Joy flew after her and found her down the hall in the waiting area. “I’m sorry, Holly.”
“Why? Why show me this if I can’t tell Sophia?”
Malcolm came up behind her. “Because it’s part of your future.”
Holly crossed her armsover her chest. “Really? You won’t let me befriend Sophia so I can help her, and then you show me this?”
Malcolm didn’t say a word and doubt crept up Joy’s spine. Did he also have an alternative motive for this assignment, like Cameron? Was she the only one who simply wanted to help Holly? With anger starting to form, she shook her head. “There’s no rule against you befriending Sophia.”
Holly’seyes widened. “But I thought I wasn’t supposed to interfere with her life. I mean, am I allowed to change the future based on what I see here?”
“Yes.”
“No.” Malcolm’s response came at the same time as her own.
She looked at him in shock, but he was staring at Holly. “Excuse us, Holly. Obviously, we need to talk.” Grabbing his hand, she whisked him back to her home. Holly would be fine as theywould return at the very next second in her time.
When they arrived at her place, Joy withdrew her hand from Malcolm’s and rounded on him. “What do you mean she can’t change the future? That’s exactly what Cameron wanted us to motivate her to do.”
He solidified and strolled toward her couch. “That’s not what he said. He said he wanted her to be open to change and closer relationships.”
Shethrew her hands up, disgusted with her show of emotion, but unable to control it at the moment. “I would think instituting change is a great way of proving she’s open to it, don’t you think? And what could be better than forming a close friendship with Sophia?”
“Lapsir in a glass.” Malcolm called for the red drink and when it appeared on her end table, he picked it up and took a sip as if hehadn’t heard her.
“Malcolm. Answer me.”
He lifted his gaze to hers and in a brief moment she witnessed raw pain before it was hidden behind a thoughtful countenance. “I’m simply treading carefully. Cameron is being manipulated as are we. If we don’t get this right, there will be dire consequences as you already pointed out.”
She solidified and rested her hands on the back of her recliner, somewhatembarrassed by her display after his calm answer. “I understand that, but even with normal cases, the whole point is to help the living see what’s in store for them. It’s always their decision on what to do about it. If Holly wants to befriend Sophia, then why not? Why even show her Thea if she couldn’t?”
Malcolm continued to stare into the red liquor in his hand.
She took the opportunity tostudy him. His outside might be as hot as Holly observed, but his inside seemed a bit rough. It appeared she needed to know the inside as well if they were to get through this.
“Malcolm?”
Malcolm cursed himself for taking the shortcut through the underground alley. What was a few more minutes delay in getting Blair home and into their bedroom? They had all night now that they were consummates.
But because he was too anxious to get her naked, they stood face to face with three criminals who didn’t look like they cared one wit about life or death. He felt Blair shudder against his back. He’d die to protect her, but not until after she escaped. “What do you want?” As if he didn’t know.
The smaller of the three, but the obvious leader, grinned, showing yellow teeth in a serious stageof decay. “I wouldn’t mind a piece of her, but I’ll settle for your bills.” The man waved his gun. “But don’t try anything, or we’ll take her too.”
He clenched his jaw to keep from vocalizing a threat that would only get them killed. “Fine.” Slowly, he reached his hand down to unlatch his sporran. Pulling out his wallet, he opened it.
“Take it.” The leader nodded to one of his muscle men.
The big guy grabbed at his wallet, but he pulled it back. “You said you wanted the bills.”
The little guy sneered. “Just need to make sure we getallof them.”
Schitz, this wasn’t good.
The big guy pulled it out of his hand.
Stealthily, Malcolm reached behind his back to take Blair’s hand and started moving away.
“Stop.”
