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“I’m not sure exactly. There was some distribution network, he was involved… Well, he actually masterminded the whole thing. I know that much, but I don’t know the details.”
“Connor, we can’t bring that kind of heat to Starling Key.” I hope the warning tone in my voice is unambiguous.
“We can hardly talk. Besides, it was five years ago. His rep has been blemish-free ever since.”
“What’s he been doing in that time?”
“Well…” Connor stalls. “He served time for some of that.” I groan and rub my eyes. “Then he just did regular security work and some manual labor. Basically redeeming himself, making an honest living.”
“What makes you think he’s qualified to do Isaac’s job?” Carter says, frowning his doubt.
Connor looks at me pointedly. “Because he has a math major from MIT.”
“Are you kidding?” My eyes are wide. “That’s hardcore. So, his parents are loaded too, I guess?” As far as I know, MIT is not easy to get into, but money talks.
“Far from it. The guy’s an orphan, but a scarily brilliant one. He won a scholarship.”
I let out a whistle. “This guy’s gonna be better at this than me.”
“At math, maybe. But you do so much more than that, Isaac,” Connor reassures me. “You will still be missed.”
“Yeah, I mean, who are we going to advertise in the brochures now as the complimentary lady sitter?” Carter chuckles. “Not that you’ve lived up to that role lately, with you and Paris being a thing, and all.”
“Yeah, I’m not sure about that,” I grumble, as we resume our route up the drive.
“Trouble in paradise?” Carter asks, with a grin.
“You could say so. She’s convinced I’m attracted to Aurelia Bird.”
Carter snorts. “Dude, doesn’t she know you?”
“Hey! As far as she’s concerned, she’s the only older woman I’ve had a thing with on the island. I haven’t exactly broadcast to her the number of mature ladies I’ve been in bed with. She assumes she’s different—special. And she also can’t understand why a red-blooded security guard like me wouldn’t find a young, sexy popstar like Aurelia Bird attractive.”
Connor and Carter are silent. Connor bites his lip.
“What?” I huff.
“You just called her sexy,” Carter grins.
“Only because… well, that’s what everyone thinks, isn’t it? I mean, I don’t. You know she isn’t my type.”
“You sure about that, Isaac?” Connor asks in a low voice.
“Yes!” I answer, loudly. “Don’t you start. Seriously, I’ve got enough on my plate with Paris.”
“But, you gotta admit,” Carter says, kicking at the gravel. “You’ve been kind of a different person these last few days.”
“What do you mean?” I frown.
“Like you’re less stressed, more easy-going. I don’t know, it’s hard to explain. It’s like you’ve been feeling lighter, in a way.”
I shrug off his observation. “That’s just because I have only one job now and I don’t have to worry about the balance sheet, or which shift I’m on next, or which petulant reality star I’m going to be covering this week. Life is a lot simpler when you have only one client.”
“I guess,” Carter replies, but I can hear the doubt in his tone.
“Guys,” Connor starts, steering us to the side of the drive. It’s dark now and we’re standing under one of the lamps we’ve got dotted along the drive. “I need to talk to you about something.”
I look down and notice his hands are shaking and sweat has reappeared on his forehead even though the sun went down hours ago.
