“Sawyer was raised in the foster system. To my knowledge, he never tried to find his birth family. He served in the Army Rangers, then joined Redleg when his contract ended. A few years later, he’s a happily married family man. He and Sammy havetwins.”
My spirits lift at that. “Really? No way.”
She nods, pulling out her phone to show me pictures. My heart swells with each swipe to the next image. “They’re adorable.”
The next photo has the proud parents at a birthday party. One baby on each lap. In front of them are two tiny cakes with a single candle sticking out of them.
If he had a hard life in the system, you’d never know it to look at his radiant smile. His wife looks equally overjoyed.
And she’s glaringly familiar. Evidently, Sammy is the same blond woman from the picture Kenzie showed me, claiming it was Reed with her.
I’m such a gullible fool.
Kri adjusts her positioning, moving tothe edge of the sofa. She braces her upper body with her forearms on her knees. “Crazy how they ended up living in the same part of the state. Both first responders of sorts. And yet, they’re strangers passing in the night.” Her curious sadness gives way to sarcasm. “With the same smug face.”
“You like him, don’t you? Not romantically, I mean.”
She throws a look at me that holds threats of violence. “I do, but you must swear to take that secret to the grave.” With a mirthful grin, she adds, “I know a dozen ways to kill you with my bare hands.”
I draw anXover my left chest. “Cross my heart.”
For the next few minutes, I zone out in the peace and safety of the condo. Exhaustion gradually overtakes me.
At some point, Kri rises and resumes her earlier pacing. I watch her in my peripheral, fighting my eyelids.
“If it’s okay with you, I’m gonna take a nap. The last few days are catching up to me.”
“Go get some rest, sweetie. I’ll be here. Aaron is checking in with me every fifteen minutes while patrolling the premises. You’re safe.”
I slip off to the bedroom. After sending a quick text to Reed so he isn’t worrying about me, I hit the sheets.
FIFTY
Dammit, Miss Cleo
REED
Andrews jolts awakewhen I tap on the passenger window.
“Sleeping on the job again, old man?”
He jabs his finger on the door lock button. “Morning. Hope you got plenty of rest last night.”
Ha. He must be practicing to be a comedian. A haggard one, judging by the look of him.
“If by plenty of rest, you mean no rest, then yes.” I click my seatbelt into the buckle and grin. “Sleep is overrated, anyhow.”
“Mark my words. You’ll change your tune by the end of the day.”
“Don’t bet on it,” I mutter.
Sleep is far from essential when the alternative involves a naked Lila in my bed.
My partner harrumphs, then clicks his tongue despondently. “I’ve just got that feeling, kid.”
Shit.
He better not fucking say it.
