Page 134 of Dream Chaser

Javier shrugged. “Hate the spotlight too, yet here we are.”

“Well,” Elio said, “relocating to Madrid is off the table, but I have contacts there. All you need to do is ask.”

“I might.” Javier sighed. “And you, Ale? Are you coming to Spain soon?”

“Not until the racing season starts,” I said. “But I’ll let you know when I’m in Madrid.” Representing football players was among my future goals for the agency. Javier had an excellent agent and could give me valuable insight.

“Talk to you later, then.” He yawned. “Hope you had fun watching us lose.”

“Not nearly as much as watching you win,” Asher said. “Hablamos.”

As soon as we said goodbye, Rys and Asher launched into a conversation about football. Elio took out a pack of cigarettes and stood.

“Mind if I go with you?” I asked.

“Not at all. Come on.”

Outside, the sidewalk teemed with people. We bypassed a rowdy group and stood to the side of the building.

Elio pulled a cigarette out of the pack, then patted his pockets, groaning. “Shit. I thought I had a lighter.”

“We can ask those guys over there.” I pointed to two men in suits smoking under a streetlight.

Elio’s gaze flicked between them and his cigarette. He rolled it between his fingers. “Nah. I want to quit. Maybe it’s the sign I’ve been waiting for. Did you want to talk about something?”

Either I’d been too obvious, or I’d underestimated his perceptiveness.

“Yeah. I was wondering if you knew a good PI. I need to find dirt on a small-town banker, wannabe politician, so discretion is a must.” It was just a hunch, but my intuition rarely failed me. Someone who renovated a property that wasn’t his and was used to shifting the blame was likely involved in shady shit.

If I was wrong, at least my conscience would be clean. Even though Nova was capable of fighting her own battles, I didn’t want her to keep suffering and wasting money she could invest in her future.

A corner of Elio’s mouth curved in a smirk. “Not what I expected.” He slid the cigarette back into the pack. “What did this guy do to you?”

“He’s married to my girlfriend. Well, separated. She’s trying to get divorced, and he’s making it impossible.”

“I see.” He pulled out his phone and scrolled for a beat, frowning. Then he turned the phone around. The name Rowan Shaw was on the screen. “This guy right here is a good fit. Discreet, professional. Not the cheapest, though.”

“As long as the job gets done, I don’t care.”

Elio’s thumb moved. My phone vibrated. “There. Sent his contact. Tell him I gave you his number.”

“Will do. Thank you.”

Elio nodded. Steely gray eyes with an amused twinkle roamed my face. “Asher, Javier, now you. That damn love bug doesn’t spare anyone.”

I shoved my hands into my pockets. “Maybe you’re next.”

“My vaccinations are up to date.” He set off toward the bar’s entrance. “And I’ll keep them that way.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

Nova

January

Santa Teresa, Costa Rica

Asoft orange hue tinged the horizon, contrasting with the turquoise water. Our second day here, and my camera’s memory card had already run out of space. Good thing I’d brought several.