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“And then, inevitably, I freak the fuck out, vomit, and cry, all at the same time,” Theo said.
I smiled, shaking my head. “No. You’re going to be amazing. And I’m going to be right by your side the whole time.”
Theo pulled in a breath. “You have a lot more confidence in me than I have in myself, you know?”
“I have all of the confidence in the world for you.”
“Do you guys need any help back here at the house when you lure him in?” Jack asked. “I’m not much of a fighter, but if you need another pair of eyes, I could do anything you need.”
“You’re too kind,” Theo said. “It’s better you stay far, far away from here while we’re doing it. I don’t pay you enough for you to put your life in danger.”
Jack smiled. “You pay me enough to do just about anything. But I’ll stay out of the way.”
Later on in the afternoon, Theo and I met up with Tim, going over all of the plans for what felt like the tenth time now. Theo was calm and collected through it all, and I realized that more than anything, I felt proud of him.
He was scared out of his fucking mind, and he was still giving it his all. He trusted me. And there was nothing in the world I wanted more than to keep that trust.
I still wanted him. For fuck’s sake, I wanted him more, now. But I tried to push thoughts like that out of my mind. For all I knew, by now, he was going to bed dreaming of Jack or any other pretty face that he could have if he wanted it.
But this was the only way to protect us both.
Two days later, I finally realized that this theoretical, outlandish plan might actually fucking work.
So far, everything had gone according to plan. Yesterday, Theo and I had arrived in Wichita and visited the gorgeous Botanica gardens. It was strange, being in such a beautiful place, knowing that a gnawing fear was building up inside Theo. He had posted a selfie, tagged with his location, in front of the very popular Hotel Howdy’s in the area. Theo and I weren’t actually staying at Hotel Howdy’s, though—instead, we were across the street at a little inn called Sunshine’s.
All day and night yesterday, we had waited. We’d seen no action across the street. Tim, who was already on surveillance at Theo’s house, saw nothing. Madeline reported nothing in LA, either at Theo’s mansion or at the agency’s office. Theo and I slept in shifts, watching out the window for any sign of the black SUV.
It was three o’clock in the afternoon the following day when we finally saw it.
It almost felt like a mirage. We’d been staring at the Hotel Howdy’s lot for so long and seeing nothing that when the black SUV rolled in, it felt like it couldn’t be real.
“Theo. Theo,” I said, walking over to the bed and shaking him up from his nap. “I think we may have it.”
When I glanced back out, I saw that the SUV was simply still parked in the lot, with no one getting into or out of it. As expected, the SUV had parked directly across from Theo’s car, which we’d purposely left over there. It was one of his signature red Porsches, which he’d been photographed in by paparazzi many times.
Theo’s stalker would definitely know that it was his car. And it seemed like the bait was working.
“Suspicious as fuck,” Theo said.
My heart started to race in my chest. “Yes, indeed. I think it’s time to go scope out the license plate. You’ll be okay up here?”
Theo nodded, swallowing. “I’m okay.”
I leaned in, giving him a tight hug. He smelled as good as he always did, and I got lost in his scent, just for a moment. “This is almost over. We’re so, so close.”
When I pulled back he was nodding, but still staring out the window. “Yes.”
I raced downstairs and then, outside, went around the perimeter of the Hotel Howdy’s parking lot. I had learned how to look like I was a nobody long ago in many security training classes. After I walked across the street I pulled out my phone, acting as if I was aimlessly going about my day. I approached the SUV from behind, only getting close enough that I could just make out the license plate number.
I kept my phone out, acting as if I was staring down at the screen, but cutting my glace upward and taking down the number on the plate.
I had it, now.
Immediately, I sent it off to Madeline and to Tim. Madeline was working with the same security company she’d used for Theo in LA, and Tim could run the plates here in Kansas.
