Only now his past was staring him straight in the face in the form of a challenge he had no inkling of. What did she want from him?
The idea of her being in Houston—young and alone—burned a hole in his gut. David had always been hugely protective of her. They’d lost their parents when Angelina was a kid and David was barely out of high school. David had been brother, mother and father to her, and later Hannah had taken on the role of mother figure even though only five years separated the girls in age.
Girl. Hell. Angelina was no girl now. He only wished he didn’t have firsthand knowledge of that fact.
He frowned. David and Hannah had taken an almost parental view of Angelina. Well, maybe not parental as much as they both viewed her as a younger sibling. How had he seen her? It had appalled him that he was seeing David’s sister. Naked. Touching her. Kissing her. But he’d never looked at her as his sister.
Beautiful young girl. Yes. Too young for him. At the time. Sixteen to his twenty-eight. But now she was twenty-three and the age difference didn’t seem as vast.
“Jesus Christ, are you actually trying to rationalize this?”
Now he was talking to himself. Just great.
First things first. He had to put aside the dissection of what had happened. He needed to forget it had happened and focus on the important details. Like where she was and if she needed help.
His door opened, and he turned to see Nathan Tucker stick his head in.
“Hey man, Pop is here and is ready to start the morning meeting. You in?”
Nathan looked curiously at him, and Micah didn’t blame him. Usually Micah was the first one to saunter into Faith’s office, offer a kiss, snag some coffee and preferably the first donut.
He gave a short nod. “I’m coming.”
Nathan retreated but left the door open. Thinking he might as well get it over with, Micah followed him down to Faith’s office.
He didn’t miss the curious stares thrown his way as he walked in and took a position against the wall beside Faith’s desk.
“Morning,” Faith said with a smile.
He softened, despite his dour mood, and returned her smile. “Morning, baby doll.”
Though her gaze was inquisitive, she didn’t say anything. He shot her a look of gratitude.
“Well if we’re all here now, can we get this show on the road?” Pop’s grizzled voice rose in the otherwise quiet room, and he stared pointedly at Micah as he spoke.
Micah listened halfheartedly to the division of jobs and duties. He was too busy thinking about Angelina and how the f**k he was going to find her. How stupid of him was it to just let her go without knowing a thing about her circumstances?
He almost raised his fingers and snapped them as it occurred to him that Damon might know. Of course. She had to have undergone a rigorous screening before she was given membership to The House.
“Don’t let us keep you,” Pop said dryly.
Micah blinked and snapped his attention back to the older man. Connor, Gray and Nathan were all staring at him with open curiosity. Fairh’s look was more sympathetic, while Pop’s eyes were full of amusement.
“Late night, son?” Pop asked.
Micah grunted. “No. Yes. Sorta.”
“Well hell, make up your mind. Preferably on the way to the job.” Pop thrust an invoice toward Micah. “You’re on your own today and it looks like that’s probably a good thing. Don’t look much like decent company if you ask me.”
Micah bit back the obscenities he wanted to blister the world with and took the paper. With a glance in Fairh’s direction and a quick wave, he started after the others.
In the hallway, Nathan hung back until Micah caught up with him.
“Hey, man, everything okay with you?”
“Yeah. Fine.”
Nathan shrugged, and the two exited the office building into the parking lot.
“Want me to ride along with you?” Nathan offered. “I’ve finished up my job, so I’m pretty free this morning.”
Micah paused at his truck. “I appreciate the offer, but as Pop said, I’m not decent company.”
He glanced down at the invoice. Simple installation. Shouldn’t take but two hours tops, and Nathan would still have time to spend the rest of the day with his girl Julie if he wanted.
“Hey, would you do me a favor and take this job? There’s something I need to do.”
Nathan’s eyebrow went up in surprise. “Uh, well, okay. I can do that.”
“Thanks. I wouldn’t ask, but it’s important.”
Nathan took the piece of paper Micah extended toward him and hesitated. “Everything okay with you?”
“Yeah. Fine. Just something I have to take care of.”
Nathan nodded, folded the sheet and headed toward his truck.
Micah climbed into his own truck and pulled out his cell. It was nice to have friends. Good friends who’d do anything for you and not ask questions. He’d had that kind of friendship with David, and he’d been lucky enough to find it again with the guys he worked with at Malone and Sons.
As he drove out of the parking lot, he hit Damon’s private number on speed dial.
“Where are you?” he asked bluntly when Damon answered.
“I’m heading to my downtown office,” Damon replied. “Is something wrong?”
“I’ll meet you there in half an hour,” Micah said and closed his phone.
He navigated the midmorning traffic and parked outside the downtown high-rise twenty-five minutes later. On the elevator ride to the top floor, he tapped his foot impatiently. Of course Damon would have the best of everything. Best offices, best view, expensive-ass furnishings. And he’d probably be waiting with some refined, high-brow alcohol.
Micah ignored Damon’s secretary and headed into Damon’s office. He gave one polite knock but didn’t wait for a response.
Damon didn’t bother to rise, though just as Micah had predicted, there was a glass filled with amber stuff waiting on the edge of the polished desk. Micah sat but didn’t reach for the drink.
Damon surveyed him calmly and waited. Micah wasn’t used to this uncertainty, to second-guessing his decisions. To the absolute knowledge that he’d royally f**ked up.
“Christ,” Micah muttered. “I f**ked up, Damon.”
Still, Damon waited, only responding with the lift of one eyebrow.
“I need any info you have on Angelina.”