She breathes in a heavy sigh. “What did he say this time?”
“I’m not sure I want you to know, but I’m going to leave that up to you. It’s not great. I’ll show you if you want, but if it were up to me, you wouldn’t see it.” At the angle we’re sitting, I can’t get my phone out of my pocket so I shift us a little in case she disagrees with us.
“I do. I want to know what we’re fighting. This won’t be the first time I’ve dealt with shit, Wyatt. I’ve lived my whole life in this world. It just used to be directed at other people. Like Aubrey.”
Pulling up the photo from Chief, I hand her the phone, showing her the message that was left earlier.
Her face drops while reading, but as soon as she hands me the phone back, the same mask she wore when she first got here is back. The tough exterior she wears.
“Not like we didn’t know he wanted to kill me. Or you for that matter.”
“That doesn’t mean that you need to accept it.”
She throws her hands in the air. “What the fuck am I supposed to do, Wyatt? Let you and your family ruin everyday of your lives trying to stop them? I can’t do that, I won’t. I’m tired of this shit. I want him to show his face, and then I want to be the one who gets the pleasure of shooting his ass dead.”
“Sophia. You don’t know what you’re saying. Shooting someone… killing someone… that does something to you, even if they deserved it.”
Even though Jack deserved everything he got, the look in his eyes as he died will never leave me.
“I do. I’ve lived through this man beating me, I’ve felt the pain he inflicted on me. I’ve taken the punches, I’ve taken the slaps and the kicks. And all that time, I fantasized about killing the fucker. Now he’s coming after someone I love, people I love. And I’d take so much joy in ending it.”
Sighing, I realize I’m not going to win this argument. “Okay. Do you know how to shoot?”
“No.” She hangs her head. “Hugh wouldn’t let Ryder teach me. And I wasn’t allowed to even have a gun.”
“I have one in the safe that would be good for you. We’ll start tonight. I have to go with Chief and Stoll to check out some old abandoned hunting cabins soon. But tonight, I’ll teach you. Forself-defense.”
“What hunting cabins?”
“There are some old cabins left on the property behind me. Not close enough to see us from there, but close enough that he could be staying there and not be detected by any cameras. Kane is working on figuring out where he is coming into all these systems from, but he’s smart.”
My phone buzzes.
Chief:Meet you at your house in ten.
Me:Got it.
“You think he’s been there the whole time? How would he know about them?”
I can practically see her mind spinning.
“I don’t know. No one really knows they’re there unless they know Old Man Robinson. He moved to Florida years ago but still owns the property. I tried to buy it, but he’s a little grumpy andwasn’t willing to sell. So I just told him to let me know when he’s ready. I don’t really mess with them because I know that man would find out.”
Sliding her off my lap, I stand to go get my boots and lace them back up again.
“James would never. He likes the finer things in life. It’s why he got into bed with my father in the first place. He wanted the money, and when he saw me, he set his sights. Hugh saw an opportunity.”
“I thought he came from money?” I ask.
“He did. Until he fucked up and his parents cut him off. He still had the name but not the money. Hugh offered the money, James offered the notoriety,” she explains.
“Well, let’s hope that’s still true. I don’t want him this close to you. Especially since he seems to be escalating.” I lean over the back of the couch and kiss the top of her head. “I’ll send Pops back in, and I’ll be back by dinner.”
“I’ll be here.” She smiles weakly.
Leaving her right now sucks, and I regret offering to go with Chief and Stoll.
All four men stand in the driveway when I get out there. Pops says his goodbyes to them as I approach, slaps me on the shoulder, and heads back in.
