Page 41 of Choosing Stella

“When you asked me about personal threats this morning, I said there weren’t any current ones.”

His attention returned to me.

“I remember that.”

“You didn’t ask what I meant.”

“I didn’t need to. You said there wasn’t a current threat.”

Of course he had a maddeningly reasonable explanation.

I ran my thumb along the seam of my pants.

“I was taken once before.”

Geo went still.

“I was a teenager. A man abducted me, and he hurt me badly.” I swallowed. “They caught him. He was convicted, and he’s still in prison. He isn’t connected to Antonio, The Exchange, or anyone in my life now. That’s all I want to say about it tonight.”

Geo’s jaw flexed once, but he didn’t ask how badly or what the man had done.

“Does anyone connected to him have access to you now?”

“No one does.”

“And he can’t contact you?”

“He can’t.”

“Then that’s all I need for the job. If there’s ever something else you want me to know, you can tell me. I’m not going to make you give me details because I’m curious.”

I swallowed before I answered.

I hated that almost as much as I liked him for it.

“I appreciate that.”

Geo picked up the water pitcher and lifted it slightly.

“Do you want more?”

“Yes, please.”

I carried my glass to the table and let him fill it. We stood on opposite sides for a moment, the evidence sleeve several feet away between us like an ugly reminder neither of us needed to discuss again.

“You should probably sleep,” he said.

“I probably won’t.”

“You can stay awake if you want. I’m not going to make you lie in a dark room and pretend.”

“That’s a terrible sales pitch for rest.”

“I’m not selling you anything.”

“No, you’re just giving me a fortified building, food, water, and unsolicited commentary about my sleep schedule.”

“I haven’t commented on your sleep schedule yet.”