Jackson enters the living area with one AirPod in his ear. He studies my purple-headed guest before turning to me. “FBI wants to schedule an interview. You good with tomorrow?”
“Yeah, I guess. Have you talked to Luke?”
He called me this morning, but he told me he wouldn’t be keeping his phone on him while talking to Fallon in case there were digital ears listening in.
Jackson shakes his head. “He’ll let us know when he’s headed back.”
He seems to be at ease with Luke’s absence, which helps me relax. After our brush with death, I hate for him to be gone. The fact that I’m so concerned for the safety of an ex-Navy SEAL, who’s clearly capable of taking care of himself, is...unnerving.
“So...this is the guy who broke into my apartment,” Mel says, curiously eyeing Jackson.
“What?” I ask.
Jackson is staring at her as he speaks to me. “I was there, looking for evidence left behind by the guy who attacked you. She came after me with a stiletto.”
“I thought you were stealing from me! My place was a wreck!”
“I’m sorry, Mel. With everything going on, I completely forgot to tell you...the second impromptu trip I went on with Luke was actually after the first attack. It was terrifying. Someone was waiting in your apartment for me and?—”
“I was there to find out who it was until you came home unexpectedly. I figured he had planted listening devices, so I couldn’t tell you the truth.” Jackson explains.
She huffs, and I rush to explain, “I’m so sorry! Jackson watched over you the next few days to make sure he didn’t comeback. They were after me because of Luke, so you weren’t in danger.”
Mel’s eyes drop to my wrists, where the zip ties did a number on me. Her face is unreadable for a moment before she blinks, looking away. “I’m just...reeling from this new you. You were always the responsible one, telling me to drink water and take my vitamins. Now, you’re...living life on the edge with mysterious injuries and a boyfriend who’s?—”
“He isnotmy boyfriend.”
“Then, what is he? And don’t say yourbossbecause no one I know sleeps over at their boss’s penthouse!”
I cross my arms, looking away before responding, “He set me up in the guest room. I’m here for...safety reasons.” I swallow over the lump in my throat. I guess it’s time to tell her Nikolai isn’t coming back from visiting his sick uncle. “I have to tell you something, Mel.”
Jackson seems to take my statement as his cue to leave, pivoting to walk toward the kitchen.
She turns her face up, eyes lighting up in anticipation. She doesn’t even realize this is bad news.
Rip the Band-Aid off.
“Nikolai is . . . he was one of the bad guys. He’d been spying on Luke at the bar . . . used you and me to get to him, and . . . I’m so, so sorry you were a part of his plans. He’s . . . dead now.”
Her eyes are wide, her mouth dropping open. She stares at me without blinking for a few seconds before slowly recovering. Her gaze dips down to study the plush rug at her feet. “What are you...I don’t understand...”
I scoot closer, reaching for her hands. “I guess he was bartending at Divine Taste to study Luke. He met us and decided to use our connection to him to get me the job at Bradshaw Enterprises, so he could spy on him. He hacked my laptop,among other things. I can’t tell you more than that...I’m really sorry.”
She struggles to respond, opening and closing her mouth as tears begin to drip from her eyes. I pull her into a tight hug.
“I . . . really liked him.”
“I know you did, babe. I can’t tell you how sorry I am. He was a jerk, a liar, and a total prick. I’m sorry you had to go through that. I’m?—”
“You’re sorry? He tried to kill you. I’m freaking sorry I—” Her voice cracks. “I knew it was weird that I hadn’t heard from him. I was sad, thinking maybe he ghosted me.”
I hug her tighter, both of our eyes watering. We stay in that position, sniffling and crying for a few minutes before finally pulling away. Mascara is running down our cheeks, and our eyes are red.
“Where’s that hot bald guy?” She’s still sniffling, wiping her eyes.
“Uh, he’s probably in the gym. What can I get for you?”
I’m devastated for my friend. She didn’t deserve to be used this way for the ulterior motives of a killer.
