“You’ve known Hale for a while,” Vivian said over her shoulder.
They rounded the landing and headed down a wood-paneled corridor.“For as long as I can remember.”
Vivian opened the door and gestured for Grace to step inside.“You have the advantage.I’ve only known him for a few months.”
The large room was appointed similarly to the space downstairs, except this room didn’t include any modern accents, such as screens and communication equipment.
Grace ran her hand over her forearms and to the bracelets on her wrist.Soreness and pain bit against the bandages.“I was surprised to learn he’d left the Army.”
“He was surprised to learn about you.”
Ouch.“We’ve covered that a time or two.”
“It is what it is.”Vivian crossed the space.“Do you want anything to drink?I can promise the coffee isn’t that military mud most of those men like to brew.”
The large room was appointed in Queen Anne decor.The couches were reminiscent of Alicia’s living room with their claw feet and carved wood but not as whimsical.Bright light poured in through towering windows.It was formal yet inviting.Vivian’s leather contrasted like a modern sore thumb in the delicate space.
“I’m fine.”Grace walked deeper into the room.“I could draw in here for hours.”
Vivian dragged a high-back armchair next to the couch.“Sit.”
She dropped her backpack on the floor and obeyed.It wasn’t her fault that Dominic firebombed Alicia’s house, but she felt as though Vivian might disagree.“I didn’t know my ex would do that to Alicia.”
“The Molotov cocktail?”She crossed a leather-clad leg over the other.Her boot bounced.“Who else could have?”
“Who else?”This was the third time someone had implied Dominic might not be the culprit.“I don’t know.The people who work for him.I never got to know them.He kept me separate from everything.”Like life.
Vivian drummed a quick beat on her leg.“I actually wanted to talk to you about Callum.”
Grace flushed.“What do you want to know?”
She lifted a shoulder.“Why did he stay at Alicia Jackson’s house?”
“As opposed to where else?”
“Taking you someplace safe.”
“We didn’t think we were in danger, and I guess I didn’t want to leave my friend.”
Vivian pursed her lips.
“Was he supposed to do something different?”Grace asked.
“No, I’m just parsing his actions.Understanding him as an operator.”
“Oh, well, I’m no help on that.”
“Doubtful.”
Was Grace missing something?“I mean, I know what you already know.Actually, you probably know more than me, because he won’t explain to me why he left the military—he’ll tell me when he’s ready.”She couldn’t read Vivian’s face.“He’s a good guy.”
“I’ve gathered.What else?”
No one could dispute that Callum was a good guy.Not necessarily warm and friendly, but his moral character was on the straight and narrow.What else could Vivian want to know?“He’s smart.Not always nice.At least not to me.”Though that wasn’t the case lately.Visions of him trapping her against the wall sent a shiver down her spine.“He’s always been protective of me.”
“How?”
“In the way that comes with having an overbearing older brother and Callum always being there.Both of our parents were divorced.Our house was… calmer.He spent a lot of time with Hayden, and as circumstances go, with me.”
