Page 33 of Unplanned Target

Bizarre, but also kinda nice.

If I’m not careful, I’ll get used to it. And I’m not sure what in the hell I’m going to do then.

TWELVE

OWEN

“Can you help me get Miranda set up so she can work while she’s here?” I pace across the small room I’ll be staying in while Miranda’s here, phone pressed to my ear. “I don’t want her to lose all her clients because of these pricks.” I hate that she’s already had to leave her home behind. If I can do something to keep her from losing even more, I will.

I just need Heidi’s help to accomplish it.

“What does she need? A computer? A phone?” Heidi jumps right in without hesitation. “She’ll have to do everything through our server, and have an untraceable IP, but that’s totally doable.”

“I’ll pay for whatever she needs.” That makes me think of something else. “And can we get new cards for all her accounts? I want her to be able to access her money.”

Miranda is wildly independent—not entirely by choice—and I don’t want her to feel helpless or like she has to ask me for anything she wants or needs. I don’t know how long she and Allie are going to be stuck here, and I want them to be able to live as normal of a life as possible.

“Yup.” Heidi pops the P. “It might take me a day or two because they’ll have to be shipped, but I can get the process moving.”

“Perfect.” I make another lap in the small room. “Do you think it’s safe for me to start getting estimates for the repairs on her house?”

“I wouldn’t do that just yet.” Heidi says the words slowly. “Things are still a little spicy in Memphis, and we just don’t have the manpower to keep someone at her house around the clock. I’d hate for her to finance work that just gets fucked up when someone gets pissed off again.” She barks out a single laugh. “And they’re for sure gonna get pissed again.”

I sigh, raking a hand through my hair. “Understood. Keep me posted so I can get that process started as soon as I can.”

“You think she’s gonna go back there?” There’s a smile in Heidi’s voice. “Cause it’s kinda sounding like she might have some reasons to move to Nashville.”

“I would guess it’s possible she might want to stick close to her brother,” I hedge.

But Heidi isn’t having it. “Pretty sure you know I wasn’t talking about Butch.”

I don’t want to have this conversation with her. I love Heidi like a sister. She’s fucking amazing. We wouldn’t be half as capable as we are without her and Harlow and the rest of Intel.

But I’m not admitting the interest I have in Miranda to her. Or anyone else for that matter.

Including Miranda.

“Thanks for your help on this. Let me know if you need anything.” I end the call before she can pry any more. And before I risk saying any more.

I’m pacing back across the room when someone knocks on my door. Expecting it to be Zeke or possibly the new office manager in charge of keeping the place up and running, I don’t even check before opening it.

But it’s not someone coming for a debrief or to inquire about the influx of random food I added to the kitchen downstairs.

It’s Miranda.

And based on the tight expression pinching her pretty face, something’s wrong.

“Is everything okay?” I lean to look up and down the hall, trying to figure out what might have happened. “I thought you were taking a nap?”

“Can I come in?” She doesn’t answer either of my questions, and that only makes me more concerned.

“Of course.” Stepping back, I make room for her to move inside, holding the door open as she passes.

Miranda’s eyes shift around the space as she enters, hands clasped in front of her. She makes a slow turn that brings us face-to-face. “Your room looks like Allie’s.”

Shit.

I should have known better than to try to slip something past her. She’s smart and observant and sees things most people wouldn’t even notice. Like cars with weird vibes and room assignments that don’t quite add up.