“Thanks for your help,” Snow said, nodding once to Andrei, his gut in knots. This was too much of a coincidence for him to swallow.
“Wish I had more,” Gidget murmured, sounding as if she was talking more to herself.
“You will. Just keep me updated,” Andrei added, pushing to his feet.
Gidget nodded and gave Snow a wan smile before she left the office. Andrei followed on her heels and carefully closed the door. He remained standing there, his hand on the silver door handle.
“Coincidence?” Andrei asked, his voice near a whisper.
“That Chris Green and Gratton knew each other?” He turned slightly in his chair, looking up at the bodyguard’s back. “Maybe, but I’m not a big fan of coincidences.”
“Me neither.” Andrei pushed away from the door and paced over to the desk. A frown cut heavy lines in his face, aging him. “But what are the odds that he even gives a shit about Green years later?”
“Honestly, little to none and I’m not sure it’s important. Gratton has got enough reason to hate me, Lucas, and Rowe without Green. I really don’t care why he’s back. I just want to know where the fucker is. I want him behind bars or dead — either one keeps him away from Ian.”
Andrei nodded. “We’re working as fast as we can. I’m close to having this new hacker vetted and secured. I… I just have to go slow. I can’t risk destroying Rowe’s company.” A low growl rumbled up Andrei’s throat and his hands closed into fists. “Ian’s got his own bodyguard and I’ve checked his nurse’s background — former Navy corpsman. Both can protect Ian. I’ve upgraded his security system at home and at Rialto. But if you think it’s necessary, I’ll assign myself to Ian.”
Snow smiled slowly. There were times when he really didn’t want to like Andrei, but he couldn’t help it. Andrei would protect Ian with his life, which would put Lucas in a hell of a bind. His best friend wouldn’t want either of them in danger. Snow could only imagine how much Andrei’s job drove Lucas insane with worry. At least Jude spent his time trying to save lives rather than risking his own.
His heart lurched in his chest and Snow looked away from Andrei as he tried to wrangle his thoughts again. Where had that come from? Jude wasn’t his. The paramedic wasn’t someone he was supposed to worry over. He was just…no fucking clue.
A soft sigh slipped from Snow’s lips as he pushed back to his feet. This date was beginning to feel like a bad idea the longer he was away from Jude, and yet he knew that he was heading straight back to Lucas’s to see if he had something appropriate to wear. But first…
“We do owe Hollis,” Snow murmured half to himself as he pulled out his phone. “I have a couple of hours until I need to be somewhere, so I’ll give our friendly cop a heads up and take him out with me to check on that delivery truck.” Snow picked up his winter coat and pulled it on. They needed to do this one by the books, loop in the cops… no matter how badly Snow ached to finish what he’d started with Gratton so many years ago.
“Do you want me to tag along? I’ve got a meeting in ten minutes, but I can reschedule.”
Snow shook his head. “No, I can handle Banner.”
Andrei crossed his arms. “Do you think I should tell Lucas about the tie to Green?”
Snow nodded after only a moment of thought. “Yes. I don’t think he’s the reason that Gratton is back, but he should know.” He paused and licked his lips before he smiled at Andrei. “No more secrets.”Chapter 19Snow glanced into the cluttered back seat of Hollis Banner’s Chevelle as he slid out of the thick, falling snow and into the passenger seat. The old muscle car didn’t surprise him in the least, but the noxious odors of grease, fried potatoes and sweat had him cracking his window. “Have you been living in your car?”
Hollis picked up a fast food bag and tossed it into the back seat with many others. “Believe it or not, it’s not usually like this. I’ve been in it a lot more lately. So…” He drew the word out as he pulled out of the parking lot. “What’s this bullshit about a friend giving another a ride? You got lots of friends, doc, and last I heard, I’m not one of them.”
Snow turned in his seat to face Hollis, realizing he hadn’t paid much attention to the man earlier at lunch—not his physical appearance anyway. He took in the circles under his blue eyes and the lines of tension creasing his forehead. His dirty blond hair was past a good cut and curling on the ends. “You look like you haven’t slept in days.”