“Do I know you? You sound familiar.”
Watching Wraith’s face, I notice the slight scrunch of his brow, but it’s gone quickly.
“I don’t think we know each other.”
“Right. Probably not. There’s a drugstore not far from here. I can probably get a phone there.”
“What are you driving?” I ask.
“A rental.”
“Good,” Wraith says. “No way you’re being tailed then.”
I study his face, wondering exactly how he knows what to do in this unusual situation. He’s as calm as if he were talking about laundry.
“Did they agree to anything or try to get you to meet them somewhere?” Wraith asks.
“Not yet. The boss was being nice, so I thought he might just pay me off and let me go, but then I noticed this dude following me. He’s kind of short but he’s super muscular and he has jet-black hair that’s shaved like if he was in the military. I saw him three times.”
“You said you thought there was more than one guy?” I ask.
“Yeah, a few weeks ago this other guy started popping up in places. Well, actually just at Magnets games.”
“Fuck.”
“That’s why I think someone knows I’m related to you. Either that or they know I come to home games.”
Wraith’s jaw twitches in a way that catches my attention, and I’d swear he looks a little pale. A few weeks? That’s about the time I met Wraith at Chirps.
There’s no way though, right? No fucking way that Wraith is stalking my brother.
“You’ve been on the phone too long,” Wraith says suddenly. “If someone is tracking you, you’re making it easier.”
“Okay. I’ll go get the phone and call you back. Uh, thanks for your help.”
Wraith nods at me, averting his eyes, and a sick feeling settles in my stomach.
“Call back as soon as you can, Boone. I’m here for you.”
“I know. Thanks.”
The call ends and I sit back in my seat, my mind spinning from everything I just heard, but the bigger issue is the mysterious man sitting next to me.
“How did you know that stuff? The advice you gave Boone. How did you know?”
He blows out a breath, still avoiding my gaze. “Part of my job.”
I was afraid that was the answer. “Are you… Fuck, Wraith. Are you following my brother?”
“I don’t know. I wasn’t looking for a guy named Boone.”
“But you were looking for a guy? Fuck.”
He nods, his jaw clenching. “Patrick Gemelli.”
My heart feels like it’s going to explode. “Patrick Gemelli.” I nod as this information settles over me. “You work with sex traffickers?”
“No.” Wraith’s tone is clear and firm. “Fuck no. I don’t even know who the client is. I only know who the target is.”
