Chapter 32
Icheck my watch again for the fiftieth time. I don’t know why, because it’s not going to change a damn thing.
Rafe isn’t here. He’s an hour late. His phone goes directly to voice mail every single time I call. My texts have gone unanswered, and the knot in my stomach is roughly the size of my head.
The waitress stops by the table, refilling my water glass for the sixth time. “Would you like to go ahead and order?”
“No, I think I’ll give up and go home. I’ll take my tab.” I gesture to the half glass of room-temperature champagne that sits in front of me.
“Oh, honey, that’s on the house. So sorry about your birthday.” She looks at me with pity as I reach for my purse.
It’s time.
I have to call Keira.
Rafe told me if I felt like something was wrong, I should call Mount.
My brother hasn’t missed my birthday in a decade without a damn good reason, and definitely not with this kind of radio silence. Still, calling Keira feels like I’m admitting he may already be beyond help.
I unlock my phone and scroll through the contacts. Before I can tap on Keira’s, my screen lights up with a call from her.
Surprised, I answer it immediately. “Hello?”
“Temperance.” It’s Mount, not my boss, and the sound of his deep voice sends my stomach tumbling.
“How bad is it? Is he dead?” I’m proud of myself for keeping my tone devoid of emotion.
“Ransom? No. Not that I know of.”
“Thank God,” I whisper.
“But if the people he fucked over get their hands on him, he’s going to wish he was in very short order. And they’re going to come for you too.”
I close my eyes and a sinking sensation overwhelms me. “What do I do?”
“Go home. Right now. Don’t stop anywhere. Don’t talk to anyone. I’m sending someone to you. He’s not the right man for the job, but he’s the best I’ve got, and I trust him more than I trust most anyone. Do what he says. Don’t argue.”
“Who? How? When?”
“Temperance?” he asks.
“Yes?”
“Stop asking questions. The less you know, the better. He’ll be at your place, get you somewhere safe, and keep you from being used as leverage to draw out your brother. That’s all you can do right now. If they get you, Ransom is fucked and you’re both dead, except it won’t be pretty or quick. Don’t talk to anyone, especially not your new cop friends.”
I’m not sure why I’m shocked Mount knows about my new friendships, but I am. “How do you know—”
“Do you really care right now?”
I shake my head, even though he can’t see it. “No. I’m going.”
“Good. Be smart.”
I barely remember rushing out of the restaurant, because everything blurs together in a smear of fear and terrible possibilities.
“If they get to you, Ransom is fucked and you’re both dead.”
Mount’s words repeat through my brain, and shivers rip down my spine.
Lord help us both.