Zegas set his glass on the end table and stuffed his files back into the briefcase.
“I’ll walk you out.”
“I’m working on the primary residence angle to keep you here.” He latched the case. “I don’t say this often, but I’m not sure how well it’s going to work.”
“What’s he talking about?” Beau narrowed her gaze.
“Guess you haven’t told them everything. Oops.” Zegas picked up his briefcase. “That’s my cue to go.” He turned before he left the living room. “I still have something I need to speak to you about, but it can wait until tomorrow. I’m smart enough to leave while I still can.”
He made quick strides out of sight. The door slammed behind him, and Muffy and Millie raced into the room to investigate the noise.
“Start explaining. Now,” Beau growled. “Do I need to call Teague for this?” She pulled her phone from her jeans pocket.
“No,” I said far too sharply.
Lexie propped her hip against the chair Zegas had just vacated. She balled the hem of her sweatshirt in her fist. Lines of worry creased her forehead. “I should leave you two alone.”
“No,” I snapped before I plowed a hand through my hair. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have spoken like that.”
She blinked as if she hadn’t expected me to repent. “It’s okay. You’re under a lot of stress.”
I nodded, though it wasn’t an excuse to take that tone with either of them. Unable to sit any longer, I pushed to my feet. The bar was tempting, but I bypassed a drink for the view from the windows.
I kept my back to them, unable to face them with the truth.
“It’s becoming likely I may lose my apartment.” And I have no idea where I’d go. Or what I’ll have left.
Chapter Sixteen
Lexie
He could lose his apartment?
Lincoln’s broad shoulders were set in a tense line. He refused to turn around, didn’t even snap at Muffy when he pawed at his leg.
I couldn’t imagine him ever being in any financial danger. His credit card was declined at the dinner he missed, but that happened to everyone at some point because of fraud detection measures.
To think he’d been shouldering that burden all on his own. How heavy his load must be.
And he’s put all his focus on your problems the past twenty-four hours.
He’d stayed with me in the hospital and made sure my business didn’t suffer today. Lincoln Hollingsworth was nothing like I’d initially assumed. He was the most selfless man I’d ever met.
“You didn’t think Teague and I should know this?” Beau bolted from the sofa. “Did you refinance the apartment? If you’re behind, I’ll pay the note. All of it.”
Anger was her primary tone, but all that was a cover-up for her hurt.
I understood where both of them came from. If I were in Lincoln’s position, I’d keep it from Eric until I absolutely had to tell him, not because he couldn’t handle it, but because I wouldn’t want him to worry.
If I were Beau, I’d want to know so I could help.
While I wanted to be irritated Lincoln hadn’t confided in me, I didn’t have the right. We were still practically strangers. I certainly hadn’t unloaded all my problems on him. He just happened to witness my latest one. I would’ve never contacted him to get me out of jail . . . except for Eric.
Lincoln hadn’t reached his desperation point. If he had, he would’ve shared about the apartment with his brother and sister because there was no other option.
Muffy nosed Lincoln’s hand. He opened his fist to show the dog he had no treat. Muffy sat on his foot. Did he know Lincoln needed a friend, even if it was the furry kind?
I watched helplessly as he struggled. How could I help? If he was behind on the mortgage, there was no way I could pay to catch him up. I didn’t know for sure but was pretty certain one month cost more than what we made in a year.
Money wasn’t the only way to support someone, but I wanted to do something to help him solve the problems the way he’d done for me.
Beau crossed the distance between them and shook his shoulders, trying to make him turn around. “Answer me, damn it.”
I leaned farther into the chair, tempted to back out of the room and let them sort this out among themselves. Not only was I curious, but Lincoln hadn’t left me in my time of trouble.
And he was most definitely in more trouble than he let on.
No matter how she tugged, he was unmovable.
“There’s nothing else to say on the matter.” He sounded as closed up and far away as I’d ever heard him. I hated that tone.
“Oh no, you don’t,” she said. “If we have to stand here until kingdom come, you will tell me everything that is going on. Every. Single. Detail.”
The angrier she became, the more he closed off. I felt it. Was it because he couldn’t stand to hurt her? Not that long ago, I would’ve said it was because he was an ass.
“Hiding the truth isn’t protection,” I said quietly. “It’s just hiding.”
His shoulders rose as he took a sharp intake of breath. Slowly, they fell as he let it out.
“I don’t owe money.” His voice was resigned, almost as if he were just realizing the gravity of the situation.
If Eric and I were about to lose our home, I’d be in a panic. It wasn’t the best, and we didn’t own it, but we’d lived there a long time. I wouldn’t pretend to know what it was like to be on the verge of our apartment slipping from our fingers.
“If you don’t owe anything, how can you lose it?” Beau asked, her irritation climbing the longer he remained evasive.
I wanted answers too, but couldn’t stand to see him struggling.
“There was an issue with the title. And the insurance I purchased to cover such events was never ordered.”
Beau put a hand to her head. “I don’t understand.”
That made two of us. I’d never bought any real estate and had no idea how the process worked.
“The title wasn’t clear. And the insurance I paid to cover it wasn’t ever executed. I only recently became aware of the situation.”
Muffy pawed at Lincoln again. He looked down at the dog as if trying to figure out what he wanted.
“If there are liens on this property, you’d have found out about that a lot sooner. The lien holder would want their money,” Beau said.
I was lost. I understood the words coming out of their mouths but couldn’t really piece together what they meant. It made me feel stupid and even more useless.
Beau was so down-to-earth that I sometimes forgot she lived in another world. One with executives and multimillion-dollar companies, and strategies average people didn’t even know existed.
“I don’t have an answer for that. But you know how long legal matters can be tied up in court. Especially complicated ones.”
Legal matters, I knew. Long court battles and waiting for the state to make a decision? I had experience there. It had taken a year for me to be granted permanent custody of Eric as opposed to temporary.
“Isn’t there a statute of limitations?” Beau pressed.