Free Contract to Kill by Andrew Peterson

Nathan. Before she’d moved to DC, she would’ve been on board without question. But whatever the reasons for her objections, Nathan wouldn’t risk Toby’s safety over protocol. A fellow Marine needed his help, and he’d deliver. Simple as that.
    The nav took them to a residential area of linear apartments and small homes. Harv slowed when they turned onto Toby’s street. Most of the front yards didn’t look too bad. A few had accumulated some clutter, but it looked like most people cared about curb appeal.
    Harv zoomed the nav to its maximum setting. “I think this is it, the building on the right.”
    Nathan leaned forward and studied the building and its landscaping as they drove past. It was either a two-story apartment or condo; he couldn’t tell which. There were three stairwells along the building, one at each end and one in the middle. It looked like each stairwell served two upstairs units. Toby’s apartment building looked like a million others. Rectangular and long, its design reflected cost efficiency, not aesthetics.
    On a side street several blocks away, Harv took the first parking place they found. No one spoke as they climbed out and walked toward the apartment building. Toby’s unit was on the second level, served from the middle stairwell. The windows on either side of his door were dark. With a hand gesture, Nathan put everyone on hold and listened for several seconds. Detecting no sound, he knocked on the door as they’d agreed.
    “The curtain just moved,” Harv whispered.
    Toby’s door flew open. “Nathan McBride!” The big man wrapped him up in a bear hug. Not too many people made Nathan look small.
    “Easy, big guy.”
    “Hi, Harvey. Man, am I glad to see you guys.”
    Harv looked even smaller in Toby’s grasp.
    “Toby, this is Holly Simpson. She’s a special agent with the FBI from DC.”
    Toby pulled back, looking from Holly to Nathan. “Am I in trouble?”
    “Not at all,” Holly said. “I’m off duty. Nathan and I are friends.”
    “Well, any friend of Nathan’s . . . ”
    Holly’s hand disappeared in the handshake.
    Nathan noticed a woman sitting on the couch right away, even before the lights came on. Dressed in shorts and a T-shirt, she looked familiar.
    When Toby closed the door and flipped on the kitchen lights, Nathan couldn’t conceal his shock.
    Mara .
    She still had the same flawless skin. Her stunning Latina features were nothing short of cover-model material. Twice a week for two years, this woman had been an integral part of his life. Back then, she’d been a call girl. He inwardly flinched at the thought. It felt like a lifetime ago. The last time he’d seen her was the night he’d fought with Toby. Since then, the big man had turned his life around. He wasn’t the same person he’d been five years ago. Apparently, neither was Mara.
    Oh man , Nathan thought. Now what?
    He tried to recover, but it was too late. An awkward moment ensued and everyone in the room felt it.
    Mara stood.
    “This is Mara,” Toby said. “My fiancée.”
    Harv said, “When’s the big date?”
    “We’ve decided on December fifteenth.”
    When Nathan didn’t move, Harv took command and stepped forward. He shook her hand. “Congratulations, Mara. That’s terrific news.” Harv introduced Holly and made an attempt to present Nathan as though they’d never met.
    It didn’t work.
    Mara stepped forward and wrapped Nathan in a sensual hug, pressing her face against his chest. He slowly put his arms around her and looked at Holly.
    Her expression told all.
    She wouldn’t say anything right now, but she’d want an explanation. This wasn’t a hug between strangers, quite the contrary. How much should he reveal? Could he tell Holly the truth and not be spurned or judged? He had no reason to assume she’d reject him. In reality, his pre-Holly days were his own. If so, why did he feel so uneasy?
    There was no point in pretending. “It’s good to see you again, Mara. You