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“Your phone was ringing off the hook this morning,” Jack said plainly. “I ignored it several times, but when the same number kept calling, I answered.”
When I frowned, he didn’t apologize, just waited for me to challenge him and I knew that look well. He was ready to defend his actions, but Cal spoke up before the exchange of wills passed between us.
“The same number calling back to back had us thinking maybe it was an emergency or…”
“Or the asshole after you was being stupid enough to call you and we could finally find him,” Jack cut in. Ah, so he was noble in his actions and wasn’t invading my privacy just to be frustrating.
“Okay,” I acknowledged. “Who was it then?”
“It was the police,” Cal said calmly. He tucked a lock of hair behind my ear and I saw Jack glance away. I closed my eyes for a moment to try to handle my crushing chest, but Cal’s gaze snared me. “They are officially investigating your father’s death as a homicide now. Suicide has been ruled out.”
I swallowed hard, but nothing else would flood me. Just that numbness I’d gotten good at the past several weeks.
“You don’t seem surprised,” Jack said. His grip was tight on the footboard, like he was keeping in all the emotions he couldn’t say.
“I guess I’m not surprised. I knew this was a possibility. But, now that it’s real, it’s…” I shook my head. “Hard to wrap my mind around.”
Cal nodded and cupped my shoulder, ensuing me with strength as if he knew I needed it. “They want to ask you some questions if you’re up for it.” He set my cell next to me. “We can either go to the station or they’ll come here.”
“They aren’t coming here,” Jack cut in, his eyes narrowing on Cal when he went to argue. “No one knows of this place or that she’s here, and I want to keep it that way. Whoever set fire to the house is still out there.”
Cal exhaled loudly and shot Jack a glance before saying to me, “He’s got a point. So, if you’d like, Jack and I will take you to Denver today to talk to the police.”
“But, we’re staying with you at all times and you’re coming right back here,” Jack added.
I tried to glare at him, but couldn’t. It was the most incredible thing I’d ever seen. Being surrounded by both Jack and Cal was incredible. They both came from a place of concern. I knew that. But how they went
about it was so different it was almost humorous.
I smiled slightly and adjusted in bed, tucking my feet beneath me. Because despite their caring or my safety, I needed to stick to my plan of leaving.
“I would appreciate a ride into Denver, but then I won’t be coming back,” I said.
Jack laughed. Honest to God laughed, and it caught me off-guard both with confusion, surprise, and glee because the laugh was hypnotic.
“You are kidding yourself if you think that’s going happen.” His dark eyes zeroed in on me. “But leave it to you to fight against every damn thing I say.”
“I’m not trying to fight you.”
“Good,” he said. “Because I’m not going to go through this with you again, Lana. You are in danger. You’re staying here until all this shit is straightened out. Do you understand?”
A low simmering growl broke my throat. I used to love when he said that to me. Demanded. Put me in his care, his command, and I trusted him. I still did, despite my best efforts, but I wasn’t going to stay and watch a life-long friendship implode because of me.
“I should be getting money from the insurance claim, and I’ll—”
“You’ll what? Stay at a different hotel? Find a new place? What about the person who set your house on fire? The person who hit you and Bea with their car? You think they’ll just magically leave you alone?”
Jack’s words were sharp and cutting. Judging by the look in his eyes, that’s what he was going for. Because I was scared that this would never end. And the person who obviously wanted me dead was still out there. Worse, I was certain is was Brock.
“I can’t stay here,” I tried to sound direct, but felt anything but.
“Yes, you can. And I’m with Jack on this. I won’t let you go either.”
“I’m ruining you!” I snapped and looked at Cal. He frowned.
“What do you mean?” Jack asked pointedly.
Truth time. There was no other choice than honesty.
