She nodded. “Oh yes. That was the same thing I heard too.”
I moved back, stood up and put out my hand to her to take.
She placed her delicate fingers in my palm and I helped her stand.
Anyone who saw us would never believe the back story. The reality of us. Me the thief, and her the mafia princess who was leaving for Europe tomorrow to marry another man. A man who tried to rape her.
I pushed the thought out of my mind. It was best to.
We left and drove back to her place.
We were talking it up again about music as we got there. She was going to find some to put on when we went in. I knew it was a way of keeping me with her for as long as possible.
I was about to remind her that we had just over an hour, then I noticed something off about the door. We were on the steps leading to the porch.
The door was ajar. We wouldn’t have left it like that when we went out this morning. Frankie was supposed to be watching Jia today. He’d messaged earlier to let me know when he’d be by and it wasn’t supposed to be now. It was exactly when I was supposed to leave. One hour and fifteen minutes time.
So, who was inside?
I pulled Jia close and she stopped talking about her music.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Door’s open.”
“I locked it when we left.”
I nodded. “Exactly.”
Her eyes widened with alarm. “The only person who would come here when I’m not home is my Pa. Xander, you have to go. Please just go. If he sees you…” Her voice trailed off, choked.
“I’m not leaving you like this. We can’t just assume it’s him. It could be Armand.”
“That’s the same thing.”
I gave her a little smile. She’d said she was scared of her father, scared of what he could do. But I wasn’t choosing responsibility because of fear.
“I’m not afraid of your father, Jia. Remember what I said yesterday.”
“I know but it doesn’t make it any less scary.”
“Stay here.”
“No, I have to go in with you.”
“Jia. Stay here,” I told her with more insistence.
She looked antsy but she nodded.
I proceeded forward into the house, leaving her.
There was a crackling noise in the sitting room, sounded like someone reading the newspaper.
When I went in, gun in my hand and ready to fire, I actually froze up. I froze right the fuck up when my gaze landed on Balthazar sitting in the armchair sipping a cup of coffee.
“Well hell, I wondered if you people were going to be away all day,” he stated and set the cup down on the table.
I held the gun pointed at him, but my hands trembled.
