“You still pissed at him and Savvy?” Cross asked.
“What do you think?” Drew snarled. “Might have been fucking nice to know that McGuire and you were alive. Come to think of it, I’m pissed at you, too. You could have said something. I mean, I know we were broken up, but hell… It’s not like I was going to tell anyone.”
Cross’s shoulders sagged as he leaned against the counter. “I would’ve told you if I could. We were too worried about blowback on our families and friends. We didn’t want to take the risk that any one of you could’ve gotten hurt. Surely you can understand that.”
Drew shrugged. “Oh, I understand alright. You guys and your little club. Always together and making decisions for the rest of the world without consulting us.” She looked away, shook her head, and then took another sip of her coffee.
Every line of her body said she was still pissed. “You still look pale,” Cross said.
“I’m fine.”
“You sure? I can find a way to smuggle you out of here. You can hide out until all this is over.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You know that’s an iffy plan at best. I’m fine where I am. McGuire and the guys will come if we need them. It will be okay.”
Cross wasn’t sure if she was trying to convince him or herself. He held up both hands. “Just saying. You look like hell.”
She smirked. “You’re not exactly swimsuit-ready either.”
He chuckled despite himself. Damn her. Didn’t matter how hard he tried to deny it; she still got to him. He turned to refill his coffee instead of answering. He couldn’t do this. Not again. Not with her. Not with the Weasel breathing down their necks. He’d keep her safe. And then he’d walk away. For good.
CHAPTER 9
Drew silently sippedher coffee as Cross returned to the porch to chat with Rick. The call with her brother was the second phone call she’d overheard. Hard not to hear everything in this place. She’d have to remember that when she needed to make a call. It had been hard to hear Cross talking to Tessa. It had hurt… like physically hurt her when he called Tessa ‘honey.’ He used to call Drew that. She didn’t want to hear anything else. It was still too raw.
Drew snorted softly. And here she’d been congratulating herself on getting over him only a few weeks ago. Totally done, she’d told Billy. Come to think of it, Billy hadn’t said anything. Did he know she was wrong? That she’d been just fooling herself? Probably. That man knew all kinds of things that astounded her. It’s one of the reasons she loved him and Wallace. They were family when her real family was…not.
She glanced down as she tapped her mug. The single word tattoo on her right wrist caught her eye.Enough. It reminded her, as it was meant to, that she didn’t have to prove herself to anyone. She was tough enough and smart enough. She didn’t have to save the world or even save Cross.
Drew stood and went outside. Rick and Cross both watched her walk toward them. “What’s the situation?” she asked, buying time. She was working up to telling Cross that she would take him up on his offer to leave. She was sure it was actually McGuire’s idea. She might be pissed at him, but still thought of him as her protector. He’d be ape shit right now that she was involved in this.
“It looks like someone is asking around in town,” Cross said.
“Rodriguez,” Drew stated.
“Maybe. Can’t say for sure. Could be any one of the million bounty hunters who know about the two hundred and fifty K contract. Could be the Weasel.”
Drew asked as she looked around. “We’re pretty safe here though, right? I mean…how many ways are there in and out of here?”
“Not many,” Cross confirmed.
She nodded. “That’s what I thought. We’re probably fine here for a while then.” She shot him a grin. “Not that staying at a shack in the bayou is my idea of a good time, but it beats being dead.”
Rick chuckled. “She’s not wrong.”
Cross didn’t say anything, but Drew was sure he was still thinking about getting her out of there. He had to be. Her brother would’ve insisted on it. She let out a small sigh.
“Looks like you’ve got company,” Rick said as he straightened. “I’ll be seeing ya. I’ll let you know if I hear anything else.” He was along the boards and down the stairs in record time.
Drew glanced around to see what had caused Rick to bolt. A woman headed toward them in a small boat. She was wearing a long black skirt and an overly loud, brightly-colored tunic over it. A colorful scarf was tied around her hair.
“Who’s this? Wait… is this Mireille?”
Cross nodded.
“No wonder Rick took off in a hurry. Not so keen on voodoo?” Drew asked almost beneath her breath.
“Uh huh. Mireille freaks him out a bit.”
