Free Sparks by Talia Carmichael Page B

favor as family,” Malik said, frowning.
    Tomas’s eyes narrowed. Sheldon was Jerrod’s cousin. They were each other’s only family and were more like brothers. Sheldon was actually a full partner in any business Jerrod did, but he had chosen to work on the organizational aspects of their businesses. He let Jerrod be the face for their various business dealings. In all the time Tomas had known them, Jerrod had never asked for anything due to being family. Neither man ever had. For Jerrod to do that, it had to be something big.
    “Did he say who this Del is?” Tomas asked about the name he received in the text message.
    “No. I’ve never heard of him,” Sheldon said.
    Tomas was even more intrigued. Sheldon usually knew these things.
    “Jerrod has to explain what’s going on.”
    “He’s out of town and incommunicado since his call.” Sheldon glowered.
    “Whatever the reasons, we need to go so we’re not late for the meeting.” Malik stood.
    Tomas got up and walked around the desk to join him. Sheldon stood and walked out with them. He went behind his desk and handed them a file.
    “This is the info on the house.”
    Tomas opened it. It was just specs on the space they would be working on.
    “I don’t see anything here that would call for me and Malik both to go.”
    “Just come on, Tomas. We can go see it, and then, in good conscience, tell Jerrod that we checked it out and assigned it to one of the other crews. Link’s crew can stay on the project they’re on today. The sooner we go, the quicker you can get back to the project too,” Malik said.
    “Fine. But I’m already going to lose half a day.” Tomas snapped the folder closed.
    “You’re going to want to work on this. And you’ll need Link’s crew.” Sheldon sounded sure.
    “What are you not telling us?” Tomas studied him.
    “Jerrod was sure you would want to do the job yourself,” Sheldon said.
    “Well, I’m going to prove him wrong.” Tomas stomped out.
    He got in his truck, and Malik got in the passenger side. He got them on their way knowing they didn’t have that far to go. Parking, Tomas got out and walked over to stand next to Malik, who was standing at the passenger side of the car.
    “We’re going to do this together,” Malik said.
    “That fucker Sheldon knew which house it was,” Tomas said.
    “Yeah.”
    He hadn’t recognized the address. They studied the familiar house. It was a two-story stone-faced bungalow. It looked as regal as it had when they had first seen it. The landscaping, on the other hand, looked like it belonged to an abandoned lot. Seven years ago, after completing Jerrod’s house, they had put in a bid for the landscaping for this house. They had wanted it, since it was such a challenge. The landscaping they came up with for it when they submitted the bid would make the house look like the jewel it was. They had lost the bid to another landscaper who, in their opinion, hadn’t done the house justice. Since then, they had done many other projects, but from time to time, Tomas still pulled out the plans he had for this house.
    Tomas strode up the slight incline, already picturing the changes he would make to the plans he had drawn up all those years ago. With their experience, they could push the envelope more. Reaching the house, he went around the side, plotting out the trees he would plant along the perimeter of the house. He stopped and checked the low-slung rock wall that separated this property from the one next to it. It would need to be reinforced.
    “We’ll need to pull Leonard from Kale’s crew to help Duke with relaying this whole wall. I want it changed out,” Tomas said.
    “Make it more of a mosaic design.” Malik nodded, making notes.
    Tomas grunted and continued on. Coming around the side of the house, he put his hands on his hips as he viewed the backyard. It was overgrown and in disarray. Stepping through the weeds, he stooped down, looking at the private lake. It was murky,