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“I’ll try. If not, I’ll figure something out.”
“If your agency won’t help, tell us. I meant what I said. I’ll be pissed if you get yourself killed. I love your stubborn ass.”
“Ditto.” Shannon jerked her head toward the bedroom door. “You should get to bed before James comes in and whips both our asses.”
“He wouldn’t do that.” The idea of being punished alongside someone else wasn’t as horrifying as Olivia expected. Maybe something they could toy around with if Bryant ever settled down with his own little girl. Setting that aside for another time, she leaned in and dropped a kiss on her friend’s cheek. “Night, Shannon.”
“Night, Liv.”
When she walked into the master suite, James was already in bed, dressed in nothing but a pair of loose-fitting gym shorts, propped up with his laptop on his lap.
“Work?” she asked, climbing into bed and snuggling into his side.
“After a fashion. How do you feel about a house in Ocean City?”
“Really? I would love that!” Peeking at the listing he had pulled up, she frowned. “Can we afford this one? It’s expensive.”
“It would be tight, for a bit. But we could rent it out when we’re not there and more than cover the mortgage.”
“Hmmm. It’s cute.” Shifting so she could see the screen more fully, she watched as he scrolled through the listings. “We should take a weekend trip soon and check out some of the ones we like best. Oh, I love this one!”
“Me too, if we can talk them down on the price a bit. It’s a little more than I was wanting to spend.”
“Hmm.” In full business mode, she considered their options. “What if Bryant went in with us? He’s always taking trips to the beach. I’m sure he’d love to have his own place.”
James closed the lid on the laptop and set it aside. “That might work.” Chuckling, he leaned over to switch off the bedside lamp. “Except we’d never be able to rent it since he’d always be there.”
“True, but it wouldn’t be as tight for us if we went in together on it.”
“I’ll talk to him about it.” In the dark, he turned to her and gathered her into his arms. “How are you feeling, little one?”
“Tired. I hate this feeling of not knowing what’s going to happen next.”
“I know. I wish I could protect you from all of this.”
Love welled up in her and she lifted her head to press a kiss to his chin. “I know you do.”
“You’ll stick to the plan?”
“Yes, Daddy. I’ll stick to the plan. I’m not going to be stupid.”
“Stupid, no. Impulsive and reckless? Maybe.”
Despite the light, amused tone, she heard the worry underneath. “I’ll follow the rules. I promise.”
“Good girl. Get some sleep, little one. You’ve had a long day.”
Snuggled into his arms, she drifted off within minutes.
* * *
Two down, three togo.
The police hadn’t been expecting another murder so soon. Nobody had. And oh, what a delicious thrill that was, surprising the police and everyone else. It shouldn’t have been so easy, but for a department the size of the Baltimore PD, their resources were stretched thin. Doing murder in the most dangerous city in America certainly had its benefits.
The pictures on the wall offered comfort. And direction. They were arranged in an X formation, with the picture of the final target in the middle. Her round face, with those devious brown eyes and that cunning smile.
Nobody else seemed to see it. The article in the magazine had been glowing, fawning even. They didn’t know, they never bothered to look beneath the fake, shiny exterior to the lying, cheating whore beneath.
