Chapter 18
LEE
She’s still here. It’s my first thought before my eyes open when I feel her weight on my chest. Silver knows everything and she’s wrapped around me, sleeping peacefully.
My worst fear was that she’d be afraid of me or disgusted by the things I’ve done.
She took the news better than I could’ve hoped.
Silver rests with her head on my chest, her hand splayed on my stomach. I run my fingers through her hair, savoring a moment that feels like the eye of a storm. Bad shit has happened and it isn’t over. It’s likely to get worse before it gets better, but I won’t let anything happen to her.
All I want to do is stay here with her in this bed but there’s a lot I have to do today.
Justus is coming to stay, and we’ve arranged for two more guys from his In Safe Hands group to stay at the hotel and switch off watching over Lacey.
Tucker is an ex-military man, and Dare is an ex-con.
Neither are people you want to cross. They won’t let her out of their sight.
I also have to call Lacey to explain it to her.
I hate to scare her but there’s no other alternative unless she stays here too.
They’ve kept her out of it so far and I don’t want to drag her in when they may not intend to.
Landon is running the facial recognition program, and we could get an answer from that anytime. I have to get moving.
Silver stirs as I slip out of bed, but she doesn’t open her eyes.
When I pull some clothes out of my dresser and strip out of my boxers, I look up to see her watching me.
It freezes me in place for a moment. Is she going to feel the same way today after my confession has had time to sink in?
Is she rethinking how safe she is here and planning to leave? I wish I could read her mind.
“I can’t decide what’s more unfair,” she says, her voice husky from sleep. “That you have an ass like that or that you’re teasing me with it.”
Okay, maybe we’re good.
If I touch her, we won’t get out of this room. “You can claw it up later.”
She chuckles and sits up as I put my clothes on. “Are you going somewhere?”
“No, I’m not leaving you alone until I figure out who’s doing this. Justus and Landon will be here this evening.”
“I’ll bet Landon likes this time of year when it gets dark early,” she remarks as if none of this is a big deal. Throwing the covers off, she scoots out of bed. “I’m going to make pancakes.”
If she’s worried or stressed as the day passes, she doesn’t show it. She makes breakfast, does her laundry, and lounges around the house. She spends over half an hour taking what she calls an everything shower while I talk to Lacey on the phone.
Lacey’s worried of course, but not as alarmed as I thought she might be.
The only thing I tell her is that someone’s sending me texts about Isla’s remains, that it’s likely someone from my vigilante days, and that I want to be extra cautious until I figure out who it is.
She isn’t happy about having a bodyguard and insists they only watch from outside her apartment, but she agrees.
She doesn’t want her boyfriend or Trinity to know because that would be embarrassing.
Leave it to my little sister to be embarrassed by being in danger.
Her request is fine with Dare and Tucker. They’re going to meet her when she leaves work today to introduce themselves so she'll know what they and their vehicle look like.
Landon walks over from the cabin with his laptop as soon as it’s dark, and Justus arrives right after him. Justus has been back and forth between Indianapolis a few times, but the drive is harder for Landon when he can only be out at night, which is why the cabin was a wiser choice.
Silver leans against the kitchen counter talking to Landon when I let Justus in. Justus beams at Silver as I introduce them. “I’ve been looking forward to meeting you all day. Really excited.”
Silver blinks at him. “Really?”
He tips his chin at Landon. “Yes, it’s an honor to meet the woman who kicked Landon’s ass. I totally understand the impulse, believe me.”
A smile darts across her face and she tries to hide it by taking a sip of her drink.
“For fuck’s sake, she didn’t kick my ass,” Landon says.
Silver glances at Justus. “I apologized.” Then she regards Landon. “I said I was sorry.”
Landon nods, smiling in return. “I know. We’re good.”
“If you didn’t kick his ass, what did you apologize for?” Justus teases.
“For elbowing him in the jaw when he startled me. And I might’ve stomped on his foot.”
Justus strides over to the table. “Okay. She beat you up and you forgave her. I’m all caught up.” He slaps his palms together. “Now, what’s the plan?”
Landon shows him the security video. “No uniform,” Justus points out. “But that doesn’t mean he isn’t a delivery man.”
“Could be. If so, we’ll find out where he works and who sent the package,” Landon replies.
“What if he isn’t a delivery guy?” Silver asks.
“We’ll still find him,” Landon assures her.
She locks her eyes onto mine from across the room, addressing the next question directly to me. “What if he won’t tell you anything?”
“He will. One way or another.” She nods as if that’s the answer she expected.
It’s silent for a minute while Landon types. Silver starts for her room, pausing when I call out. “You’ll sleep in my room while Justus is here. He can take the guest bed.”
“What, you two can’t share a bed?” she teases.
“I’m game,” Justus says. “But I sleep naked and I like to cuddle.”
“Fuck off,” I snort.
There isn’t much to do but wait on Landon’s program to identify the man.
We stay in the kitchen talking while Silver moves to sit in the living room with a book in her lap.
We discuss the things we might need to do, depending on who the guy is, and not one of them is anywhere near legal.
I know Silver’s listening, but I don’t care.
I promised not to keep her in the dark about what’s happening and I meant it.
“Got him,” Landon says, sitting up in his seat and typing. “I hacked the DMV database and got a match to his driver’s license. His name is Brian Reffit.” Silver joins us as we gather around his computer, and Landon looks up at her. “Ever heard of him?”
“No, does he live in town?”
“No, he isn’t far though.” He turns the computer so she can see the dot on the map. “In a one stoplight town not far from the county border.”
Silver nods and takes a step back, pulling out her phone.
Landon types furiously. “Give me some time. I’ll pull his tax returns to see where he works, and his criminal history.”
“His social media doesn’t list a job, but he’s sold two catalytic converters recently and is asking what the going rate for copper is,” Silver announces. “There’s also a picture of him on a stripper’s lap with a joint in his hand.”
“Doesn’t scream employed,” Justus remarks.
Silver scrolls for a while, not finding anything else useful as Landon keeps working. She looks up at me. “Are you going after him tonight?”
“No, we’ll get organized and make a plan first.”
“Okay,” she says with a yawn. “I’m going to bed then.”
I follow her to the bedroom, and she glances back at me with a laugh. “If you think I’m fucking you with your friends in the living room…”
I grab her waist, and she looks up at me. “Oh, Justus is going to get an earful while he’s here. But not tonight.” She leans into my hand when I bring it to her jaw. Fuck, she’s so beautiful it hurts to look at her. “I want to make sure you’re okay.”
She gives me a small smile. “I’m nervous about what’s going to happen and how things might play out. I don’t want you to end up in trouble. With one of those underground groups or the law.”
Someone followed her to her job and she’s worried about me.
“Are you scared?” she asks.
“No, I’ve been in worse situations.” Sighing, I step back a little.
“Actually, I am scared. Because I know you don’t let anyone tell you what to do, but I need you to listen to me until this is over.
It’s the only way I can keep you safe.” Other than tying her to my bed and I’m not ruling that out if she does anything risky.
“If I say you need to come home, or stay home, or get away or whatever, I need you to do it. There won’t be time to argue. I know that goes against your nature.”
“It does but I’m not crazy. This is your world we’re dealing with, and you’d know better than me how to handle things. I trust you. And I’ll do what you say.” She steps up to plant a soft kiss on my lips. “Just don’t get used to it.”
Landon calls out that he’s found the man’s tax records. After promising Silver I’ll update her in the morning on whatever we discover, I head back to the living room.
Landon manages to find out a lot before he goes back to the cabin.
Brian wasn’t a delivery man. He hasn’t had a job in years.
His criminal record is long but not violent.
Possession of opiates and weed, a driving while intoxicated charge, trespassing, and theft.
He’s on probation now for some of the charges.
The decision is made. Tomorrow night Landon will stay here with Silver while Justus and I pay Brian a visit.
We park beside the tiny run down house just after dark. Brian Reffit has no close neighbors, so grabbing him from here shouldn’t be a problem. We don’t see any cameras, but we put on our masks just in case. Justus steps up quietly to look through the window.
“He’s asleep on the couch.”
The back door is unlocked, and it opens with a low creak when I turn the knob.
We step inside and Justus is right, he’s sprawled on the couch, either passed out or asleep.
The room glows blue from the light of his TV that drones on through a show.
I get closer, and he’s definitely the man from the video.
The crossed out name tattooed on his neck is clearly visible.