Reid took the chair he’d been sitting in and set it in front of the hotel door. If he got tired, he’d prop his feet up on the second queen bed and relax. Right now, he was on guard duty. If anyone came after JJ tonight, they’d have to go through him first.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Quinn opened her eyes and cameface to feet with JJ. He’d managed to turn his body ninety degrees. It was a miracle he hadn’t kicked her in the face yet.
She rolled onto her back and looked at the ceiling. Light was beginning to stream through the hotel window. She looked toward the window and saw Reid sleeping in a chair, legs propped up and crossed on the bed, his hands resting on his stomach.
She studied him. He was still wearing the clothes from the funeral, although he’d lost the tie a long time ago. The sleeves of his white shirt were rolled up to his upper forearms, and the top button was undone. His face was relaxed and soft—no hint of a five o’clock shadow. His hair was mussed. She wanted to stare at him, study every plane and angle, memorize the lines of his face.
Just as she feared, a foot connected with her head, Luckily, she’d rolled, or she might have a bloody nose right now. The other foot joined the first, tangling in her hair. It was time to move before he moved again and pulled her hair.
She stood and made her way to the bathroom. After taming her hair, she opened the door and found Reid sitting up in his chair. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“You didn’t. I’ve been awake for a while.”
She wasn’t going to argue with him. If he had been awake, then he knew she had been staring at him. If he hadn’t been awake and she told him so, then he’d know she’d been staring at him.
He stood and stretched. “I’ve been thinking.”
“About?” She took one of the disposable plastic cups, removed the wrapping, and filled it with tap water.
“I can’t shake the feeling that we’re missing something.” He ambled over and grabbed his own cup.
She understood the feeling. Nothing was connecting, and she couldn’t think of another angle. What would anyone want with a six-year-old boy? “Did you think of anything helpful?”
He shook his head. “I’ve gone back to the beginning of everything. Your relationship with Joe. The birth of JJ. The robberies. Nothing leads me to kidnapping a child. It would be different if Joe were still alive.”
“How’s that?”
“Ransom. Hold Joe’s son and get money or information. But Joe’s dead. They aren’t going to get anything out of him.”
“But I’m still alive. They could be trying to get something from me.”
“Okay. Spill. What do you have that would be worth all of this?”
Nothing. She had nothing. She didn’t own a house, and she worked as a waitress. They lived comfortably. All their needs were met. And thanks to Joe’s monthly contribution, she was building up a nice savings account for JJ with what they didn’t need. But was it enough to justify what had been happening? She didn’t think so. “I’ve been saving for JJ’s college, but my most valuable possession is over there.” She nodded toward her sleeping son.
“I really doubt that they are after him to get something from you.”
“What about your relationship with Joe?” Reid knew about her and Joe. It appeared that whoever was after them knew about it, too. But she didn’t know much about Reid and Joe.
“That beginning is not something I want to rehash.”
Indignation rose. “You have asked me questions about a time I didn’t want to revisit. I think it’s time you tell me yours.”
“It won’t do any good.” He set his empty cup on the table and pulled a chair out.
“You don’t know that. We’re all connected in this deadly game. And I, for one, don’t want my son to be the next victim.” Her heart constricted.
“You’re not going to like what you hear.” His eyes darkened, the muscles in his jaw ticked, and he lowered his head.
She pulled the second chair out, moved it closer to him, and placed her hand on his shoulder. “We’ve all got pasts. Some are harder than others, and some darker, but it’s not a person’s past that defines them. It’s their present. Your past may have built the man you are, but it is the man that you are today that matters.”
He sat up and leaned back. “Are you sure?” His eyes seemed to plead with her.
“I’m sure, but if it’s not something you want to talk about, I understand. But it could be the link we’re missing.”
“I killed a man,” he whispered.
