“Gran, youhaveto stop spying on your neighbors,” I whisper-hiss, and Ruby outright snickers behind me. “I have to go, but I’ll call you later.”
“Fine,” she sighs. “I’ll see you tomorrow, then.”
I frown. “Tomorrow?”
“Don’t tell me you’re not coming to Buddy’s birthday. Everyone will be there.”
I groan. I completely forgot about the invitation Rex sent for his dad’s birthday. The man is like a second father to me, but with everything going on, there’s no way I’ll be able to make it. “I’ve got work.”
“Bennett Bradley, work isn’t everything.”
“I know, Gran. I’ll see what I can do.”
“Good. And if you happen to have any night-vision goggles, bring those with you.”
I hang up before she can ask for wiretapping equipment and hand the phone back to Katherine.
“Instead of Bring Your Kid to Work Day, can we have a Bring Your Grandma to Work Day?” Ruby grins.
I return to my seat. “I love her, but I’m pretty sure she was responsible for the Chicken Coup of ’92.”
Katherine’s brows lift. “I don’t know what that is, but I’m curious how your grandmother got access to my assistant’s personal cell phone number.”
My lips part because I don’t know either. “Um, do you want me to call her back and find out?”
“No,” Katherine says. “How fast can you get in touch with Ms. Langford?”
The thought of calling Cybil sends my pulse into overdrive. I don’t like the idea of turning her into an informant—especiallywhen my whole plan was to keep her off Ramirez’s radar, not paint a bigger target on her back.
“I don’t have her number, but I can try to reach her tomorrow by calling Edmond’s office.”
Katherine’s lips press into a thin line. “That’s not soon enough.”
“Not to pour fuel on the fire,” Ruby chimes in, “but have we considered how Ms. Langford knew who to call about Agent Sleeping Beauty over here?”
“Hey,” Seth protests, then grimaces. “That’s going to stick, isn’t it?”
I ignore him because, one, yes, that nickname is officially permanent, and two, I don’t think he’s fully alert to realize where Ruby’s question is leading.
“There was a note on Seth to contact the FBI, right?” She looks to him for confirmation, and he nods. “So how did she know he was with us?”
The question slams into my chest, leaving a gnawing pit of unease.
Howdidshe know?
Katherine’s gaze sharpens. “We need to get ahold of Cybil Langford—now.”
I take a deep breath, dread already pooling in my stomach. I know exactly where to find her.
Holt Ranch—where I first fell for her, where she used to drive me crazy in more ways than one, and where every teenage ounce of my pride got tangled up in wanting her attention. Only this time, it’s not just teasing and adolescent pranks. This time, the stakes are real, and more than my heart is on the line.
“Looks like I’m headed to a birthday party.”
Chapter 31
Cybil
I-35 Texas
