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“Thank you,” I say.
“You say thank you a lot.”
“Is that bad?”
“No,” he says. “Just an observation. You’re beautiful, smart, brave, and polite. All observations.”
And all amazing compliments, I think. “Do you want my observations about you?” I ask.
“No,” he surprises me by saying. “I don’t.” There’s a sudden, hard edge to his voice, as he pushes off the wall. “And because I’m a man of my word,” he adds, “I’m going to leave before I forget why I wasn’t going to kiss you. Good night, Pri.”
He opens the door and exits, leaving me alone and while I’m used to being alone, for the first time in a very long time, I wish I wasn’t.
***
ADRIAN
The minute I’m outside the range of Pri’s security cameras, I dial Blake. “Adrian,” he answers. “Talk to me. How’s Texas?”
“Priscilla Miller, the ADA on Waters’ case should be calling you and asking about Rafael, which would be me.”
“Holy fuck,” he snaps. “What the hell are you thinking? Who does she think Rafael is?”
“I told her I’m with Walker Security, but as far as she’s concerned, we’re new, friendly neighbors.”
“How friendly?”
“I’m just trying to keep us both alive.”
“How fucking friendly?” he demands and then says, “Never mind. I can read that answer loud and fucking clear. What happens when she finds out who you really are? You do see the problem here, right?”
I scrub my jaw. “Yeah, I get that, Blake, and I feel like shit about misleading her, but she’s scared.”
“You think you playing games with her makes that better?”
“I’m not playing a fucking game. I’m trying to keep us all alive, her included. Either she’s afraid because witnesses are dying or—”
“Waters promised to kill people she loves if she doesn’t do his bidding,” he supplies.
“Exactly. I have to know which to know how to help her.”
“I’ll do some digging,” Blake says. “And if she calls me? Where do you want this to go?”
“She seems to think Waters got to some insiders. I led her to Walker as an escape, a way to protect her witnesses. If she calls, I’ll know she’s not compromised.”
“The DA has to approve the finances. I’m not sure that’s a good indicator.”
“I know Ed. He’s a self-serving, power-hungry bastard. It’s an election year and this is a giant case. He’ll approve it. And if I read her right, she’ll call you and give you a chance to help her sell it.”
“And when are you coming clean with her?”
“After we get Walker approved and on the case officially. Waters has to go down. We’re the way everyone who can make that happen stays alive.”
“If that’s how you want to play this, you can’t meet with Ed. Who do you want on this?”
“Adam. He’s a chameleon. He’s our man.”
“All right, but, Adrian—don’t drag this out. This only gets dirtier the longer you deceive Priscilla.” Pri, I silently correct, but it doesn’t matter. Blake disconnects and I curse. He’s right. I’m treading water here, about to drown in sugar cookies and Pri Miller. I let this get personal with Pri when it didn’t have to be, but somehow it’s fitting. Everything about taking down Waters is personal, including protecting Pri. She can hate me, but she won’t get rid of me, not until this is over.
***
With my resolve firmly in place, I head to the rental house Blake lined up for us, and until now I’ve given very little thought of. In a short walk, the two-story slate gray house with a steepled roof probably runs a cool million. In Austin, that doesn’t mean you get a lot of house, not in this zip code. In other words, Pri’s parents gifted her an expensive property. She left their law firm but stayed in the house. I don’t want that to matter, but if she were anyone else, I’d be thinking about her position on money. Once you have a taste, it’s hard to walk away, even if you think you can, but I rule that out as a concern. I heard her with her mother. She could go back to the firm and make money again.
Money doesn’t motivate her.
She can’t be bribed, which means Waters would either kill her or threaten to kill someone close to her.
I walk through the side gate of the house and around back, entering directly into the kitchen, and step onto the gray varnished concrete floors that flow through the entire house. The living room to the left is empty and I spy a bag of Oreos on the top of the large marble island with my name on them.
Adam charges into the room before I get the chance, his voice low, but his agitation tics along his jawline. “What the hell are you doing, A?”
Grimacing, I grab the Oreos and snatch one. “Eating a cookie. I’m starving.” I inhale my cookie, and I’m ready for another. I reach for the bag.
