Page 24 of Entwined With You

“That’s lovely.”

He heard the break in her voice and looked up. He couldn’t be sure in the dim light, but he thought he saw tears in her green eyes.

“Well, that’s what she did. And so she was wearing it when—well, she was wearing it.” He coughed, trying to mask his cracking voice. “So now I don’t even have that to remember her by.”

Brusquely, he brushed at his damp eyes. “You’re moving into my apartment.”

“Excuse me?”

“Sorry. I didn’t mean for that to be an order. But the idea still stands. You’re moving in with me.”

She took a step backward, the perched on the hood of the car. “Why would I do that?”

“Because you’re Sabrina.”

Her eyes went wide. “What are you—”

“For all intents and purposes, you’re Sabrina now. And someone wanted her dead. Someone believes they killed her. And that someone may be very, very irritated when they see you and believe she’s alive.”

“But so much time has passed. Surely not.”

“I don’t know,” he said honestly. “The fact is, I was supposed to be in that van, too. So it’s possible someone wanted me dead, too.”

“And yet you’re still here.” She crossed her arms. “Are you actually trying to help me nail you?”

“I didn’t kill her,” he said. “And I think you believe me.”

She said nothing. But at least she didn’t deny it.

“Please,” he said.

“I just don’t think that’s a good—”

He took a step closer. Since she was sitting on the hood of the car, there was really nowhere for her to go, so they were only inches apart. So close he could smell her shampoo.

“Listen, I know you’re not Brina. But you are in danger, and I’m going to help you. She’d want me to. This isn’t about grief or transference or whatever you were going to say.”

Except maybe it was because he still couldn’t shake the feeling that he was standing with the woman he’d loved. But he had to use his head. Had to run this op the way it needed to be run. And since he needed to protect the Sisters and she was determined to steal them, he needed to keep her close.

And, yes, he intended to keep her safe.

“Don’t argue. You know I’m right.”

For a moment, she looked like she was going to argue anyway. Just because he’d said not to. But then she nodded.

“Okay,” she said, her voice so soft he could barely hear her. “I might as well. If I prove that you did kill my sister, at least I’ll be well positioned to stab you in your sleep.”

She looked up at him, the corner of her mouth curved up into a grin. “I’m not kidding.”

“Tell you what. If you can prove I killed her, I’ll give you the knife to do it with.”

The grin turned into a full-fledged smile, and she extended her hand to shake. “All right, Brax. I think we’ve got a deal.”

Chapter Seven

“Isn’t your apartment a one bedroom?” We are at his front door, and I hear the beeps as he punches in the keypad code. The lock turns, and he pushes open the door. He pauses at the threshold and ushers me in past him. “I’ll sleep on the couch,” he says.

“Right.” It’s strange being here. I’ve never been to this apartment before yesterday, but even so, I know the place. How could I not? I know him so well. And even though fifteen years have passed, it’s still familiar. The way he stacks his magazines so neatly on the coffee table, all the corners matching. The little framed photos that sit on the top of the small bookshelf. One, I see, is a snapshot of me.