Burke cocked his head. “I might. Why?”
Of course he did. What a pompous ass. “Good. Can you do me a favor and call them? I need you to let them know I’ve discovered that bullshit is genetic. I’m sure they’ll want to give me an award.”
The skin around Burke’s eyes tightened, but other than that, he gave no reaction. “I can see why my son liked you. Quite the mouth you’ve got. I’d be careful if I were you. You could find yourself in trouble if you say the wrong thing to the wrong person.”
“Riiiight,” Nick said. He saw familiar houses outside the window. His street. “This is far enough. You can let me out here. I’ll be sure to let Dad know you gave me a forcible ride and made vague threats, like you think we give two shits about anything you say.”
Burke pressed a button on a panel near his seat. The divider lowered slightly, revealing the back of the driver’s head. “Anthony,” Burke said, never looking away from Nick. “Our guest is ready to leave.”
The driver grunted, signaling as he pulled the limo to the curb a few houses down from Nick’s. Nick waited until the vehicle came to a stop before reaching for the handle, the overhead light turning on as soon as he pushed the door open. He was partway out of the limo when Burke spoke again. “Owen asks about you.”
Nick stopped.
He breathed in. He breathed out.
Then, through gritted teeth, he said, “What?”
“Owen,” Burke said softly. “I’m told he asks about you. He doesn’t speak much these days, especially not to me, but his medical team takes copious notes, and he’s under constant surveillance. It’s safer that way—for everyone. The room he’s in is quite bright. Lights from all directions. No shadows, you see. They can’t take the chance.”
“I’m sure the drugs you forced on him have worn off by now,” Nick snapped as he glared back over his shoulder.
Burke chuckled. “Forced? Is that what he told you?” He shook his head. “Always the victim, isn’t he, never able to accept responsibility for his own actions. And you, swallowing it hook, line, and sinker. The sheer hubris of it all is staggering.” He leaned forward, hands dangling between his legs. “Tell me, Mr. Bell. You knew him better than I ever could. Do you really think I could force him do to anything he didn’t want to do?”
“Yes,” Nick said. “Because I know I would do anything for my dad, even if it hurt me.”
And though he tried to cover it up, that answer caught Burke off guard. His expression stuttered, there and gone in a flash, but Nick saw it clear as day. “Yes, well, I’m afraid Owen and I don’t enjoy the relationship you and your father seem to have.” And then he smiled again, and Nick had to keep from shuddering. “Though I do wonder if said relationship would remain intact if you knew everything there was to know about your father.” He dropped his voice. “And your mother.”
Bait. It was bait, and oh, did Nick want to take it. He was almost convinced that Burke was completely full of shit, but what if he wasn’t? What if he was telling at least some version of the truth? If he’d known Nick’s mother, that would mean he’d have stories about her Nick had never heard before. It’d be new information, and goddammit, he’d hoard every single word like gold.
But that was what Burke wanted. And even if he was telling the truth, it’d come with a price, and Nick wasn’t about to play his games. This reeked of a setup. They hadn’t heard a thing from Simon Burke after McManus Bridge, and now, out of the blue, here he was, dangling tidbits he knew Nick would want?
Nope. He wasn’t going to dance, no matter what Burke said. And seriously, screw him for even bringing up Nick’s mom. He had no right to say her name, much less—
The plastic covering on the overhead light cracked. A small piece of the cover fell to the carpeted floor of the limousine.
“Well now,” Burke said quietly as he bent over and picked up the small chip. He held it in the palm of his gloved hand, bouncing it once, twice. “What have we here? I wonder how that happened?”
Nick was done with him. “As nice as this has been—and it’s been just lovely—I’m going to go home and pretend you don’t exist. Have a nice life. Oh, and one more thing? A piece of advice: maybe don’t pick up minors off the street. Not a good look, man.”
“He’s not the only one who’s protective of you, is he?”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“Oh, Nick,” Burke said. “Let’s not do that. You and I both know who I’m talking about.” He smiled that Owen smile again. Nick didn’t like it one bit. “Since we’re apparently in the position where we can offer each other advice, some for you.” He held up the piece of plastic between two pinched fingers. “There are things at play here much greater than you know. If you want to know the truth, my door is always open.” He pocketed the glass inside his coat. “Especially for one such as you.”
Nick glared at him. “Dude, you are so not my type. And I’m taken, thank you.”
“Yes,” Burke said. “Because that’s exactly what I was talking about.” He sobered slightly. “You remind me of your mother. I see her in you. She …” He shook his head. “Phone.”
“What?”
Burke held out his hand. “Give me your phone.”
“No. Get your own. You can afford it.”
“I’m not going to do anything untoward,” Burke said patiently. “Please, Mr. Bell.”
It was the please that got him. He didn’t know why. He should’ve told Burke to piss off, but instead, he found himself reaching into his pocket, pulling out his phone, and handing it over. Burke didn’t speak as he took it, fingers flying over the screen. Nick couldn’t see what he was doing, but before he could ask, Burke handed his phone back. “There. You now have my contact information. When you’re ready for the truth, you call me.”
Nick snatched his phone back, already climbing out of the car. “Not gonna happen, dude. You can go back to your tower and be creepy there. Don’t bother me again.” Since the last word was Nick’s greatest weapon, he slammed the door as hard as he could.
Except he didn’t get the last word.
Because the tinted rear window rolled down, and Simon Burke leaned forward. “Concentra, wasn’t it? Yes, Concentra.” He grinned. “Helps one concentrate, or so the slogan goes. One of the biggest breakthroughs of Burke Pharmaceuticals. I do hope you’re reaping the benefits. Anthony, we’re done.”
Nick stood on the sidewalk, watching the limo as it pulled back into traffic and moved down the street until it turned a corner, out of sight.
Nick had his key in the door lock when he got a text from Dad saying he was on his way home, which surprised him. Dad’s new job as the head of the Extraordinaries Division led to some odd hours, and Nick thought he’d have to stay at the harbor even if Pyro Storm had finished, to make sure everything was on the up-and-up.
Nick typed back a confirmation, saying he’d see him soon. And since he couldn’t not, he asked Dad to describe in great detail the heroics Pyro Storm had shown in rescuing those from the sinking barge. Dad sent back an emoji wearing sunglasses. So aggravating.