Page 38 of Protecting Love

“That shit with Rick coming over? Is that still bothering you?”

“I didn’t think it would. Or I hadn’t thought so, but West is making such a big deal about it that now I can’t get it out of my mind.”

“Tell me. Maybe I can talk you off the ledge for once.”

She laughed. “I’m hardly on the ledge.”

“For you. Not for me,” London joked. “Talk to me.”

“Only if you tell me what is going on with you and Spencer.”

Her twin smiled. “You heard it. We love each other.”

“Yeah, but something else happened. Or can’t I know?”

“I’ll share if you do.”

She let out a breath. “Nothing much. Just that I feel more nervous than I’ve felt before and I don’t like it. I didn’t like how any of this went down with our client but didn’t think it’d turn into this.”

“More security isn’t a bad thing,” London argued.

“I know. Even the plans aren’t horrible. I can make it look nicer and not clinical like a doctor’s office.”

“Think of Molly. She was scared and she feels much safer now.”

“I know. I told myself that. That even I feel safer. Or will. And I never really felt unsafe.”

“We haven’t even told Mom,” London said. “We’ll get this all in place before we do.”

She groaned. “I’d like to avoid that conversation.”

“You can’t avoid everything. It’s going to come out so it’s best hearing it from us. That those safeguards are in place.”

“True. Anyway, it’s really not much more. Debra called me once this week and then emailed me twice. Staff that are remaining are restless. They are worried they are next.”

“They will be at some point.”

“Don’t remind me. We don’t know for sure.”

“Don’t kid yourself,” London said. “By the sounds of it, it might not even be twelve months before they do it.”

“I thought the same. But that isn’t our concern. It shouldn’t be.”

“What did you tell Debra?”

“I encouraged her to hang in there. Sent her some links on how to talk to staff during a time like this, but ultimately, there isn’t much I can do. We met our obligation. Michael was pissed when I called him. You heard that.”

“Yep. I did. Asshole. He did this and you are getting blamed.”

“Debra hinted maybe something is happening there too. I didn’t ask for specifics. The less I know the better.”

“I agree. So that’s it? Nothing more?”

“Nothing more than my imagination running away from me.”

“Oh, I’ve been there.” London reached for her hand.

“I don’t like the feeling and I know it will pass. Loud noises are making me jump when they didn’t use to. I’m looking over my shoulder and around more than I did when we first moved here.”