“I noticed the truck as we were leaving the Applegates’. He was following me too closely and had his high beams on. I’m positive he swerved into you. Do you think it could be the same person who torched your club? What about Uncle Charlie?”
“If it is Uncle Charlie, he holds one helluva grudge.”
“We may have caught a break,” she continued. “The guy was driving an Easy Does It rental truck with Virginia plates. I wish I’d gotten the number, but everything happened so fast.”
“I’ll have Jacoby hack into their system.”
Kneeling behind him, she started rubbing his shoulders.
“You don’t have to—”
“Shh,” she whispered. “Deep breath. You are so tight, Sinclair. Let’s try to getyourelaxed.”
Rather than tell her how she could really help him eliminate the tension, he stayed silent and accepted her massage. Her rhythmic, sensuous touch soothed him. He closed his eyes and inhaled a deep, calming breath. No sooner had he started to settle down, when the image of the truck crashed into his thoughts and his eyes flew open.Jesus, that was fucked up.
Tight muscles yielded to her loving touch. Several glorious moments passed. When she patted his back, he turned to face her. “Thank you…for everything.”
Her eyes flitted between his eyes and his mouth. Before he got the chance to kiss her, she pushed off the floor. “You need to sleep.”
He walked her to her car. “Watch your six and text me when you get home.”
“We’ll find that son of a bitch,” she said. “And when we do, he’ll wish he never tried to hurt you.”
Her fiery attitude empowered him.
As she drove away, he glanced up and down the quiet street. Was someone watching his every move? Grinding his teeth, he retreated inside and bolted the front door. Then, he called Dakota.
“Someone’s trying to kill me,” he said.
13
Chasing the Leads
As Evangeline entered Henninger Security, her phone rang. “Hey, sis.”
“Where are you?” Hannah asked.
“Henninger’s. Everything okay?”
“Can you stop by and see me? No, wait, let’s meet at the coffee shop near my house.”
“Will you be alone?”
“Are you talking about Joey?”
“Yeah.” Evangeline stopped at the front desk.
“Just us two. Text me when you’re done and I’ll meet you there.” Hannah hung up.
Ever since meeting Joey, Hannah’s insecurities and fears seemed magnified. Evangeline didn’t like Joey’s form of “help”, but she had to tread lightly. If she pushed, she could do more harm than good.
She slid her phone into her back pocket. “Hey, Julie.”
“Happy New Year’s Eve,” Julie said. “Got plans tonight?”
“Yeah, with a cheap bottle of vodka. You?”
“My boyfriend and I are going to a party. Tucker’s free, too, I think. Maybe you guys—”
