The final blow is delivered with such ease, as if he didn’t just sentence me to months of my worst nightmare. The outdoors might kill me before the guys threatening me even get the chance.
There’s not much I actually need to take from the office. Moving files around and rummaging through drawers is more of a stalling tactic before we leave tonight. A pointless attempt to pretend I still have some control when everything’s out of my hands.
This restlessness coursing through my bones has me running circles under Joseph’s worried gaze. I should be able to handle the break in atmyown home. The attack onmycompany. I shoulddosomething. Anything but twiddle my thumbs while the FBI and Derrick’s team have taken over every aspect of the investigation.
Why am I even here if I can’t fix anything?
“We’ll hold down the fort, Jackie,” Joseph says gently, leaning on the floor-to-ceiling window frame.
“You shouldn’t have to.” My voice cracks with frustration. I’m annoyed at myself, at the situation, at the whole fucking world. I open the same drawer twice in a row. I’m not even looking for anything in particular. “You should be sipping Mai Tais somewhere sunny. Enjoying your golden years. Not—”
“Hey, I might be an old geezer, but I was stationed in the Gulf.” Joseph straightens his spine, puffing out his chest with mock pride. “Those punks don’t scare me.”
Sliding the tips of my fingers along the top shelf, they snag on a small shoebox. It’s been sitting there for a year. Somehow, I can’t bring myself to throw it away. I place it carefully on the desk, giving myself until I walk out the office door to decide what to do with it.
“And you wonder where Logan gets his attitude from,” I say, poking fun at his never-ending frustration with his son’s lifestyle.
He groans suddenly. “Ugh, you again.”
The sound makes me spin on my heels so fast, my vision blurs.
“Glad to see you too, old codger.” Adam strides in, grinning at Joseph’s grimaces.
Joseph jerks the lapels of his suit and ignores Adam, striding toward me. Large warm hands envelop mine. “Enjoy the Maine air, sweetheart,” he says with a knowing smirk. “It sure did wonders for your brother.”
I swat him away with a groan. Carter may have found love in Silver Lake Falls. My chances of doing the same are close to none.
Adam strolls through the office, like he hasn’t yet noticed I’m in here too, but I’m sure he heard every word.
Even after all this time, seeing him hurts in the exact same place. Like my heart was tied up and somebody was pulling a sharp guitar string, cutting into it. But I’ve got used to it, as you do to period cramps. One gets over it, gritting your teeth.
Adam pauses at the corner of the office, his fingers skimming the smooth, dark surface of the obsidian Lilly gave me. Maybe I should’ve put it in my living room instead. If it had managed to keep the intruders at bay, I might’ve been spared this forced isolation.
“Looking for a steamy summer with a small-town boy?” he asks suddenly.
The question throws me off. I don’t know what to make of it. Or why he’d care anyway?
Hewasa small-town boy. Once, he wasmine.
His natural charm and intelligence might have given him certain power, and the financial boost that comes with that. But the way he was raised was never washed away by money. He’s still frugal. Still wears the watch his father gave him when he graduated. Some things have never changed, even if his zip code has.
But I’m not about to point that out.
“Might as well find something to pass the time, since everybody’s pushing me around.”
Tongue in cheek, brow furrowed, he steps closer.
“Is that what you want? A rough tumble in the hay?”
The heat simmering under the surface of his words leaves me breathless.
“Haven’t figured out the specifics yet. Want to give me any pointers?”
He looks me up and down, pursing his lips. “Spoiled brats aren’t really my specialty. You’ll manage.”
That crystal would look wonderful jammed in his skull right about now.
Deep breath in. Hold it for five seconds. Release it slowly.
