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It really was the only option, though they’d likely think she was a fruitcake too.

“What if he’s telling the truth?” her friend asked, eyes wide.

She froze.

“Are you suggesting—”

“I’m just saying . . . maybe he’s right—maybe you should trust your gut.” Toni shrugged. “What if he really is trying to protect you? Is it at least worth considering?”

“That the guy who asked me out wants to kill me and my whole family? And that it’s imperative for me to keep quiet about Lawrence’s warning?” The whole thing sounded even more ludicrous when she said it out loud.

“Yes,” Toni said without flinching. “All of it.”

If anyone but Toni had made that suggestion, she’d have already dismissed it. But her friend had always been logical to a fault.

“Um, no. It’s not. Mainly because I’m not equipped to protect myself against someone like Kenton Morley. Or Lawrence Derrickson. And I’m sorry, by the way, for trying to entice you away from Tyler with a crazy stalker.”

Toni smiled. “No apologies necessary. But speaking of Tyler, he is equipped to protect you.”

“I don’t follow.”

“Why don’t we make it a double date tonight?”

“Oh no, no way. I am not going out with a guy who is apparently trying to kill me.”

Toni sighed. “Is Kenton trying to kill you, or is Lawrence crazy? Both can’t be true, you know.”

“Oh, yes they can! Maybe they’re really friends and they’re both—”

“OK, you’ve lost me now with your conspiracy theories.”

Alessandra crossed her arms.

“Look,” Toni said, “you may not love Tyler, but you know he can hold his own.”

Toni’s boyfriend fancied himself a boxer and had even won a few regional matches. He was a tough son of a bitch, that much was true. But her skin crawled at the prospect of going on a date with Kenton after what Lawrence had said . . .

“You have three options. Go to the police, despite Lawrence’s warning. Cancel your date and make Kenton suspicious. Or let us come with you guys. Up to you.”

The mere fact that Toni would even consider putting herself in danger to protect her . . .

“Thank you. But I can’t let you do that. If he truly is dangerous—”

“If he’s dangerous, we’ll find out soon enough. Put 911 in your favorites. Bring pepper spray. But think about it. We can go somewhere public, maybe Roberto’s? What can happen in three blocks?”

The Italian restaurant was within walking distance of their house.

“This is nuts . . .”

“Agreed.”

“And I really should just go to the police station right now.”

“Then go.”

Trust yourself. Your gut. Logic does not always win the day.

Rationally, she knew what she should do. But something . . . some pull, the same one that had informed her of Kenton’s and Lawrence’s presence in the coffee shop told her not to involve the authorities. Kenton was dangerous, and smart. She needed to be smarter.

It felt as if some outside force, more knowledgeable in dealing with such intrigue than she could ever be, had taken possession of her brain. Her body.

“OK.” She took a deep breath. “Let’s do it.”