T-minus two minutes, is my guess.
River’s going to go off.
“So glad Diesel was right there when the fire broke out,” Caleb says, tone thick with emotion. Gray must have given him the details.
River is stone silent as Caleb continues. “I hope this takes some of the sting out of the fact that I hired LSS to follow you.”
Oh shit. So much for two minutes.
“Wait. Did you say you hired someone to follow me?”
I grimace as Caleb nods. “Yes, I did. Because you haven’t taken those fucking creepy flower deliveries serious enough. Ihad a gut feeling something was going to happen. Thankful I did.”
River’s looking at me now, scorching me with her glare. “Oh my god. Why didn’t I put all the pieces together?”
I have nothing to say to this.
She snaps at her brother, the air growing thick with her anger. “I’m furious at you, Caleb.”
Then she refocuses on me. “And you! How long have you been following me?”
Hm. This isn’t going to help.
“Four days.”
Pure murder. That’s what I see in her expression. “You’ve been stalking me for four days.”
“Observation isn’t stalking when it’s part of a protective detail?—”
“Shut up. Nevermind.” She rounds on her brother. “Tell him to take me home.”
Caleb shakes his head, that stubborn look on his face that brothers get when talking to their sister. I know because I’ve worn this very look plenty of times.
“Not happening,” he says flatly. “The fire is more than enough proof for me that you’re under serious threat.”
“It was a truck fire! They happen all the time. That’s what all those black marks are on the side of the highway.”
“Come on, River,” he shouts. “Get your head out of the damned clouds.”
They go back and forth. The volume going up, until a headache starts to make my eyes bulge.
“Hey, hey.” I interrupt. “Why don’t you two take a couple of breaths?”
River turns to me, eyes glinting a reflection of the dashboard lights. “Why don’t you mind your own business?”
“I am. Both of you are my business. Now, if you’ll take a breather, Caleb and I can talk about what’s next.”
“Next!? This is what’s next. You’re taking me home and driving away.”
Caleb’s pacing, his hand is in his hair. “Can you handle this Diesel? I’ve got a lot going on here.”
“I’m on it.”
He presses his hand to his heart. “Thank you, brother. And River, listen to him. He’s the best. But don’t make him mad, he’s?—”
The call drops.
I don’t give her time to react. Or maybe, I don’t give myself time to overthink. I reach for her, drag her backwards across the console until she’s wrapped in my arms. “Shhh. Just catch your breath.”
