Chapter 7- Sam
I kept thinking about Zane. It was harder than I wanted it to be, putting her in an Uber earlier, and sending her home. She didn’t want me to drive her, just in case someone saw us together.
I don’t know what it is about her, but there’s something behind her eyes that made me want to keep her, protect her.
I almost told her to stay. The words were there, hot and heavy on the tip of my tongue, but I swallowed them.
Because what if she asked why? I didn’t even know why I wanted her there so bad. Still don’t.
I unlocked my front door. Climbed the stairs two at a time.
I’d seen on camera that Janet had left the house earlier that morning.
I had paperwork and information I didn’t want her getting her hands on.
I canceled the Airbnb reservations for the property I had taken Zane to.
Figured I’d lay low there for a while. I needed the quiet, And I didn’t even want to be near Janet.
I might choke her lying, conniving ass a little.
I moved quick. Grabbed my deeds. Property and mortgage, my tax statements.
I was zipping a duffel shut with what I’d come for and a few changes of clothes when I heard the front door.
Shit.
I heard keys jingling. The sound of heels clacking up the stairs. I sighed.
Janet turned the corner, stepping into our bedroom. She was dressed in gym clothes. I could smell cologne on her from ten feet away.
“You’re back?” she asked, her eyes all wide, stepping into the room with an armful of bags from her favorite boutique in Tampa.
I knew she hadn’t spent my money because I’d put a five hundred dollar limit and alert on her card.
She was lucky she had access to that. My lawyer told me it would look bad if I completely cut her off.
She had way more than five hundred dollars worth of shit and I hadn’t gotten any alerts, so she must have been spending the neighbor’s money—or some other fool’s.
“I thought you were going to be gone all week,” she asked.
Shit. I’d forgotten I told her I had a contractor’s conference out of town.
I cleared my throat, keeping my eyes down. “Yeah. I fucked up—forgot some paperwork I need. Had to drive four hours back just to grab it. I’m heading back out now.”
I started walking toward the bedroom door, not giving her time to question me. She stepped into my path, dropping her bags.
“If you’re still mad about the bag and the shoes, I’ll take them back.”
I didn’t look at her. “I’m not mad about that.”
“You seem strange,” she said. “Is something going on?”
“Nope,” I said, brushing past her.
She reached for my face, puckering for a kiss. I leaned out of range before her lips could land anywhere near me.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her frown.
Fuck her. I didn’t owe her shit anymore.
I walked straight out the front door and out of it and got into my car.
I stared at the windshield for a beat, then pulled my phone and scrolled until I found the contact I was looking for.
Park, was the investigator I’d hired to handle things quietly.
He was an ex-police officer with access to people I didn’t have.
For some reason, I didn’t think Mark and Janet had just met. I wanted to know the full story. Janet was careful. But I knew she’d get sloppy once she thought I was hours away.
I hit call.
Two rings.
“Callahan,” Park answered like he’d been waiting on my call.
“She thinks I’m out of town for the week,” I said, eyes still fixed on my own reflection in the glass. “This is the perfect time.”
“Understood.” He hung up before I could say anything else.
I sat there for another long second. I could see Janet peeking out of the window upstairs. I pretended I couldn’t.I tossed the phone on the passenger seat and pulled off.
I could feel that my jaw was clenched. It was pissing me off that I couldn’t just confront Janet and tell her to get the fuck out of my house.
I didn’t mean to drive by Zane’s house. But somehow, I ended up there.
I thought about stopping, knocking, and asking if she wanted to come with me.
But it was broad daylight. I didn’t want the neighbors seeing us.
Didn’t want to give her more to deal with than she already had.
So I just sat there at the edge of her driveway, engine running for a few seconds, but then I drove off.
My chest felt heavy. My jaw tightened even more. I couldn’t put words to what I was feeling. But I knew—just after a few hours—I wanted her around.