Into the Fire (Bridge Book 2) Read Free Page B

events. Another reason too why it was so important that I did perhaps.
    “I brought coffee.” I twisted his cup out of the tray I held and handed it over. Half caff, nonfat, triple grande mocha. He hadn’t asked for it, but I figured I would bring it just in case.
    He accepted it, never making eye contact. “Little late for coffee.”
    So much for thank you, I retorted silently. Something I did a little too often around him. Maybe he’d treat me with more respect if I demanded it. But the chances were higher that he’d just fire me.
    He took a sip before turning to walk away. “But I guess I have a lot of unpacking to do,” he said as he began ripping the tape off one of the boxes stacked in the middle of the room.
    He cast me a sidelong glance that rang clear as day in my head with, Aren’t you going to help?
    That’s what he wanted. And on any other day, I would have offered without hesitation. If we were at work and something was pressing down on him, I was programmed to do whatever I could to lighten the load. But this was Saturday, goddamnit, and the work week ached in my bones—an ache I had every intention of relieving with a couple martinis and some time with my friends.
    “I guess I’d better leave you to it. I haven’t even packed for the trip yet,” I lied. I was a hundred percent packed, all the way down to funneling my hair products into tiny plastic bottles. The clock couldn’t wind down to my departure hour fast enough. Yet as decadent thoughts of fruity drinks and sunshine crossed my mind, I couldn’t ignore how my anticipation was slowly morphing into guilt and anxiety.
    “Going to be tough without you next week.” Reilly’s clipped tone left no doubt of that. “Will your phone be on?”
    “I’m not sure about phone service there, actually,” I mumbled.
    Another nondescript noise that meant Figure it out, Vanessa sounded between us.I wasn’t sure if my ability to give voice to all the things he never said made me a stellar assistant or bordered on crazy. Either way, I had a feeling I was in for a long night.
    “Do you need any help?” I finally said, hating the words and hating the response I knew was coming even more.
    He jerked his head toward the kitchen and the tall windows that were partially obscured by a few towers of boxes.
    “You can start with those boxes over there.”

Chapter Two
    VANESSA
    “ L adies get in free .” The guy manning the door of The Bearded Lady nodded toward Eli. “Ten bucks.”
    Eli did little to hide his irritation, rolling his eyes as he shoved a ten at the man who then stamped our hands, gaining us entrance into the already crowded Brooklyn bar.
    “I can’t believe he made me pay to get in here,” Eli said.
    “Just because you’re gay doesn’t mean you don’t have to pay.”
    I pushed past a few clusters of people. Four hours and a fully organized kitchen later, I’d managed to escape Reilly’s clutches. The extended workweek fatigue was even more real now, and I was determined to make the most of these last few hours of downtime before takeoff tomorrow.
    One of the few rituals I maintained was keeping plans on a Saturday night. While they weren’t quite as wild as they’d once been since my friend Maya had retired as my “work hard, play hard” partner in crime months ago, they were still plans that kept me sane. Almost two years at the firm felt more like twelve, and I couldn’t remember a time when I hadn’t worked long hours, bending my schedule around Reilly’s whims and wants.
    “Just because you dragged me into this meat market doesn’t mean I’m not going to bitch about it, Vanessa.” Eli slid his slender fingers through his jet-black hair, something he habitually did since it was always overgrown. The tips of his bangs were dyed an electric blue, perfectly matching the bright blue band logo on his T-shirt.
    I wedged myself into a place at the bar, hoping to secure enough real estate to flag down a drink. “First round