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I snag another slice of pizza as Dad mentions the weather. “Supposed to be warm this weekend.”
Tyler laughs. “Eighty degrees. Not looking forward to summer if that's the temperatures we're getting in the spring.”
“No shit,” I say. “Summer’s probably gonna be brutal.”
“Don't put that into the universe. I've heard how horrible being pregnant in the summer is. And I'll be huge at that point.” Gemma groans, and it makes me laugh.
After we're done eating, Dad cleans up, and we say our goodbyes. Once Gemma and Tyler are gone, Dad lets me know he's going to take a nap.
“If you need anything, you holler, alright?”
“Okay, thank you,” I say, knowing damn well I won't ask for help.
I take another pain pill, then slowly make my way upstairs. Once I'm in my room, I climb into bed and spend the rest of the afternoon trying to get comfortable while watching TV. All I can think about is seeing Katie later when she gets off work.
A couple of hours pass, and soon, my door is being swung open. Katie immediately rushes toward me with a plastic bag in her hand. She sets it on my nightstand, then nearly topples me. I wince when I feel her weight against my body, and she apologizes, but it doesn't stop me from holding her close. I paint my lips across hers, wanting more of her.
“God, I've missed you,” I admit when she repositions herself and snuggles next to me.
“Missed you too. How was your day?” She studies my face, trying to read me.
“Better now that you're here,” I say, stealing another kiss. “Did Owen come with you?”
“Yeah, he's downstairs with your dad. Wanted to be alone with you for a few minutes because I can’t stay long.” She grins.
My eyebrows raise. “I'm gonna need more than a few minutes,” I add with an eyebrow waggle, and she smacks me.
“I wish,” she says, licking her lips. “Thought we'd talk about what's going on and what I've found out so far.”
I sit up a little straighter, ready to listen, but before she starts, I rehash what Detective Sanderson said.
Shaking her head, she lets out a huff. “That's bullshit.”
“I know, and it has me more convinced it was premeditated.”
She sucks in a deep breath, then goes into detail about what happened the night of the accident. Then tells me about Brittany’s SUV being at the deli, the rental car, and how she showed up to work the next day.
“Honestly, she never mentioned what she was driving,” I explain. “I just assumed, but that's an important piece of information to give someone if you’re stranded.”
“Unless she never intended for you to meet her,” Katie mutters. “And it was just a ploy to get you out of town.”
I nod. “At the hospital, I had asked you if she was there because I heard her in my room talking to another man. She listed all the things she had paid him to do and was adamant about wanting me dead. Even threatened that he'd better not fail the next time.”
Katie's eyes are wide, and she nervously chews on her bottom lip. “I'm convinced Loretta has something to do with this. She took twenty thousand out of the bank the same day of the accident. She was nervous and fidgety about the situation, too, and told me she would take care of it. I know what you heard, but I feel like Brittany's the middleman, and Loretta is really calling all the shots.”
I try to take this all into account. “That's a lot of fucking money to be withdrawing at one time.”
“Exactly. Especially in cash because it's not traceable. I don't know what happened to that money unless she delivered it to Brittany to help take care of a problem she was having,” Katie says. “Plus, the way Brittany's always acted around you. The fact that she guilted you into exchanging numbers and has been pushy about you hanging out with her son is odd. I wonder a lot about her motive, especially if she wants you dead. You going directly to her would just make her job easier.”
I let out a deep exhale. “If I can give hard evidence that this was planned, then we have a fighting chance. Right now, it's our word against theirs. I know my aunt, and she won’t go down without a fight.”
“I know. Also, I looked inside Brittany’s SUV at the deli and saw a can of red spray paint on her floorboard. While it's not concrete evidence, it's a link. Honestly, though, I can't seem to shake the way Loretta was acting at the bank. It was awkward.”
I grab her hand and kiss her knuckles. “We're going to get through this, Katie. I promise.”
“We will as long as you stay safe. There have been too many close calls, and I'm worried that something terrible will happen. I love you so much, and I can't lose you again,” she says.
Pulling her close, I can tell she's worried as hell as I slide my lips against hers. “I love you too. I'm not going anywhere, sweetheart. I promise.”
