“Be decent out here. It’s inconvenient.”
Dex was quiet long enough that I heard wind move through the high branches.
“I’m angry,” he said.
“I remember.”
“I’m also trying very hard not to let that make me stupid.”
“That would be a refreshing change of pace from most men.”
His mouth twitched. “You have a generous view of my gender.”
“I have experience.”
“I’m not asking you to explain that.”
“Good.”
“I’m asking what you need.”
My fingers slipped on the porch rail.
People usually asked where Crystal was, what I had done, what I would fix next. Dex asked for the one thing I hadn’t prepared.
I stared at the trees. “I need you not to hand my sister over to people who’ll lose her in paperwork long enough for Frank to get to the records.”
“Done.”
“You don’t get to say done that easily.”
“I just did.”
I turned on him.
“I’m not turning her in before we move the evidence.”
My fingers tightened on the rail.
He stepped closer, then stopped when I glanced at him. “What else?”
“I need Crystal safe. I need the locker emptied. I need copies in more than one place. I need her attorney to have them before Frank knows they’re moving.” I swallowed. “I need you to stop looking at me like that.”
Dex’s brow tightened. “Like what?”
Like my real name had weight in his mouth.
Like the woman who’d stolen his truck was still the woman he’d touched with care.
I turned back to the road. “Like you’re still deciding what I am.”
“I already know what you are.”
“No, you don’t.”
“I know you’re Jade Kemp. I know you left my keys where I’d find them. I know you stood between me and Crystal with thecuffs on the table. I know you make jokes when you’re scared, and I know you hate needing help.”
I couldn’t get a clean breath.
