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“It’s Judah’s life, Sean. It’s his call. I said I’d go with him.”
“No way.” Tense and agitated, he leaned over her, his energy pressing her back into the bed. “No wuh-way, C-clark. We d-don’t know jack sh-shit about B-ben Abrams.”
“Don’t bully me,” she said quietly.
“I’m n-n-not b-bullying yuh-you.”
“Then what are you doing?”
“I’m t-t-trying to k-keep you ssafe.”
Katie sat up, forcing Sean to retreat. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and ignored the sick flip of her stomach and the screeching twist of the spike in her brain as she struggled to her feet. “That’s not your job.”
“Your b-b-brother—”
“It’s not his job, either.”
Sean stared at her, tongue-tied and frustrated. The bedside lamp shone behind his head and gave him a halo that hurt to look at.
She felt something brush against her bare thighs and looked down in surprise. Sean’s gray T-shirt. Her clothes were folded on a chair in the corner. He’d undressed her and put her to bed last night.
God, he was a good guy. The best guy.
“I know it doesn’t make sense,” she told him. “I know it’s not the smart way to handle the case, and I know I shouldn’t be emotionally tied up with what happens to Judah, and I know I shouldn’t care about you, either, as much as I do, okay?” She paused, dismayed by the confession she hadn’t intended to make. But what did it matter? It wasn’t as though it would hurt less to lose him if he didn’t know how she felt.
She exhaled, letting go of some of the tension in her neck and taking it on faith that her glass head wouldn’t fall off her shoulders. “You just have to trust me,” she said. “Judah needs me there. This is something I know how to do.”
“What is? Wuh-what d-do you know how to d-do?”
“Help.”
Sean stared at her for a long moment. “If you g-get hurt because of him, I will ffucking k-kill him.”
She touched his wrist. “You’re cute when you’re possessive.”
“I’m c-coming along.”
“You’re not invited.”
“I’m c-coming. You’ll juh-just have to make room for me at the b-breakfast table. And I’m bringing at least one Palmerston guy with a gun.”
“You’re not even supposed to know about this.”
“Tough. Your life’s more important to me than his ssecrets.”
Katie closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead. “Judah’s going to be so pissed at me.”
“Ssomehow I think you’ll survive.”
She tried to smile at him, but her mouth felt like it was made of ancient rubber bands. “All right.”
He didn’t smile back. “What t-time is breakfast?”
“Eight o’clock.”
“Lie down.”
Katie didn’t move. It took a lot of effort just to stand here.
