18. Knox #2
She reaches past me and flips each lock, eyes on me the whole time like she’s trying to read whatever’s wrong with my face. “Okay. It’s locked. Now tell me what’s going on before I call somebody.”
It all comes out of me. Every single thing I’ve kept from her. I pace the doorway, too anxious to sit, while she stands there listening.
I tell her about the folder in my father’s office, the invoices that never lined up, going through it all tonight in my car.
I tell her about the report. The soil, the piling nobody added, David’s handwriting telling my father to wait and my father’s silence and what I think it means.
I watch her face while I say her father’s name, watch her lips slowly press together, her body stilling.
Then I tell her about Moretti. Every little fucking thing. The blackmail. The wedding being moved up. And then the worst of it—him having her address, her school, her job. The “I don’t give warnings twice.”
“I don’t know what to say.” She’s quiet, taking it all in. I don’t blame her. “I’m in danger from Ella’s father? Does she know?”
“No,” I tell her. “To Ella, her father is this upstanding guy. A business man. She hasn’t given any inclination that she knows a thing about what he really does.”
“Or how he’s involved with you,” she says slowly. “That’s so fucked up.”
“Yeah.” I don’t know what to do with that thought right now, so I set it aside. “Sawyer, you can’t stay here tonight. Not alone.”
“I’ve lived alone for years. I’m not about to let some asshole scare me out of my apartment because of a phone call.”
I follow her into the kitchen, where she gets a glass of water and drops into a chair.
“Do I need to repeat myself? He knows your address, your entire life’s schedule.
” It comes out harsher and louder than I mean it to.
I hope it gets my point across, but this is Sawyer.
She’s almost as stubborn as me. “I need you somewhere he doesn’t know to look.
Just for a while. Until I figure out what he’s actually going to do versus what he just wants me thinking he’ll do. ”
“And where exactly would you like me to go? Your house? Oh, wait, you have a fiancée.”
“I don’t know yet.” Saying that out loud scares the shit out of me. “I just know it’s not here.”
She crosses her arms, not arguing, which for Sawyer is basically a full surrender, and I know she’s more shaken than she’s letting on.
“What we need to do is call my lawyers. All this with—”
Someone knocks, three quick raps, and a voice follows before either of us can move.
I slash my hand across my throat, mouthing the word no, but she shoves past me and beats me to the door.
“Sawyer,” I mutter. “Don’t—”
She slides the chain, and opens the door, revealing a tall woman with dark curly hair. She’s holding a bottle of wine and a big bag of Jolly Ranchers, grinning ear to ear.
“I come bearing gifts!”
Sawyer starts thanking her, and they hug as she steps inside. The woman glances past Sawyer, noticing me, and her brow raises. “This must be who you were arguing with.”
“Oh,” Sawyer says. “You heard all that?”
She smirks. “Guilty. I’m a notorious eavesdropper. My sister says it’s a problem but honestly, I’ve helped a lot of people out of shitty situations from sticking my nose in other people’s business.”
“Who are you?” I ask, wrapping my arms around my chest.
She drops the wine and candy on the coffee table and holds her hand out. “I’m Gia, the person who’s about to fix your mess.”
“Sawyer, what is she talking about?” I ask before shaking her hand.
“I’m not sure. Gia, care to elaborate?”
Gia goes into the kitchen like she owns the place, opening cabinets until she finds the glasses. Then she comes back into the living room, three glasses in hand, and pours wine into each one, taking a long sip while my patience runs thin.
“That’s better,” Gia says, sitting on the couch, and tucking her legs under her. “I didn’t catch it all, but I did hear that Sawyer needs a place to stay. Somewhere safe, where a scary danger person can’t find her.”
“You heard all that?” I ask. “Did you hear who’s looking for her?”
She shakes her head. “No, and as nosy as I am, I’d rather not. You don’t grow up in the city without hearing certain names whispered around. If it’s who I think it is, then I know you’re both fucked.”
Sawyer practically falls onto the couch beside her, picking up one of the wine glasses and downing half in one go.
“So what’s this about you fixing our mess?”
“You mean your mess,” Sawyer says, glaring at me.
“My mess,” I say. “You have somewhere Sawyer can stay?”
“Depends,” Gia says, turning toward Sawyer. “How fond of creepy portrait paintings and moth ball smell are you?”
Sawyer tilts her head while I clench my fists, trying to keep my cool.
“Miriam has a guest house on her property. No one ever uses it, at least not since I’ve been working for her. It’s just a studio, but I can sneak you in no problem.”
“Who’s Miriam?” I ask.
“My employer. And calm down, lover boy, you’re about to burst a blood vessel. Miriam’s older than dirt and her estate is secluded. Sawyer will be safe.”
My shoulders drop. “Thank you.”
“Are you sure?” Sawyer asks. “I don’t want you to get in trouble. I know how much you need your job.”
She shoulder bumps Sawyer, and a kernel of jealousy settles in my gut at their closeness. When did they meet? Where is she from? I’ll need to learn more before I can fully trust her.
“If I was worried, I wouldn’t have offered.
” She finishes the wine in her glass. “But I don’t know about coming and going.
During the day, she has landscapers and a cook who’s in and out of the main house.
Sometimes her kids show up on the weekends, but they were just here so it might be a few weeks before they’re back. ”
“You can’t go to work or classes,” I say. “It’s not safe.”
Sawyer crosses her arms, glass in hand. “You better fix this, Knox. I can’t just abandon my life. I’ll lose my job, fail my classes.”
“Fuck,” I say, pacing again. “I know. I’ll figure this out. I just need to think.”
Sawyer’s eyes meet mine and I see every emotion in her expression, fear, frustration, fierceness. But underneath it all is love. She may not say it or want to admit it to herself or anyone else, but it’s there.
“Why don’t you go figure some shit out, lover boy? Me and Sawyer made plans to watch a movie and get wine drunk. She’ll be fine with me here.”
I rub the back of my neck, considering. “You don’t know that.”
“Didn’t I mention I’m from the city? I’m scrappy as fuck. I won’t let anything happen to her.”
Sawyer shifts on the couch. “And I’m not some useless damsel either.”
“Fine,” I say. This is so fucked, but I need a little while to figure everything out. “I’ll go smooth things over with Ella. Make a—”
“Who’s Ella?” Gia asks.
“His fiancée,” Sawyer says plainly.
“Lover boy has a fiancée?” Gia asks, looking from Sawyer to me and back again. “Oh, I’m going to need the full story.”
I sigh, thinking to myself that there’s not enough hours left in the night for that.
“Sawyer, can we?” I gesture to the kitchen, hoping she’ll catch my drift.
She nods and follows me. I pull her against my chest, resting my head on top of hers and breathing in her strawberry scent.
She’s stiff at first, but softens when I rub circles on her back.
“I’m so fucking sorry, but it’ll be okay. I’ll fix this.”
She pulls back an inch to look up at me. “We’ll fix it. From what you said about your father, I want to help.”
My fingers cup her chin, tilting it up. I want to kiss her so badly. Need to capture her taste, her warmth, know that she’s right here and real and okay. I bring my lips closer, until our breaths are mingling. Her grip on my back tightens. I’m so close, my lips practically touch hers.
But then she moves her head, kissing my cheek, before pulling away.
Guess I deserve that.
“One more thing,” I say. “I need you to unblock me.”
She smirks. “I guess I can do that now that you have a reason to be a psycho stalker.”
“I never needed a reason.”
She shakes her head as I pass by her, toward the door. “Keep this locked. I’ll check in soon. And Sawyer, call me if anything seems off. Anything at all.”
I don’t look back once I’m outside. I know if I do, I’ll hesitate to leave. Sawyer’s right, I’ve got to fix this. And if Moretti’s watching like I think he is, every minute I’m here with Sawyer puts her more in danger.