Page 47 of Ruthless Deliverance

“He’s good at a lot. And thankfully, you don’t know what else he’s good at because that means he didn’t have to use his skills. But how did you find out?”

“He told me.” I reach into my jacket, pluck out the burner phone, and drop it on the counter. “I found this in Cabot’s office in a hollowed-out book. I made it out unnoticed, but Boswell spotted me in the hallway and Garbo gave me a cover for being at school after-hours.”

Philip reaches for the phone, clicking through it. “This is good. This will help.” He starts walking out of the kitchen but stops. “Any more broken noses or anything you need to tell me about?”

Shit. I don’t even know where to begin. “Nope.”

He nods and continues out the kitchen. Why do I feel so guilty about lying? The only thing I need to confess is about Creed knowing, but I’m not ready to face all that comes with Philip knowing.

“Hey, Dani,” Philip says, walking back into the kitchen, tucking the phone in his pocket as he grabs his keys off the countertop. “I’m gonna follow up on this and a few other leads, but I shouldn’t be long. I’ll pick up supper on the way home, text me what you’re in the mood for.” He gives me a quick wave, then he’s out of the kitchen. That was all wrong. He called me Dani, not Danica. He was nice. And he seemed uneasy.

I wait until he’s out of the driveway, then I slip into my car and follow behind him. He’ll recognize my car, so I tail him so far back I just barely manage to see his turns and am lucky I don’t lose him. But the closer we get to familiar territory, the more my stomach knots up. Then there’s some relief when he bypasses Creed’s estate and pulls into a little café a few miles down the road.

Parking around back, I position so I can see the door and debate going in when I spot a vehicle pull up that looks out of place. And when the two occupants emerge, I know they shouldn’t be here. Creed and his father. JR looks more tense than when I met him at the Kincaid estate, and Creed … he looks emotionless. Why would they arrive at the same time as Philip unless … no. But it’s possible. Garbo wasn’t who he seemed. Is that why Philip wanted me to stay away from Creed? I have to know but I can’t just walk in.

I’m standing near the entrance when a group of four arrives, and I take it as my only chance. They should give me enough cover to get in the door without being seen. Ducking in behind the group, I follow as close as possible while they enter, scanning over a guy’s shoulder. I find them sitting at the bar. It would look inconspicuous to anyone else, but the three of them sitting near each other, with one seat between Creed and Philip, is anything but casual. It’s no coincidence these three are here at the same time. Philip’s meeting up with them, and I want to know why. Philip warned me away from Creed. He’s clearly protecting him. JR must have Philip in his pocket. Nothing else makes sense. JR is ensuring this investigation goes his way.

Slipping back out the door, I hurry to my car, thoughts swarming in my brain so fast I can’t process any of them. And the only thing I latch on to is that no one is who they seem to be. There’s no one in Dani Graham’s life I can trust—not even myself.

41

DANI

Gus spots me as soon as I step through the doorway into the gym. “My girl! You’re finally home.”

And God, it does feel like home. Even the musty smell brings me comfort, but I’m not supposed to be here. “Can we talk?”

Gus’s delight quickly transforms into fatherly worry as he follows me to the back breakroom area. “Are you okay? What’s happened?”

Everything. “Too much to explain. My work trip isn’t over yet. But I needed to talk to you.”

“Anytime. But you’re really starting to worry an old guy with all that nervous fidgeting. I haven’t seen you like this in years.”

“I don’t know who I can trust.”

“Can ya explain a bit?” When I shake my head, he remains quiet for a few seconds. “I don’t need the details. Listen to your gut. It’ll tell you who to trust.”

“I’m not so sure.” Because my judgment is clouded. Philip started playing nice cop, or at least nicer-than-his-normal-jackass-attitude cop. And Creed. My good sense has been off since his icy blue eyes found me.

“Then trust no one.” The metal chair scrapes across the cement floor as he drags it a few inches from the table and has a seat. “It’s a tough way to live, trusting no one, having no faith in people. But sometimes, you have to do it to protect yourself until you can get some clarity.”

“I trust you.”

A heartfelt smile reaches his eyes as he lightly touches his knuckles to my chin. “Right back at ya, Dani girl. And you know there’s room at my house if you need a safe place to stay. Won’t nobody be messing with you under my watch.”

“They never have.” I smile at the man who has played such a protective-father role in my life that sometimes the lines had been blurred between him and my real father. But my dad never seemed to mind; he was happy to not have to do whatever Gus was filling in for. “Thanks for everything.” It’s because of him I’d been able to protect myself and break Beau’s nose. Twice.

“You can thank me by getting your tail back here. It’s not been the same without you around.”

“I will. I can’t even begin to tell you how ready I am to get back. I had to start working out at one of those fancy, high-tech gyms.”

“I don’t even wanna hear it.” He holds his hand up and playfully waves me off. “You’d better work out for a few while you’re here just to remind yourself where you belong.”

“No reminder needed,” I say as I stand and give him a quick hug. “But I really have to get going. I’m not technically supposed to be here.” There’s no technically to it. I’m not supposed to be here. At all.

“Have you seen your father?”

“No. I thought he might be here.”