I had never felt so stupid.
“You’ve been trailed for a while now, Jada.” I tried to keep my voice controlled, flat, to avoid incensing her any further. I watched her reaction.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Her jaw dropped farther and I winced.
“I’ve had someone following you, making sure no one got to you.” I sighed, feeling defeated for the first time in a long time. Maybe ever. “He works for the PI company I hired to go after Simon. It’s the same one that helped me when Dad died.”
“How could you not tell me this? Cane!”
“I didn’t want to worry you. I didn’t know if this shit was from Simon or a coincidence, if he was after you or me. I didn’t know anything for sure, Jada.”
Her eyes were as wide as saucers. “I can’t believe you didn’t even tell me.”
“Look, this is my fault. My life is one fuckup after another. I should have never gone after you like I did. You don’t deserve this.” I hung my head. “I didn’t want you affected by all of this if you didn’t have to be, baby.”
“Well, I obviously am. Dammit, Cane.”
My shoulders slumped forward. I was exhausted in every way possible.
“I need you to go out of town for a few days until we can find Simon. Something is going on and until we know what, I want you out of the way.”
“Oh, so now you get to come in here, spill your guts, and then tell me to leave?”
“Jada, please.” I met her eyes. “This is for your own good. Don’tmake me pull crazy shit to get you out of here, because I will. You know I will.”
She crossed her arms against her chest, eyeing me coolly. “Just a few minutes ago, it seems, I was telling you I loved you. And now I sit here and wonder what relationship I’ve even been in, because obviously my reality and yours have been very different.”
“Come the fuck on.”
“You were all angry that I didn’t tell you Decker had called me, yet you kept this entire thing from me for weeks. Pot calling the kettle black, don’t you think?”
“Stop with the Max bullshit.”
“Don’t even go there right now, Cane!” She put her hands on her hips and glared at me. “At least Max is honest.”
“Oh, you think Max didn’t know about this? Think again, babe.”
Jada sprang up from her chair and paced the kitchen. “So what? I go out of town and you come with me?”
I shook my head. “I can’t go, Jada. I have to be here.”
“How do I know you’ll be okay?”
I smiled. “Because if you are okay, I’m okay.”
THIRTY-EIGHT
Jada
I marchedinto the offices of Alexander Industries with a renewed purpose the next morning, wearing the orange dress that Cane loved.
Max had been delegated to find me a flight and it left that afternoon, much to Cane’s dismay. I had insisted on seeing my father the night before and telling him goodbye, since he’d been feeling ill and I had no idea when I would be back.
Cane had insisted on staying the night and, when he left that morning, a black car had replaced his Denali in the driveway per Cane’s orders.
I wasn’t a fan of having a guard in the driveway, but I could see Cane’s point in having him there. When I had exited the house, Ryan, as I learned was his name, insisted on driving me wherever I wanted to go. So he drove me to Cane’s office.
I just wanted to see him again before I left, to make things right. The night before had been awkward and frustrating and, as I thought about leaving him for a few days and the danger he was quite possibly under, I just wanted to make sure things were settled between us. Hehad promised to come by and take me to the airport, but I didn’t want it to be a rushed goodbye. I wanted to take my time and make sure we were on the same page.
