But if she’d left…
I was calling her number before I realised what I was doing.
She picked up almost immediately. “Hello?”
“Where are ye?”
She took an audible breath. “I came to bed twenty minutes ago. I took a shower, and now I’m snooping around your room.”
My brain shot to her naked and under hot water. Never in my life had I wanted to see an image so badly.
“Nothing to find,” I grouched. “I left water and a few snacks in the fridge.”
She made a happy sound. “I found them. I didn’t know that was for me. Thank you. I also found a weapon stash. That was eye-opening.”
For a moment, I couldn’t think of anything to say that wasn’t a demand to turn this into a video call and for her to get back under the shower.
Lovelyn gave a short laugh. “I know I rendered you speechless when we kissed. Is that still in play, or was there something else you needed to ask me?”
What the hell was wrong with me? I forced my brain to engage. “Just checking your location.”
“I’m right where you left me. Like I said, I’ll be doing some work for Mila tomorrow while she’s out interviewing and threatening Marchants. Did you wish that you could be part of that?”
“No. I tried helping her before with her schemes and got fucking caught.”
The sound of rustling came. “What happened?”
I hadn’t spoken to anyone about this, besides briefly with Tyler when he rescued me on Arran’s orders. I didn’t want to share. Somehow, I started talking anyway. The words fell out of how I’d been Mila’s backup when she’d infiltrated Salter, but the bastard had knocked me out and kept me prisoner.
“You were locked up? That must’ve been so hard on you. Worse because of your claustrophobia.”
I didn’t want to admit a word, but a cramped, no-air sensation crawled over me, and I opened my window fully and spoke to get rid of it. “Yes, flower girl, it fucked me up while I was in there.”
“Because you felt trapped?”
“Because they chained me in a hole for days.”
Her short rush of breath tightened a knot in my chest. I didn’t want her sympathy. I fucking liked that she cared. I didn’t know what was wrong with me.
The feeling lifted, and I cleared my throat. “Anyway, Mila doesn’t need my help. If her relatives give up information on our sister, I’ll take over.”
“That reminds me of something I meant to ask earlier. The one person who should know most about Darcy is your grandmother. She won’t speak to Mila, but I’ve never known a grandmother not dote on her grandson. I think if you approached her, she might be willing to talk.”
My grandmother. Fuck that. I’d sat across the table from her at the will reading, and she had been made of stone. Even her silver bobbed hair barely moved. It was on the tip of my tongue to reject the idea. I’d never wanted anything to do with my Marchant relatives. Then Lovelyn spoke again.
“I’d come with you. You won’t even have to kidnap me this time. Nor do you have to befriend her or be anything other than yourself. Just find out what she knows then walk away. It’s worth a try.”
I exhaled. If it got us what we wanted, it would be worth the pain. “I’ll do it if ye do something for me now.”
“Name it.”
There was an interesting note in her voice.
“Switch this call to video and lose my t-shirt you’re wearing to bed.”
Quiet held the line. Desperation had me filling it.
“Or just stay on the call with me.”
