My eyes slide to my laptop. A chill slowly settles over me, swirling through my veins as the gears in my head start to turn. Noah and I met in Mexico right after my father died. Then he spent more time with me, came over to spend the night at this house—which I inherited from my father. He was here when I replaced some of the old furniture and mattresses. He helped me go through some of my father’s things and held my hand when I needed to get over the grief of losing him. And he helped with the weird guilt I had over the fact that I didn’t grieve as much as I should have because Dad and I just weren’t that close.
Then he disappeared for a while, and when he came back he said his near-death experience in the plane made him realize what was important. But what if there’s more to it than that?
What if he approached me because he was looking for the file Dad left behind? If I were a spy or mercenary, I wouldn’t want it lying around. After all, keeping your identity secret is part of the game. He didn’t think I had it, but maybe something happened to make him think it was hidden in the house. That would explain all the breaking in. And spending so much time here.
He's trying to prove he’s the one for you, my heart argues. My brain feels like melting ice cream as I shove away the rebuttal.
As I try to sort my thoughts and emotions, I recall something TJ said when he came by with Josie and Cassie.
Maybe you aren’t a completely useless bastard after all.
He said it quietly, but I heard it and know he directed it at Noah. He said something else too that I didn’t catch, but didn’t think anything of it at the time. What does he know?
Instead of texting, I call. TJ picks up after two rings.
“Bobbi, you okay?” I don’t call unless it’s an emergency.
“I’m fine.” The response slips out automatically. I shake my head, grateful he can’t see my physical reaction. He can be shockingly perceptive. “Listen, I just have a quick question.”
“Okay.” His tone is uncertain. He’s probably wondering what’s wrong because I didn’t ask him if he was free to talk, either.
“Remember how you said that Noah might not be a completely useless bastard after all? You know, when you came to tell us about what happened to Reggie and Floyd?”
“Uh-huh.”
“What did you mean?” My heart races as I wait.
“Well, the timing and all seemed pretty convenient.”
“So you think he went after them?”
“Himself? No. Guys like that don’t dirty their hands. They have too much to lose. But he probably knows a guy who, you know…”
“You think he’s capable of something like that?” Clammy sweat slickens my palms. My cousin’s more objective than I am. His heart isn’t involved.
“In a heartbeat. You saw the look in his eyes, didn’t you? If he thought he could get away with it, he would’ve killed them, no hesitation.” TJ’s tone is full of approval. He is, as they say, heavily into revenge.
I’d like to think Noah is just a carefree billionaire adventurer who likes to take photos of wildlife, but my cousin’s radar for potential threats is much more fine-tuned than mine…which is why he enjoys his job, whereas I never really cared for my bodyguarding career. “I see. Okay.” There doesn’t seem to be anything more to say. “Thanks.”
“That it?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay. It might not be him, you know,” TJ says. “Reggie likes to run her mouth, and she’s pissed off a lot of people. One of them might’ve decided to seize the moment. Or it could’ve been Floyd. He could’ve banged somebody he shouldn’t have.”
“Ew.”
“Yeah, you’re right. Doubt he has talent in that direction. But he could’ve owed money to a bookie or something.”
“It’s possible. Okay, thanks. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Of course. Call if you need anything. And don’t go doing that floor on your own. You’ll open those cuts up again and have to go back to the hospital.”
I roll my eyes. “Buh-bye,” I say, and hang up.
As soon as I drop the phone on the sofa, my forced cheeriness evaporates. The call with TJ only stokes my uncertainty, fear and anxiety until I can’t sit still. I jump to my feet and start pacing.
If he thought he could get away with it, he would’ve killed them, no hesitation.
