The next man…
Emotion clogs my throat. Not because I’m touched by Malachi’s words, but because they make me think of the man before. The bastard who infiltrated my life like a parasite, taking up residence inside my body, inside my fucking heart, slowly hollowing me out.
Our last hours together flash behind my lids, making my skin crawl. I shove my hands beneath the sleeves of my jacket and scratch until I carve thin tracks into my skin. When I stop, my nails are tipped with blood.
Before Malachi can spot it, I slide my palms under my thighs and close my eyes, but not to sleep…to think. To figure out why Reeve took off when he did. The only reason I can come up with is that he assumed Gael had footage of him visiting the deli. Unless…
Air jerks down my throat. “Gael’s painting!”
“I know the one. I was subjected to dining in front of the vile thing. What about it?”
“I’ve been trying to figure out why Reeve took off when he did.”
Malachi flicks on his blinker, switching into the middle lane before sliding into the right one.
“If he heard about the painting, then he must’ve figured I’d see his parents’ faces and spot the resemblance.”
“Or he got what he came for…”
A fresh wave of shame burns away the thrill of connecting potential dots. “Which was?”
“Collecting something of yours. You invited him into your house.”
“I have nothing to steal.”
“You have mine-dust bullets, don’t you?”
My lids spasm.
“Did you check if they’re all there?”
I glare out the windshield as Malachi exits onto Route 3 South toward the Cape. “Bit of an elaborate con to steal three bullets.
“Those bullets can put even Tarian out of order, so no, I don’t think it’s that much of a stretch. Want me to send someone to check?”
Chewing on my annoyance, I say, “I’ll text Callie.” After I tap out my message, I grumble, “I still think my theory beats yours, since many of us have those bullets. But since you disagree, let’s hear your explanation for why Reeve would targetme.”
“Because you were single.”
“You’resingle,” I shoot back.
He shoots me a long, sideways look. “I’m not a woman.”
“I doubt it matters to a conman.” Is my comeback lame? Yeah. But I want to put an end to Malachi’s patronizing stare.
“You can’t feign an attraction to the same sex if you’re straight. At least, not if you’re a man. Some parts of our anatomy just won’t…react.”
“If memory serves, you said he was with me for my money, which blows your theory of physical attraction to pieces.”
Malachi sighs. “I wasn’t wrong that he was with you for the wrong reason.”
My flattened ego spurs me to snap, “Good thing the wrong reason didn’t impede his ability to get it up.”
Malachi’s mouth thins in what I assume is a mixture of disgust and pity.
I keep my mouth shut the rest of the way. It’s only once my cell phone vibrates with Calanthe’s reply that I break the uncomfortable silence. “My bullets are all accounted for.”
Malachi frowns as though that answer doesn’t work for him.
