Because he’d noticed all the bruises. “Oh,” I said, looking for an explanation. “I... got mugged.”
“Are you all right?”
“She’s okay,” Jason said.
“Did you catch the guy who did it?”
His expression was as serious and cold as his tone. “Not yet.”
I hurried away into the laundry room and yanked my jeans on before pulling the sweater over my head. When I came back to them, they were speaking again in German, and it sounded like they were arguing. I put a hand on the table for balance as I worked to undo the ribbons at my ankle.
“Does she have a name?” Shawn asked when he noticed me. “This woman who’s chosen to date the less attractive and successful version of me?”
I knew I was supposed to pick a fake name, but my mind was utterly blank.
“Uh . . .”
“Just call her L,” Jason said.
Shawn’s eyebrows pulled together. “Elle?”
“Like the letter.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Shawn,” I said, my focus going to Jason. “What is it that makes people act differently around you when they know?”
He took an enormous breath and held it for so long, I was convinced he wasn’t going to answer.
“Can I tell her?” Shawn asked, earning him a second glare.
“The reason I thought Shawn wouldn’t be here,” Jason said slowly, as if stalling, “is because he lives in Munich.”
Was that supposed to be enough information? “Okay. Why does he live in Munich?”
“Munich is where the world headquarters are.” He looked conflicted. “Our mother’s maiden name is Osterhägen.”
It didn’t register.
He turned to his brother. “She said the beer tastes like swill.”
Shawn looked insulted but quickly brushed it off. “It doesn’t taste as good from the North American breweries. Something to do with the pasteurization process.”
Oh. My. God.
Osterhägen beer, as in the one the theater had on tap for purchase during intermission.
It meant Jason’s family was extremely wealthy. But if that were true...
“I wasn’t meant to be stuck behind a desk,” Jason explained and gestured to his brother. “Heloves it, but it’s not for me, and occasionally I get to shoot someone.”
“What?” I asked.
His expression was fixed. “That was going to be your question, right? Why am I a marshal if my family’s loaded?”
I bristled. “I don’t think I would’ve said it like that.”
It was uncomfortable under his gaze, like he was waiting for me to dramatically change before his eyes. But this information didn’t change anything. Frey was still after me, and my life was in shambles. The fact that he came from money was irrelevant.
“I’m not sure what you’re expecting me to say.” My tone was pointed. “That doesn’t change how I... It doesn’t change the situation.”
