“I never meant for any of this to land on you,” he said quickly. “I didn’t think they’d bother following me here. I thought things would cool off.”
“It didn’t,” she said quietly.
“No.”
Silence settled between them.
“You can’t just call up men like that and ask nicely for them to stop,” she said.
He stepped closer. “I’ve got to try, Gracie.”
Grace sighed. “So what’s the plan?”
“I meet them. Neutral ground. Talk it out.”
“You think this is something you can talk out?” Her voice rose despite herself.
“I know how they think,” he said. “I know what they want.”
“And what do they want?”
Eli held her gaze.
“Me back in line.”
The words settled heavy between them.
Grace’s chest tightened. “Then don’t go.”
“I have to.”
He cupped the back of her head briefly, the way he used to when she’d scraped a knee as a kid. “You shouldn’t have to look over your shoulder in your own house.”
Grace pressed her lips together. She wanted to argue. She wanted to tell him to stay.
“I’ll go tonight,” he said.
Grace exhaled shakily. “Please don’t do something stupid.”
Eli smiled, crooked and familiar. “Gracie. Everything I do is a little stupid.”
“That’s not funny.”
“I’ll be back before you know it.”
She didn’t believe him.
He pulled her into a hug. It was tight, brief, almost apologetic.
“I never meant to bring danger to you,” he murmured into her hair.
“I know,” she whispered back.
That didn’t make it less real.
She didn’t know which frightened her more?—
The men Eli was going to meet.
