But instead of going like she requests, Trevor leans closer, saying something low enough I can’t make it out.
Maren’s eyes widen, outrage sparking in their depths.
Then she slaps him across the face.
“Oh shit.” Walker is watching the same show I am, looking just as stunned as Trevor over Maren’s hit. He turns to me, a grin spreading across his face. “Remind me to send Trevor flowers for putting himself in your mom’s line of fire next.”
Trevor watches Maren go, jaw clenched tight. As soon as she disappears from sight, his eyes come to us and he strides over. Crouching down next to Ruth, he looks her over from head to toe. “You okay?”
His tone is so gentle. So soft. So different from anything I’ve ever heard from him before. It’s obvious Ruth has found her way into more hearts than just mine.
Or he’s just scared she’s going to quit and he’ll have to find another assistant. Either way, he’s being nice to her, and that’s all that matters to me.
Her breath shudders in and out of her lungs. “Honestly, Idon’t know.” She swallows, the line of her throat working. “Everything happened so fast. I was expecting our lunch order, so when one of the security guys called and said someone was here to see me, I assumed that’s what it was.”
“Which security guy?” Our team has strict instructions to ask for ID and get approval before unlocking the door and letting anyone inside. We also have a list of people who aren’t allowed inside under any circumstances, and William is on that list.
Obviously for good reason.
Ruth’s eyes drift away, her brow pinching. She barely shakes her head. “I don’t remember.”
“That’s okay.” I pull her close, scanning the space to see who’s around so I can decide which one of them to question first. “Let’s get you somewhere comfortable so you can relax.” I want to take her to my office—get her as far from this area as I can—but the police will be here soon, and they’ll want to talk to her.
So I go back to my original plan, walking her to Trevor’s office.
He accompanies us, sticking close, blocking Ruth’s back as we walk. It’s another gesture I appreciate deeply. Proof my family is willing to put their own lives on the line to protect the woman I love.
I love it and hate it at the same time. Ruth deserves to have people ready and willing to keep her safe. To support her. To love her. But I hate that it almost got someone important to me hurt.
Before we turn the corner, I take one more look back into the lobby where William lays. Hopefully, this is the end of Ruth’s nightmare. I wish I could feel bad over the loss of a life, but I don’t. Certainly not his.
It saves me the trouble of ruining him. Because that’s what I was going to do. As soon as Birdie was safe, I was going to find every way possible to make Senator WilliamSheppard suffer.
So maybe I am a little disappointed he’s dead, because that was going to be one hell of a good time.
37
Tucker
“You okay?” Trevor studies me across the meeting room, looking just as upset as I am.
It’s been a week since William showed up at McKinley Security Systems. A week of nightmares. A week of holding Ruth so close she almost can’t breathe.
And a week of trying to figure out who the fuck let him in and why Ruth was mysteriously summoned to meet him.
Which is why we’re here today. Because I’m afraid we figured it out.
My stomach threatens to revolt as we wait for the security guard Titus’s team has narrowed their investigation down to. They were able to find the security footage of the time the phone call was made to Ruth, and lined it up with one specific person.
And if they’re correct, Ruth is going to be devastated.
Ray is wearing an easy smile as he comes into the room, taking the seat Trevor gestures to. His movements are smooth and relaxed as he sits down, leaning back before crossing an ankle over his knee. For a second, I have hope this is all a misunderstanding. That it wasn’t really him who set Ruth up.
But then I see the way his hands shake when he reaches for the cup of coffee Toby poured him, and my heart sinks.
We came into this with a plan of how to handle this conversation, but I don’t even remember what it was anymore. There’s only one question I want an answer to, and I ask it. “Why did you do it, Ray?”
His smile remains, but it’s forced now as he fights to keep it in place. “What do you mean?” He tries to sound casual, but fails.
