“Don’t jump. From someone who understands,” I said as I turned my wrists over to show her the long, dexterous scars, “it isn’t worth it.”
“Oh, Trooper,” she whispered.
“Help yourself to the house,” I said as I turned around, heading for the stairs, “I’ll see you tonight. I’ve got things to take care of.”
Like figuring out every single shred of fucking information I could find on her pathetic excuse for a fiancée.
Which meant I had to talk to Dutch.
11
DUTCH
Zzzt.
Zzzt.
Zzzt.
SHING!
I loved sharpening my knives. The way they glistened afterward rivaled the most beautiful of sunsets. That twinkling sound when optimal sharpness had been achieved rang in my eardrums, and as I held the knife to the light a smile overtook my face.
“There we go, sweet girl,” I whispered. “Just like ne--.”
SKADOOSH!“Naomi’s fiancée is a cop.”
I tilted my head toward my door that had crashed into the wall of my bedroom as Troop’s voice slammed into me.
“Didn’t we already know that?”
He scoffed as he stepped into my room. “The girl, Naomi, has a fiancée that’s a cop.”
I set my knife down and picked up another one. “Don’t tell me you didn’t know her name. Even I knew her name before now.”
And as I gripped my sharpening stone, I went back to those soothing, repetitive movements.
Zzzt.
Zzzt.
Zzzt.
“You panicking because Range doesn’t know this?” I asked.
There was something in his voice that didn’t sound quite right when he answered me. “ Her name, or about her fiancée?”
Zzzt. Zzzt. Zzzt.“Both? Either?”
The sigh that escaped him stopped my movements. “Haven’t gone to talk with him yet.”
“But, you’re here because he thinks he’s a threat and you want him gone. Right?”
Troop nodded. “Something like that.”
I turned my attention back to my knife.
Zzzt.
