East Bound by Nana Malone (big ebook reader txt) 📕

first, because I know that you are working on taking Garreth Jameson down."

Ben nodded. "I'm not sure how to use this yet, but thanks for letting us know."

"Why aren't you two more excited? We have him."

"We don't have anything yet. You know this Nyla."

"But come on, he has the same painting, so he is up to something."

Ben chimed in. "The problem is, we don't know what he's up to exactly. And we can't prove anything."

"No, I can't prove anything. Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't you need a lot less burden of proof?"

"You're trying to use this to help us against the Elite? Ny, don't get involved. We have this. We will find something to blackmail him with. We will find what we need. Have faith."

"I have a hundred percent faith in you. But have faith in me too. I can help. This bastard was standing there just smiling at me like I was some kind of nuisance. And all along, he's running around with that forgery in his house. Or, hey, I'm willing to entertain the idea that he doesn't know."

"How could he not? That's literally their whole business."

"And what happens to his business if he has forgeries in his house? It’s one of the cornerstones of who they are. Who's going to trust them again? He knows something. You just let me question him again."

East chuckled wryly. "I'm pretty sure Amelia’s going to say no to that."

"No, she won't. Why don't you want me to do this?"

"I don't want you to do this because it's dangerous. Garreth Jameson is dangerous, and so is his father. I care about you too much. I know you can do this, but let's take it easy here. Let's wait until the authentication results are in."

She glanced back and forth between me and Ben. "You think I'm crazy? Jesus, you have the exact same look that Denning does."

The fury simmered to life, and I locked my jaw as I turned around. "Stop talking, right the hell now."

She opened her mouth and it looked like she was not going to heed my warning. It looked like she was going to say something else. But then, it was as if she caught herself. "You know that's not what I meant."

"You still said it."

Ben shifted on his feet uncomfortably. "Um, if you lot are going to have a fight, can you tell me now so I won't have to stand here awkwardly experiencing it for myself?"

We both ignored him. "Ny, how could you say that to me?"

"You know that's not what I meant. Come on. You are trying to bench me."

"I'm just telling you to be more cautious. There’s got to be another way to do this other than charging right into the lion’s den. That's all."

"I'm sure there is, but God, I pulled this great lead, and all you want to do is sit on it."

"I'm not sitting on it; I'm just trying to keep us all safe."

"One of these days, East Hale, you're going to realize that I never asked you to keep me safe."

“You’re so bloody impetuous. It’s no wonder you were benched. You need to fucking look before you jump.” The moment the words were out, I knew they were the wrong ones. I reached for her, and she pulled away. “Ny—”

“No,” she said as she packed her files. “I’m leaving.”

She might not like it, but I was right. Unfortunately, I'd said the one thing guaranteed to get her hackles up. She was going to make me pay for it later.

Chapter 26

East

I knew there was no way she’d gone back to the penthouse. She was far too furious. So on the drive between the office and Nyla’s townhouse, I tried to figure out what to say to her.

I'd worked myself up a little after she stormed out. I worked myself up even more when she didn't answer her bloody door. But finally, Amelia did. "Give it a rest, mate, she's not here."

"Where is she?" I called past her. "Nyla. Let's talk about this."

She laughed. "She's at my place. Now, I know you know where that is, and you can get there easily and quickly. But note that she sent me here so that maybe I could talk some sense into you before you went charging after her."

I whirled around, more than determined to get to Nyla. Amelia was a poor substitute.

But Amelia was stronger than she looked. She grabbed my arm, and when I went to loosen it, she grabbed me with her other hand and cuffed me to her. "What the fuck?"

She jangled our arms. "I'm keeping you from doing something you’ll regret."

“Not my kink, love.”

She shook her head. “I have a feeling I don’t want to know.”

"You have to uncuff me. Nyla is on the road to doing something colossally stupid. When she said she was going to bring in the most wanted thief in the world, I said sure, fine babe. You do you. Woman power and all that. When she said she was going after art forgers, I said sure, great, even though I was more than a little concerned that they were the same ones who attacked us in Monaco. But, oh no, when she's going after someone who I know to be personally dangerous, I have to stop her. I know her job is important. I know she wants to help us. But I also know what's going to keep her safe. Chasing after the Jamesons, she has to leave that to me."

Amelia shrugged and then stepped into the living room, forcing me to go with her.

"You're serious about this?"

She shrugged. "Yes. Because you're being a twat."

"I am not. What the fuck?"

"Look, I know you care about her. I can see how much she cares about you. The two of you together, it's palpable. And the fact that you would do anything to take care of her, and I mean anything, is commendable. I watched you basically jump into