Page 84 of Keeping Knight

Kylie jumps in.

I know! You’re dating the guy who lives above Jordan. The one who loves to do Irish dancing at two in the morning.

Some of the worry pressing down on my chest eases.

Jordan’s reply blinks onto my screen.

Ruby. If you start Irish dancing with that guy, I may have to rethink our friendship.

I try to imagine Micah dancing an Irish jig. Funnily enough, he looks good doing it.

Smiling at the mental image of Micah in a kilt, his muscular legs flexing as he moves, I reply to their messages.

No, I’m not dating the Irish dancer guy. I told you Micah was in the Army. And now he works for a security company. No trombones or miming involved.

As soon as I hit send, I start typing again.

You’ll meet him soon. Things have been crazy lately, but I think they’re finally slowing down. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks.

Assuming Greg is the one behind everything, that is. If Micah discovers Greg is innocent, who knows how much longer I’ll have to hide out here. Not that I want Greg to be guilty. But better him than some of the other options.

The three dots beside Jordan’s name blink for a few seconds.

Are you feeling better, Ruby? I can bring you over supplies if you need anything. I’ll mask up so you don’t get me sick.

Guilt stabs into me as I read her message. I’ve been coming up with excuse after excuse for not seeing Kylie and Jordan—first an important deadline, then a trip to Suffern to help Sylvia with the house, a weekend upstate with Micah, and most recently, an unfortunate bout with the flu.

I don’t like lying to my friends, but it’s safer than the truth. F&F cleared Jordan, Kylie, and Grace last week, so it’s not that they’re a danger to me. But if the person after me decides to go after one of my friends in a twisted attempt at getting back at me for surviving, or he thinks he can use one of them as leverage… It’s just better to stay away from them for now.

After a few seconds’ thought, I reply to Jordan.

I’m feeling a lot better. And Micah’s been taking care of me. But thanks for offering!

Which is true. I am feeling better than I was when all of this started. All my bruises have healed. My nightmares are much less frequent. I haven’t had a panic attack since the one in the supply closet. And I’ve had three virtual appointments with Mabel, the counselor Micah suggested, which have been really helpful.

So at least I’m not lying about everything, I reason. And when Kylie, Jordan, and Grace find out the real reason I kept them in the dark, they’ll understand. Plus, they’ll be so happy to see me with Micah instead of Liam, they’ll forgive anything.

Kylie starts typing, only to stop, then start typing again.

Sounds like you found a good one this time. Although I’m reserving final judgment until after I meet him.

I smile at the screen.

I really did find a good one this time.

While I wait for Jordan and Kylie’s responses, I turn my attention to my laptop, where my newest manuscript is waiting. I’ve been trying to concentrate on it for over an hour, but my mind keeps wandering. I keep thinking about Micah and worrying about all the terrible ways things could go wrong.

But he said he’s prepared, I remind myself. He has Rogue and Houdini with him. And fifty-something, pot-bellied Greg isn’t a match for Micah, let alone all three of them.

Unless Greg has his apartment wired with explosives, that is. Or he has a secret stash of weapons inside. I’ve seen enough movies to know there are plenty of ways for the underdog to come out victorious.

“Not this time,” I say to myself. “Micah’s going to be fine. Soon he’ll be home.”

On the floor beside the desk, Sampson lifts his head to look at me. His gaze is quizzical, like he’s trying to figure out if I’m talking to him.

Leaning down, I pat his head. “Sorry, Sampson. I was just talking to myself. I do that sometimes.”

He cocks his head as he studies me. His ears perk up. His tail swishes back and forth.