Making quick work, he checked out two closets and a private bath before kneeling to look under her bed. Going to the window, he noticed the curtain provided adequate protection from prying eyes.
Leaving the bedroom, he made sure Ginny was staying put as he went into the guest room. Reaper gave it the same attention that he had given hers before going back to where she stood.
“Let me have your phone.”
Obediently, Ginny took her cell out of her purse, watching as he keyed a number at the top of the favorite contacts.
“Text me at least an hour before deciding to go out. I need to know where you want to go. Do not open your door before texting me, even if it’s Nickel. I’ll give you the go-ahead before you open your door if someone is coming over or knocks. If you hear anything you can’t place, lock yourself in your bedroom, then your bathroom. Keep all your windows locked. Don’t open them for any reason. Lock the door behind me.”
“Yes, sir.”
Walking past her, Reaper couldn’t avoid making eye contact, expecting to see sarcasm. What he found had him moving faster to get more distance between them.
“Lock the door.”
“Goodnight, Gavin.”
He rudely closed the door himself, waiting only long enough for the three locks to click in place before going to the apartment Viper had rented.
The apartment was laid out exactly like Ginny’s. The only difference was the furnishings. A huge black leather couch with a recliner would have given the brothers room to sprawl out comfortably to watch the massive television on the wall.
Finding the controller on an end table, he was flicking it to the news channel when Nickel came in, wheeling his suitcase.
“I tried to give Ginny her suitcases, but she wouldn’t open the door.”
Reaper walked to the open door, texting Ginny that it was okay to get her suitcase. Watching as she came out, he waited until she was inside before he shut the door.
Confused, Nickel stared at him. “Why wouldn’t she open the door for me?”
“Because I told her to open the door for me only.”
“Trust a brother much?”
“The last time I trusted a brother, I lost nearly ten years of my life.”
Nickel paled as if he’d been struck. “Sooner or later, you’re going to have trust someone again.”
“Won’t be today, so get over it.” Returning to the television, he started listening to the news, unconcerned with Nickel’s wounded pride. “Any tails?”
Nickel paused as if he was about to say something, then must have decided it would have been a wasted effort. “No. If anyone was watching, they’re good. I would have sworn someone would follow, but if they were, I didn’t see them.”
“If her stalker was there at the airport and didn’t follow, then he’s tailed her before and knew he wouldn’t be able to keep up. She drives like a lunatic.”
“I had to break a few limits to keep her in sight. She should go for the Cannonball Run,” Nickel said admirably, rolling his suitcase farther into the apartment. “You see anyone suspicious at the airport?”
“No.” Reaper pulled his boots off, dividing his concentration between Nickel and the news. “You?”
“No, but I agree someone was waiting for her to get off the plane.”
Neither tried to convince the other their instincts were wrong.
“I had a late night, only managed to get a cat nap before I met you. Mind if I get some sleep?”
“Go for it. I’m not tired.”
Reaper let Nickel take his choice of the bedrooms before going to the other one. Tossing his bag onto the bed, he took out a change of clothes before hitting the shower. The cool spray of water cleared out the tiredness he felt coming on.
Drying his body off, he dressed in a clean pair of jeans and a long-sleeved, black thermal shirt before heading back to the living room.
With the news playing in the background, he went into the kitchen for something to drink. Pouring himself a glass of orange juice as he towel-dried his hair, he decided to call Moon and give him a heads-up that he would be heading to Nashville.
Slinging the towel around his neck, he carried the glass into the living room to turn the television off before making the call. His finger hovered over the button as he listened to the news. Several minutes passed before he clicked the off button to take out his cell phone, pressing Viper’s name instead of Moon’s.
“If you calling to tell me you’re not staying—”
“That’s not why I’m calling,” Reaper interrupted. “Where are you?”
“Drinking a beer with Shade in the kitchen.”
“Both of you go to the factory office and call me back. Call Train to meet you there. We need a convo without listening ears. You can fill the others in later.”
“Give us five.”
When Viper disconnected the call, Reaper sat down on the couch to wait for his returning call. When it came, he told Viper to put it on speakerphone.
“Go ahead,” Viper said.
“You know what we talked about a couple of months ago?”
Viper grimly answered without pause, “Yes.”
“It’s here.”
Chapter Nine
Ginny entered the bright interior of the nightclub for the mandatory meeting that Kaden insisted everyone attend on the second day back in Nashville. The massive area had three bars with two dance floors. Seeing most of the staff and band members were sitting in front of the stage, Ginny found an empty table.
“How was your trip?”
Ginny gave a welcoming smile to the woman who took a chair across from her. She had been friends with Kimmy before they started playing in Nashville. “Fantastic.”
“Damn. I should have taken you up on your invitation to go.”
“Yes, you should have.” Feeling self-conscious, Ginny wished she had paid more attention to Kimmy’s advice about dressing up and putting on makeup, when the admiring gazes of the males in the room showed disappointment that the makeup artist and stylist sat down with her and not with them.
“Who’s the new eye candy?”
Ginny didn’t have to ask who Kimmy was talking about. Gavin stood out like a sore thumb, regardless of him trying to blend into the background of the side wall with Kaden’s security team.
“That’s Gavin.”
Kimmy winked at her good-naturedly. “He attached like Rider and Shade are?”
Ginny felt like a rag doll sitting so close to Kimmy, even though she had made her best effort to be attractive. Kimmy, however, was gorgeous in any outfit. Meanwhile, Ginny had to spend an hour trying on clothes, endeavoring to achieve the same look of appreciation from Gavin that the men had showered on Kimmy. Her efforts had been a complete waste of time. She could have been dressed in a playboy bunny outfit, and he wouldn’t have noticed. The surge of jealousy she was experiencing was confounding and made her disappointed in herself.
“Yes.” The lie rolled of her tongue, making her feel like a terrible person, yet she made no effort to revise her answer. Placing Gavin under the category of “already taken” might not have been the brightest idea in the world, but it was the fastest one she could think of with Kimmy’s interest.