“Too much of you at once is probably overwhelming anyway,” Damian said easily, tearing apart a sourdough roll.
Christian shot him a look but didn’t argue.He knew who he was.
“In the meantime, what’s the plan?”Damian asked, setting his spoon down.
Christian leaned back in his chair.“What do you mean?”
“I mean, do you have one?”Damian’s eyes narrowed just slightly.“Obviously someone’s targeting her.I hadn’t realized you and Amka had started something up.”
“We haven’t,” Christian said.The words came too fast.
Damian raised an eyebrow.“Protested a little hard there.”
“Whatever,” Christian muttered.
“Do you want her safe or not?”Damian asked.
Why did he have to drill down on it every damn time?“Yes,” Christian snapped.
“I figured,” Damian said, completely unfazed.“Which is why I’m asking—what’s the plan?”
“I was just going to stay by her side until we figure out who’s trying to hurt her,” Christian said.He knew how primitive and reactive he sounded.“But you’re right.The fact that Jarod’s dead does lend weight to the idea that it’s all connected.”
Ace stretched his shoulder in a habit he had picked up after the plane crash.Probably didn’t even know he did it.“We could take shifts watching her.”
“I’ve got her,” Christian said without hesitation.
Brock and Damian shared a look.It lasted a beat too long.
Christian didn’t move, but his voice dropped.“Knock it off.”
Brock smirked.“How good’s your intel, Damian?”
“Pretty good.One shot.No weapon found at the scene.His laptop and phone have not been recovered from either his place or the truck—which is weird.”Damian’s tone was all business now.“Somebody cleaned it up fast.”
Christian needed to know if Jarod had gone in Amka’s house.“Did he die in the truck?”
“I don’t know,” Damian answered.“I’ll get the report once the forensic team finishes.Probably before the troopers do.”He wiped his mouth with a napkin, folded it once and set it on the table.“I’ll share the information when it arrives.”
“Good,” Christian said, glancing across the room.
The troopers sat at a booth, working their way through bowls of chowder while chatting with the insurance adjuster.She listened intently, but no way were they telling her about Jarod.However, they were all interested in that explosion and fire.
“The fire’s interesting,” Damian said.“Apparently, there’s talk she might’ve set it herself.”
Brock coughed.“Amka?She would never do something like that.”
“They don’t know that,” Christian said, jaw tight.
Damian drank his water.“Somebody tell me why Amka was engaged to that jackass in the first place.”
Christian didn’t move.
“I obviously don’t know the full truth,” Damian said, looking between the brothers.
Christian had already walked Brock and Ace through it earlier that morning, so he gave Damian the short version—Hank, the recording, Jarod’s threat, and the blackmail-turned-engagement that followed.
Damian frowned, one brow arching.“Huh.Not sure how I feel about that.”
