knocked me for six. It was the one he seldom allowed to show through his business mask. The few times he’d aimed that look my way were during times when we shared sacred moments.
When I’d confided about my past, I received that look. When we’d had a pregnancy scare, I received that look. Same when I got so ill one time I couldn’t get out of bed for an entire week. Being on the receiving end of his concern was both comforting and confronting, and it hit me square in the chest.
“Can I come in?”
My pulse kicked. “Of course.”
A heavy sigh deflated his lungs as he came to my desk and stood awkwardly in front of me. “I can’t leave us like this.”
Tightness squeezed in my throat. “Neither. I hate when we fight.”
“Seems we’ve been doing a bit of that lately.”
I hummed and looked up at him. “I’m really sorry, Tian. I’m sorry you got punched, I’m sorry we’re arguing, and I’m sorry for letting my personal life affect our firm.”
“I’m sorry I got punched too,” he joked—too soon.
“Christian!”
His expression softened. “Being serious now, Gree, I’m sorry you got hurt; your body and your heart.”
I dipped my eyes. “Thanks.” It was crushing that Raf wasn’t answering my calls. “I think I’m going to call it a night.”
“Early for you,” he murmured.
“I’m exhausted.”
It wasn’t a lie. I could run on the barest of sleep, however the events of the past few days had depleted the last of my energy reserves.
“I’ll sort Jethro for you,” Tian announced, though didn’t move aside from looking toward the door. “Roxiee. Have Jethro waiting and ready to go in five minutes, please.”
I scoffed. “I could have done that! Thanks, Rox,” I called.
She pursed her lips and dipped her head to the side at Christian, as if to say, Really?
I rolled my eyes. Typical Tian, being his moronic alpha self just to prove a non-existent point.
“Christian?” I waited until his expectant gaze found mine. “I need you to know that our firm, that you, mean the world to me. I can’t stand that it feels so unstable at the moment.”
The insecurity was real.
“Babe,” Tian murmured and gestured for me to stand. I met him in front of my desk and placed my hands within his. “Sure, it’s a little rough right now, but you and I don’t go down easy. We’re fighters. That’s how we became Landon-Michaels PR. And most importantly, we’re loyal friends. I’m not going to hold what happened against you, Gree, and I ask that you give me the same grace. I stand by you and your decisions, but I won’t stand by and let either of us be pushed around. I won’t apologize for sticking up for you.”
I flicked my gaze back and forth between his, knowing that he spoke truthfully.
“Thank you for sticking up for me. I appreciate it, I just wish it had been under different circumstances.”
Within a beat, Tian’s concern faded to open affection and he gathered me into his arms.
“Same, babe. Maybe take a little time before you come in tomorrow?”
I met his eyes in silence for a long moment before eventually nodding. “We’ll see.”
While the cracks in our foundations hadn’t completely smoothed over, I could leave the office tonight knowing that Tian and I would be alright. Give it a few days for our swelling and cuts to heal, and we’d be back to our usual selves—I was sure of it.
Tian dropped a kiss on my forehead and then stepped back. “Sleep well.”
“You, too.”
“May we both look more presentable tomorrow.”
I snorted and nodded at the bruising beginning to color his cheekbone. “Here’s hoping. You might need some concealer for that.”
“I’ll ask you or Rox tomorrow if that’s the case.”
With a semi-forced smile, he gave me one last long look before striding from my office. I caught the hand he ran over his face just before he was out of view. It meant that while he was confident on the outside, he was just as cut up about today as I was.
On a heavy sigh, I gathered my belongings and headed for the elevator. The click of my stilettos echoed off the empty walls.
I closed my eyes during the ride down, blocking out and trying to forget the chaos of the last few days. Unable to completely shut off, my brain spun and fought for the answers that remained out of reach along with Rafael.
Jethro was waiting for me in our corporate parking zone out front, and he opened the back door as soon as I emerged from the building. His warm smile immediately settled some of my unease.
“You look beat, Miss Landon.”
“Jethro, please,” I admonished him halfheartedly.
He let out a deep chuckle while guiding me into the backseat without actually touching my lower back.
“Straight home?”
I adjusted my skirt once settled and cocked my head in thought. “Actually, food first, but not home. I’ll give you the address.”
He lifted his eyebrows with curiosity. “As you wish.”
The door closed with a heavy thunk, and Jethro rounded the hood of my company car. He slid into the driver’s seat with practiced grace and signaled to pull onto the street.
“So, what would you like to eat tonight?”
I finished reapplying my lipstick and rubbed my lips together. “Uh, I’m not really sure. You’re a guy; what do guys like best?”
I’d anticipated his surprise and was already looking in the rear-vision mirror when his eyes briefly met mine. He flicked his attention between me and the car in front.
“What kind of takeout are we talkin’ here?”
“Not nasty fast food. A little more… nice.”
A chuckle, then one word came from the driver’s seat. “Italian.”
“Lead the way, Jethro. I’m assuming you know a place?”
“Sure do. It’s a family favorite.”
We lapsed into a comfortable silence as he drove me through the streets of downtown L.A. Once collecting an order large enough for a massive family, I gave him Raf’s address, then took out enough food for two, leaving the rest in the bag for Jethro and his family.
A chill crept up my spine when we pulled up at the closed gates at Rafael’s property. He didn’t appear to be home, and my trepidation increased ten-fold as I unbuckled.
“Go home and enjoy the evening with your family, Jethro. Dinner is on me.”
He twisted in his seat in surprise. “I can’t accept that, Miss Landon.”
“You can, and you will. My treat. Make sure you say hi to Shanna and the kids for me.”
“You know I will.” He diverted his attention from me to Raf’s house. “You want me to wait around? Just in case?”
I stopped him with a light hand on his shoulder when he went to exit and get my door.
“Not at all.” I slid out of the car and reached back in for two takeout containers. “You’ve been more than amazing, as always. Goodnight, Jethro.”
He flashed his grin. “Goodnight, Miss Landon.”
I gave a wry little smile before shutting the door and turning toward the double-story house that sat silent beyond the iron gates. Behind me, my car pulled away from the curb and purred down the street.
I held my breath and keyed in the pin-code. It was weird walking onto Rafael’s property alone and not knowing what I would find. While holding out hope that I was doing the right thing, the ominous feeling in the pit of my stomach increased with every unanswered knock I laid on the front door.
Unable to give up, I pulled out my phone and tried calling again. Nothing. Straight to voicemail, just like every other time I’d called during the last twenty-four hours.
Deflated and with the Italian meal growing colder by the minute, I retraced my steps to the gate and looked up and down the street. I pursed my lips and reluctantly made one last call for the night.
Jethro answered right away. “No need to ask. Sit tight.”
I opened my mouth to reply, but our call ended, and barely ten seconds later, the car came around the corner of the block.
The driver’s window rolled down when Jethro pulled up. “Heading home, little lady?”
The grin and cute remark was meant to make me smile, yet I simply didn’t have it in me. “Guess I am.”
He jumped out and opened my door. “Chin up, Miss Landon. The day will seem brighter in the morning.”
“I know,” I murmured, and slid in.
The drive back to my condo was filled with quiet music playing over the radio, and nothing more. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the concerned glances Jethro cut to me through the rear vision mirror.
While I knew I should let sleeping lions lie, I had a tendency to not be able to let shit go until I got answers. By the time we pulled up at my building, I’d already formed a plan.
“Thank you, Jethro. Take tomorrow off; I won’t be in the office.”
His bushy eyebrows hit his hairline before they pulled low. “You know I don’t pry, but is everything okay?”
I tried to wear my best reassuring smile. “It will be.” I hope, I mentally added.
“Call if you need-”
“I won’t be calling you on your day off, Mr. Pickney,” I stated, as I exited the car. “See you in thirty-six hours.”
He laughed and shook his head. “Have a good night, Miss Landon.”
With a final wave to each other, Jethro pulled away from the curb and headed home to his family, and I took my dinner for one upstairs to my empty condo.
Ten minutes later, with the reheated Italian meal balanced on my lap, I commenced my detective work, starting with finding the whereabouts of Vega Delgado.