Justus strides over to the table. “Okay. She beat you up and you forgave her. I’m all caught up.” He slaps his palms together. “Now, what’s the plan?”
Landon shows him the security video. “No uniform,” Justus points out. “But that doesn’t mean he isn’t a delivery man.”
“Could be. If so, we’ll find out where he works and who sent the package,” Landon replies.
“What if he isn’t a delivery guy?” Silver asks.
“We’ll still find him,” Landon assures her.
She locks her eyes onto mine from across the room, addressing the next question directly to me. “What if he won’t tell you anything?”
“He will. One way or another.” She nods as if that’s the answer she expected.
It’s silent for a minute while Landon types. Silver starts for her room, pausing when I call out. “You’ll sleepin my room while Justus is here. He can take the guest bed.”
“What, you two can’t share a bed?” she teases.
“I’m game,” Justus says. “But I sleep naked and I like to cuddle.”
“Fuck off,” I snort.
There isn’t much to do but wait on Landon’s program to identify the man. We stay in the kitchen talking while Silver moves to sit in the living room with a book in her lap. We discuss the things we might need to do, depending on who the guy is, and not one of them is anywhere near legal. I know Silver’s listening, but I don’t care. I promised not to keep her in the dark about what’s happening and I meant it.
“Got him,” Landon says, sitting up in his seat and typing. “I hacked the DMV database and got a match to his driver’s license. His name is Brian Reffit.” Silver joins us as we gather around his computer, and Landon looks up at her. “Ever heard of him?”
“No, does he live in town?”
“No, he isn’t far though.” He turns the computer so she can see the dot on the map. “In a one stoplight town not far from the county border.”
Silver nods and takes a step back, pulling out her phone.
Landon types furiously. “Give me some time. I’ll pull his tax returns to see where he works, and his criminal history.”
“His social media doesn’t list a job, but he’s sold two catalytic converters recently and is asking what the going rate for copper is,” Silver announces. “There’s also a picture of him on a stripper’s lap with a joint in his hand.”
“Doesn’t scream employed,” Justus remarks.
Silver scrolls for a while, not finding anything else useful as Landon keeps working. She looks up at me. “Are you going after him tonight?”
“No, we’ll get organized and make a plan first.”
“Okay,” she says with a yawn. “I’m going to bed then.”
I follow her to the bedroom, and she glances back at me with a laugh. “If you think I’m fucking you with your friends in the living room…”
I grab her waist, and she looks up at me. “Oh, Justus is going to get an earful while he’s here. But not tonight.” She leans into my hand when I bring it to her jaw. Fuck, she’s so beautiful it hurts to look at her. “I want to make sure you’re okay.”
She gives me a small smile. “I’m nervous about what’s going to happen and how things might play out. I don’t want you to end up in trouble. With one of those underground groups or the law.”
Someone followed her to her job and she’s worried about me.
“Are you scared?” she asks.
“No, I’ve been in worse situations.” Sighing, I step back a little. “Actually, I am scared. Because I know you don’t let anyone tell you what to do, but I need you to listen to me until this is over. It’s the only way I can keep you safe.” Other than tying her to my bed and I’m not ruling that out if she does anything risky. “If I say you need to come home, or stay home, or get away or whatever, I need you to do it. Therewon’t be time to argue. I know that goes against your nature.”
“It does but I’m not crazy. This is your world we’re dealing with, and you’d know better than me how to handle things. I trust you. And I’ll do what you say.” She steps up to plant a soft kiss on my lips. “Just don’t get used to it.”
Landon calls out that he’s found the man’s tax records. After promising Silver I’ll update her in the morning on whatever we discover, I head back to the living room.
