The package sat there, a dark shape in the low light. It bothered him more than he wanted to admit.
Not because of Matt. Matt had been his friend. His brother in every way that mattered. Church wasn’t jealous of what Zee had shared with him either.
But the box didn’t sit right with him. Nothing about it stood out, yet it felt out of place—like it didn’t belong in this time.
He’d heard about letters and shipments getting lost—about things following people from place to place for years. But this showing up now, here, didn’t feel like a coincidence.
Did you have something to do with this, man?he asked Matt.
A colder thought followed, sharp and immediate.
What if they hadn’t been tracking Zee for the things she had in her possession? What if they’d been tracking whatever was in this box? And now it was sitting here like a ticking bomb.
With silent steps, he walked to the living room and grabbed his phone where he’d dropped it after carrying Zee to bed. As the screen lit in his hand, the photo he’d snapped of the package—when Zee wasn’t looking—came back to him. He’d already sent it to Theo.
Even though it wasn’t close to sunrise, he followed up with a text.
Church:Get any reports back on that package?
Theo:Still in the system. Why—something off?
He stared at the box, jaw tight.
Church:Nothing new to report. Just doesn’t sit right.
Theo:Then have her open it.
He let out a slow breath.
Church:Not pushing her on that. She’s had enough thrown at her. She opens it when she’s ready.
A beat passed.
Theo:Someone’s been tracking her. We can’t let that slide.
His gaze burned into the package, and he wished he had x-ray vision.
Church:I’m not traumatizing her over a maybe.
Theo:Understood. But keep eyes on it.
Church:Already am.
He set the phone down and climbed back in bed. He didn’t mean to drift off to sleep again since he had bigger plans, but Zee snuggled up against his side and she felt so good…so right.
When her alarm went off, she shot out of bed and practically jogged to the bathroom. He got up much slower, reaching for clean clothes.
Before long she hurried back out of the bathroom, wearing activewear pants that hugged every inch of her curves and a top that zipped clear to the throat. She’d placed her hair in a thick ponytail that made her look too young for him. Not that she needed much help with that.
Shewastoo young for him.
But right now, he didn’t give a damn. Hooking an arm around her waist, he yanked her up against him. She issued a huff of surprise, then melted into him.
“You coming to my first class?” she asked.
He curled his fingers around her ponytail and let the length slip through his palm. “Got things to take care of.”
“Okay. Maybe the next one?” She pulled back to search his face.
