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I twirl the necklace around my neck. “It was right before my fourteenth birthday,” I whisper.
“Same thing.” Dev leans back in his seat, taking a long sip of his coffee, his eyes studying me the entire time. “I just wish I knew what this new obsession with talking to Dad was all about.”
“It’s not a new obsession. I just have so many things to ask him. Say to him. I just need to know.”
Dev hums as he sets his mug down. “I don’t need to know anything.”
“I just want to reach out to him. He is our father.” I pick up my mug of coffee. “I would think, as an almost father, you would want to talk to him too.”
Dev shakes his head. “He has our numbers. I don’t see him reaching out to us.”
“You’re both so stubborn.”
He studies me for a long moment, then shifts in his chair. “How are things going with Roman?”
“Fine.” I glance down at the table. “Everything’s going fine.” I don’t dare tell him about our date the other day, or how I wished for him to kiss me as he walked me to my door.
Dev is quiet for a moment. “Is he taking care of you?”
I nearly spit out the coffee. “What?” My eyes widen, and I hope my brother doesn’t mean what I think he means.
No. He can’t be asking me if Roman is taking care of me sexually.
I need to pull myself together.
“Keeping you safe. I don’t like how much publicity this Delgado case is getting.”
I set my mug down, wiping my hands on the napkin sitting in my lap. “Oh, right.” I clear my throat. “Yes, Roman’s taking good care of me.”
Dev tilts his head sideways a bit as he studies me. “I know you don’t think you need all the extra eyes looking after you, but I’m not taking any chances. You know how awful things were when there was a Greedy Girl serial killer on the loose.”
I nod, feeling bad that I’m making light of his concern. I reach my hand out and touch my brother’s arm. “I know. And I’m taking every precaution to keep safe.”
“I just worry sometimes. Feels like I worry more now that Chloe’s pregnant. It’s like I’ve got more to lose.”
I nod. “I get it.”
“I hope this case is worth all the stress and worry.”
I laugh lightly. “The stress and worry for me? Or for you?”
He laughs. “Touché. I’m turning into somebody I don’t recognize.”
“You’re just in love.”
Dev smiles with pride, and it makes me wonder if I’ll ever have the things that Devereaux has. A devoted partner? A family?
It makes me wonder if the Delgado case is worth it all. Is this really what I want for my life?
TEN
ROMAN
“Fuck, Greer will not be happy about this,” I say to Ledger.
He came over to my place bright and early when he saw the newest gossip rags this morning. They’re all talking about how our relationship is fake. Obviously I know that, but how do they?
It’s been a few days since my date with Greer because she’s been busy with the case, and I’ve been busy trying to keep my anxiety at bay.
