Finding Jordie: Things aren't always what they seem. (The Love Lies Bleeding Series Book 1) (35 page)

“So now what?” Nathan blurted out, his frustration obvious from the way he was raking his hands through his hair.

That’s so hot when he does that. What? Seriously? There’s something wrong with you...
I couldn’t help that we were in the middle of a drama fest and all I could think about was how damned sexy he was. It was what he did to me.

“Well, there are a few options,” Richard began to say just as Ronnie shouted from the front door that he needed Frank. Frank ran to the door with Richard right behind him.

“Stay here, both of you,” Frank shouted as he exited the bar.

“Like hell stay here.” I hopped off the barstool.

“Jordie, just... Oh, Christ, why am I even trying? Let’s go.” Nathan took my hand and led the way. We stepped outside and saw Frank, Richard, and Ronnie at the end of the railing looking at my building. Elliot had just pulled up as well. It wasn’t until I took a few steps that I realized the alarm to my place was going off again. Just then Charles pulled up in another car. I was happy to see he didn’t lose his job over my mistake. I smiled a sheepish smile his way and he nodded.

“Seriously, this thing again?” I looked at Nathan.

I reached in my purse to find my keys to shut off the alarm. It stopped before I could find them though.

“Here we go again. I’m so over this, Nathan,” I gritted through my teeth as I pulled the keys out of my purse.

“Nathan? Hello?” I looked up at him.

“Yeah? Sorry, what’s up?” He was watching Frank and Richard, paying no mind to me.

“What are you doing?” I was annoyed because he made zero attempt to even try and look at me when he spoke. He was just concentrating on Frank.

“Nathan!” I shouted and stomped my foot.

“What Jordan? I’m trying to listen, quiet for a second.
Please
,” he begged, clearly annoyed with me.

Ew, he yelled at you.
“Whatever,” I pouted.

My phone rang so I started to dig through my purse again. “Now what?” I pulled it out and looked at the number. It was the alarm company.

“Who’s that, Jordie?” Nathan asked me.

“The alarm company,” I snapped and rolled my eyes, turning my back to him.

“This is Jordie,” I answered.

After the guy gave me his official alarm speech I let him have it.

“I’m fine, but I can’t begin to tell you how annoyed I am that this keeps happening. Can you please send someone out like today to fix this issue? I mean we can’t even disarm the stupid thing. What do I need to do, start cutting wires?” I was definitely taking out my frustrations on the poor guy.

As he explained to me that it wasn’t a malfunction in the system, it was actually a malfunction of a remote, I felt my blood pressure rise most likely above a healthy range.

“No sir, not possible. That remote is disabled. Your company disabled it last night and a new one was being mailed,” I informed him through clenched teeth. “All right, sure, yep whatever you say, thank you.” I hung up and walked over to where the guys were standing. They were very involved in their conversation so I called Rachel while they pow-wowed or whatever it was they were doing. Besides, I was still really irked with Nathan.

“Hi, bitch,” she greeted me when she answered.

“Hey, ho.”

“What’s up?”

“Well, let’s see, got a weird phone call, someone was banging on the doors at the bar while I was doing the deposit this morning, and the alarm in my apartment is going haywire. Oh, hey, yeah, I’m pregnant.” I squinted and pulled the phone away from my ear because I knew what was coming next.

“What!? Where are you? Oh my fucking god!” She screamed so loud the guys stopped mid conversation to see what the noise was about. All I could do was laugh and point to the phone and mouth to them, “It’s Rachel.”

“At the bar. See you in a few,” I answered her with a laugh.

“Bet your ass you will, we’ll be right down! Love you!” She hung up.

“What did the alarm company say?” Nathan asked after he saw me take the phone away from my ear.

“That it’s being triggered by the spare remote again. They’re hard resetting the system so we shouldn’t have any more problems.” I pretended to look for something in my purse so I didn’t have to look up at him just yet.

“Let’s get inside, kids,” Frank suggested.

“I need to go back in and get the bank bag and make a deposit. It’s long overdue.”

“Elliot will run to the bank for you.” Frank motioned to Elliot and he nodded.

“No, I’m quite capable. Thank you, though. It’s only up the block. Rachel will be here soon. She can come with me.”

“Jordie, how quickly you forget that there is some—” Frank began but I cut him off.

“No, I didn’t forget that some asshole is harassing me, but you know what? That asshole will not get the best of me. I fucking hate bullies and that’s what they’re trying to do—bully me. I’ll be just fine walking to the corner and back, guys.” I tried my damnedest to sound unaffected by any of the chaos that had crept its way into my life, but I was affected. I was scared, but I wouldn’t let anyone force me into a corner.

“Fine, let’s move into the bar at least until we come to an agreement,” Frank demanded.

Nathan took my arm and practically dragged me towards the bar. By that time it was pretty clear that he’d gone from annoyed to pissed off.

“Let go of me.” I tugged my arm out of his hand. Nathan shot Frank a look and ran his fingers through his hair.

“Why are you so goddamned stubborn, Jordan?”

Oh yay, our first real fight.
“Stubborn? I’m not stubborn, Nathan. I won’t apologize because I refuse to play the victim. Fuck that. I—”

“Stop right there.”

I could tell he was trying his best not to lose his temper.

“In case you haven’t noticed, this isn’t about just
you
any longer. It’s a
we
now. And
us
. Not
you
. If something happens to you, Jordie, think of the impact it’ll have on all of us—me, Emma, Rachel...” He stood in front of me and put his hand on my stomach. “This baby. All of us are affected. So stop with the
you
for fuck’s sake. Please.” He finished, putting his forehead against mine.

“Fine,” I breathed out, defeated.

“Is congratulations in order here?” Frank smiled.

“Yes, sir, found out last night,” Nathan replied.

“Please, we’re keeping this quiet until I see the doctor though.”

“No problem. You hear that men?” Frank addressed Ronnie, Charles, and Elliot.

“Yes, sir,” they all answered.

“Now that we have less resistance, what’s the plan of action?” Nathan glanced back at me and smirked.

“Can we
please
take this inside now?” Frank motioned to the bar.

“Sure,” I mumbled.

Nathan let out a small laugh, shaking his head. “So stubborn.” He took my hand.

“Shall we?” Frank led the way inside.

“So you said these calls are coming from overseas. Do we have a country or something to work with?” I asked.

“Not yet. I have the required equipment for those specifics set up now though. Next time he calls, we’ll have a clearer picture.”

“I don’t understand. I don’t even know anyone out of the Tri-State area.” I furrowed my eyebrows, confused, but I was quickly sidetracked by Rachel and Tyler walking in.

“Hola, mamasita!” she yelled as she shuffled toward me. “Ahhh! I’m so excited!”

“Okay! Ow,” I teased, giving her a hug back.

“Some serious life changes going on here.”

“Well, you did say I should start living.” I raised my eyebrows.

“You jumped right into that shit, huh? Maybe I should’ve told you to pace yourself.”

“You know me, all or nothing.”

Tyler gave Nathan a bro-hug and congratulated us. Nathan looked so happy I couldn’t help but smile.

“Looks like this trip is coming at a good time,” Nathan grinned at me.

“Trip? What trip?” Rachel chimed in immediately and I laughed. She was so passionate about traveling.

“Yes, the other thing I needed to talk to you about.” I took a deep breath.

“Yeah sure, I’ll man the bar while you’re off gallivanting.” She slumped her shoulders in disappointment.

“Not exactly what I needed, but thank you.” I smiled at her.

She immediately perked up, giving me her full attention.

“Nathan has to go to Vancouver for work, and I was wondering if you’d like to come—”

“Hell yes!” She jumped up and down like a kid again, interrupting me.

“Can I finish?”

“Oh, there’s more?”

“Come to Vancouver with us and then catch a flight to Vegas to be my Biotch of Honor.”

“Hell effing yes!” she shrieked and hugged me. “You’re going too, right?” she asked Tyler.

“Of course he’s going. I need my best man.” Nathan slapped Tyler on the back.

“Damn straight, I’ll be there, man. I’m happy for you both, congrats.”

“Oh and please, don’t tell anyone about the bun in the oven yet. We’re waiting until I see the doctor. Make sure everything is okay and whatnot before telling anyone, including Emma. I mean nobody.” I shot a look at Rachel, not forgetting the last secret of mine she shared.

“What are you side-eyeing me for, hooker? Who the hell am I going to tell?” she scoffed.

“Just making sure. I know it’s hard for you to keep a secret.” I looked at Nathan.

“Don’t even drag me into this one.” He put his hands up, playfully defensive.

“Enough said.” I ended the conversation. “Now to put that shit behind me and move forward.”

“So now what do we do, you guys? Do I need to move?” I looked at both Richard and Frank.

“No, you don’t have to move.” Frank had some humor in his tone. “The best in the business are working on this. We’ll nail this son of a bitch and soon.” He looked over to Richard, very sure of his words.

“All right, good, because my place was just redecorated beautifully.” I winked at him.

“You just had to tell her, didn’t you?” He laughed. Nathan shrugged his shoulders sheepishly and pretended to whistle.

“So, if we’re done here, would someone be so kind to drop this deposit off at the bank for me before checks start bouncing?”

“We can do it. We’re headed to lunch that way anyways,” Rachel volunteered.

“Thanks. Love you.” I hugged her.

“I love you, too. I’m so happy for you! Hooray for dress shopping and marriage and babies and getaways!” She rambled on and on to Tyler who laughed as they walked out.

“What are you smiling at?” Nathan put his arms around me.

“How can things be so messed up yet so perfect? It’s like calm chaos. Everything around me with this stalker situation screams we’re in danger, yet I feel at ease. What’s wrong with me?” I scowled.

“Look at me.”

I looked up at him and his blue eyes were searing through me once again. So sincere, so honest, so loving.

“Nothing is wrong with you, Jordan. It’s what’s right with you.” He smiled my smile and kissed my forehead. “You have to admit, you’ve had quite a few distractions over the past few months to keep you busy.” He grinned.

“Yeah, I suppose.”

“Well, don’t start to worry now. We have a trip to plan and you have to go shop for a dress.” He was so happy when he said it, washing away the fear that had begun to run through me.

That
was why I wasn’t running scared, or hiding in a corner hysterical. That man standing in front of me, the way I felt about him superseded any and all of the dreadful things that were happening.

“I need to get back to the set. See you around six. I love you.” He kissed my hand.

“Love you, too.”

Frank’s phone rang so he excused himself and motioned for Richard to follow.

“I’ll be in my office if anyone needs me,” I mumbled as I stood alone at the bar.