Free Make Me Whole by Marguerite Labbe Page B

I’m on my way over. I have something you’ll want to see.”
     
     
    N ICK stared at the journal in his hands without seeing it as he weighed the pros and cons of calling his dad. Most likely he’d want to call a family meeting. Nick couldn’t find a museum for the Dexios Collection without telling them, and they could help. And if Galen tried to wrest the statues from him, he knew without a doubt they’d band together to stop him.
    He’d convinced himself that finding the Collection would solve all his problems. Now he felt like he’d been tied to a snowball that dangled on the edge of a steep incline. There would be no controlling it once it went over. His feelings for Galen and his family only added to the mix. Ever since Nick had left San Francisco, he’d talked to his father and brothers on rare occasions. When he had, the conversations were strained and awkward. He’d much rather have a tooth extracted without painkillers than go through another silent meal with any of them.
    As always, thoughts of his dad and brothers made him want to squirm inside. They had reached out to him a few times, making a token effort at reconciliation. The knock on Nick’s door jerked him out of his reverie, and he set aside the journal.
    “Maybe whoever it is will go away,” he said to Rory, who bobbed his head and chirped at the sound of Nick’s voice.
    He could sidestep the whole problem of his family for a short while if he figured out a way to work with Galen and keep the Collection with him. Nick had to admit that he’d acted like a heavy-handed jackass earlier. Yes, Galen was hiding something that had to do with the statues changing, but maybe it was something that couldn’t be explained easily.
    The knock came again, more forceful this time, and Nick rose with a sigh. It was almost nine o’clock, and he wasn’t in the mood to be sociable, so whoever was at the door had better have a good reason to be there. The surly greeting died on his lips when he opened the door and saw Galen on his doorstep with entreaty in his eyes. His heart jumped. He’d waited a long time to see his expression so open, without that cool reserve, and knowing it irked him even more.
    It didn’t help that Galen still wore the suit from this morning. Earlier Nick had been able to resist thoughts of stripping Galen of his vest and shirt just to see if his chest was as smooth as before, his nipples still as sensitive. Here at his apartment was a whole different tale. Galen hadn’t even come through the doorway, and already Nick was consumed by thoughts of him, compounded by very erotic memories.
    “What do you want? I’m not looking for another fight tonight.”
    Galen winced and gave him an apologetic smile. “I’m not here to argue with you.” He held up a flash drive. “You want to know what happened last night? Here it is.”
    Nick could only stare. Out of all the scenarios he’d imagined, Galen backing down wasn’t one of them. “What’s on the flash drive?”
    “Last night’s security tape from the exhibit room. I watched the first part to make sure I didn’t imagine it all, but I haven’t seen the whole thing.” Galen seemed to steel himself and met Nick’s gaze square on. “I’m sorry for my knee-jerk reaction earlier. You were right. The statues are yours, so I need to be more open with you about what’s going on with them.”
    Well, dammit, he really hadn’t expected that at all. Nick glanced at the flash drive, then met Galen’s eyes. “I’m sorry too. I came in there ready to fight, and I didn’t give you a chance. I shouldn’t have given you ultimatums.”
    Nick held out his hand, and Galen gave him the flash drive. “I’ll take a look at it and give you a call in the morning.”
    “Wait.” Galen stuck his foot in the door before Nick could shut it on him. “Come on, let me watch it with you. It’s only video, there’s no sound. I can tell you what was said, and we can figure out where to go from