“You just had to use the word bitchin’, didn’t you?” My sister had the smartest mouth on her of any girl I’d ever known. She was lucky she was beautiful, but the boys didn’t know her true personality. She was a ballbuster just like my mother.
“Hey, you’re old. I just thought I’d remind you of the days you were a rockin’ dude. Didn’t you traipse around the West Coast following Aerosmith?”
“If I could reach through this goddamn phone, little sis.”
We both laughed and for a few seconds, she jabbered on about her excitement. Meanwhile, I wanted to tell her that Chicago wasn’t like Montana, but she’d just turned eighteen, determined to experience new adventures. I’d been exactly like her at her age. My mother had reminded of that particular fact when she’d called me, begging me to convince Emily not to go to the concert.
“Stop worrying about me. Remember, I’m going to be with my friends.”
“That doesn’t make me feel any better.”
“Let me guess. You want to be our chaperone. I don’t think I could tolerate Betsy hanging all over you.” Every girlie sound she made reminded me of when she’d been the little princess of the family, all four older brothers doting on her.
Now she was all grown up and I couldn’t bring myself to coerce her into canceling the trip. She had to live and enjoy her life. “Um, I don’t think so, but thank you for the offer. Besides, I doubt I can get any time off.”
“Party pooper. All work and no play. Oh, wait. You were already a dull boy.”
“You are so going to get it when I come home for Christmas.”
“Sure,” Emily cooed. “You’re on. I’ll bet you a hundred bucks I can beat you in an arm-wrestling match.”
“You’re on, little princess.”
“Don’t call me that!”
I closed my eyes, reaching for the Glock I’d placed on the nightstand. There was comfort in knowing the weapon was close. While I had no intention of falling asleep, being a sitting duck even inside a lavish house kept my nerves on a sharp edge.
When I felt movement beside me, I turned my head, uncertain how I felt about having Reese sleeping next to me. Not because I didn’t want her near, but because the entire situation felt out of control. That didn’t suit my personality.
Plus, in thinking about the last conversation I’d had with Emily, I was reminded of just how precious life truly was.
Without making any noise, I threw back the covers, sitting on the edge of the bed. The ache in my heart was exactly the way I’d felt when I’d received my father’s call. The deep intense emotions were threatening to derail the goddamn mission. I’d come to realize I’d made the mission very personal.
A sudden warmth shot through me the moment Reese placed her hand on my shoulder.
“You’re not sleeping.” Her voice was soft, comforting. Completely different than the role playing before.
Although muddled in the thoughts about my sister had been wondering if either one of us had been playing at anything. Our actions had seemed completely natural.
“Yeah, I doubt I can until this is over.”
“Then you’re going to be a walking corpse.” She crowded closer, pressing her cheek against my arm. “Why don’t you talk to me?”
“What do you want to talk about?”
“Whatever it is that’s haunting you. I saw a significant change in you tonight. I was certain you were going to head to the beach and kill whoever was watching us.”
“I thought about it.”
“Yet that’s not you. I understand you have an innate need to bring justice to victims you and the others believed weren’t served, but you’re not a killer by instinct.”
“Maybe you don’t know me very well.”
Her lilting grumble was just a reminder that I was no hero, at least not the one she needed. “Maybe I don’t, but you can tell a lot about a person in only minutes. You have a good heart and came from a very close family. This mission you’re on isn’t only about my plight or even the other women. You’re evening a score. Right versus wrong. Good versus evil.”
She was too damn intuitive for her own good. “Just something I’ve had to deal with.”
“Who was she?”
