Brigid turned off the picture and her screen saver of swimming fish covered the flat-screen. “He’s still in Oregon, and it looks like he might’ve just gotten engaged. So there’s a chance he’s forgotten about Gemma.”
Wolfe cast a look Jethro’s way. “Youbelieve that?”
“No,” Jethro said, his fingers curling into a fist. Gemma wasn’t a woman who could be forgotten. “What else can you find out, Brigid?”
“Nothing via the web, but we can go deep on this guy. We’ll need to track his life in real time, though,” Brigid said.
Jethro ran through the options.
“We’re a team,” Wolfe reminded him, his jaw set hard.
Jethro let his body relax. “Fair enough. Let’s do it.” No doubt Gemma wouldn’t appreciate their interference, but Trudy’s life could be at stake as well. “I’ll face the repercussions.” In for a pound and all of that. “Nari, I alsoneed a favor.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Gemma sat on the hard wood of Serena’s living room floor, her back to the wall, her legs extended, and her laptop on her thighs. The gas fireplace burned merrily, while the storm blustered outside. Somebody at the door knocked in a familiar pattern,dunt dunt a duntdunt…dunt dunt. She set the laptop to the side and stood, groaning as her butt protested. The floor really was hard.
She moved to open the door, stepping back at seeing the giant onthe other side.
Roscoe leaped inside and danced around, chasing his tail.
Wolfe remained outside, his head and coat also covered in white powder. “We thought Roscoe should stay here tonight to make you and Trudy more comfortable.” The wind gusted behind him, and he blocked it from her, but his hair ruffled.
“Oh. Sorry.” She stood frozen at his intimidating size. Or maybe it was the scar on his neck, or the ones on his hands. “Would you like to come inside?”
His upper lip curled, just on the left side. “That’s sweet, but I need to get home to Dana. It’s about the time she sends me to the store for ice cream.” He glanced back at his own house. “I have some stashed in the garage freezer. She’ll be so happy.” He angled his head to seethe dog. “Sit.”
Roscoe sat, panting happily.
“Be good, Roscoe,”Wolfe ordered.
Roscoe snorted.
Wolfe shifted his attention back to Dana. “Jethro is a good guy, just so you know.”
“I know,” she said softly, her fingers relaxing on the doorknob.
“I mean, he could kill us all within a minute, but he’d never do that,” Wolfe continued, his gaze mellow. “Well, probably. We’re all trained. It’s more likely it’d be a bloodbath if we ever tried to end one another.” He scratched the shadow on his rugged jaw. “I’m not sure who all would be left standing.” He straightened. “Except Nari. Yeah, my bet would be on Nari.” Then he frowned. “And Dana. I guess I’d make sure Dana was safe no matter what. So Dana and Nari for sure. Well, Pippa too.” He nodded slowly, as if thinking about it. “And Brigid. Couldn’t let Brigid get hurt.”
Gemma took a step back. “Soall the women?”
Wolfe dusted snow off his cheek. “Yeah. Well, Jethro too. He is my best friend.”
“How about everyone survives?” Gemma suggested, charmed even though she didn’t want to be.
He full-on grinned, transforming his face from killer to handsome. “That’s a better scenario. Sorry about the rabbit hole there—I’ve been hit in the head a few times. I was just trying to say that even though Jethro is dangerous, he’d never hurt you or any innocent. Plus, isn’t it better to have a dangerous dog in your corner than a pussycat?”
“Probably,” she agreed. “But Jethro and I are just colleagues. Maybe becoming friends.”
Wolfe’s gaze ran over her face. “I guess I read you two wrong.” He shrugged, and more snow fell onto his boots. “It seems like you could use a good guy, a deadly guy, in your corner. Jethro needs somebody to be on his side to support him, maybe teach him he can let down his guard and be himself. That he doesn’t have tobe so perfect.”
Gemma blinked. Apparently Wolfe was more insightful than she would’ve imagined.
Wolfe looked over her shoulder toward the hallway. “You’re doing a great job with that little girl—you don’t need help there.”
Gemma started. “You’re not going to say she needs a father?” This conversation had gotten way too deep way too fast.
“The wrong father is worse than no father,” Wolfe said quietly. “I like that if you go for my friend, it’ll be because you want him and not some type of perfect life. That’s cool.”
