AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“He’s actually the sheriff,” I admitted, cringing. “I asked to go in first. Trevor was very secretive about his office, and I didn’t want anyone else going in.”
“Was he now?” Gunner’s eyes took on the glint of interest.
I paused. “Yes? He was a private person. Is that an issue?”
Gunner seemed torn about something, but only for a moment, before he began to question me in earnest. I was so taken aback by the whiplash turn of events that I answered with more details than I intended to.
“What exactly was it that he did for a living?” Gunner began with.
“Art appraisal.”
“What kind of art?” he pressed.
“Uh, all kinds, I think? Why is this relevant?”
“Legal or illegal art, Miss Starr?”
I froze, eyes darting between Gunner and the front door. I was considering bolting, but I wasn’t even sure why. “Legal, of course.”
“Huh.” Gunner tapped his bottom lip with his thumb, as if in thought. “Maybe he had a special interest in some subset of the art world? Roman statues, Renaissance paintings, Ancient Egyptian artifacts?”
My blood ran cold. “Were you the one trying to break in?” I asked weakly, pressing a hand to my throat.
“Which one, Rachel?”
I swallowed hard. “Egypt.”
He flashed me a grin, his teeth white and straight. “Lady, you’ve just made my day. You know, I did some looking into your name after you called. An adult performer, huh? Looks like you’ve done a decent amount of work since your fiancé died. Don’t most grieving widows, or soon to be widows, take some time off?”
The complex emotions I felt in that moment were like an out-of-body experience. Shame, because he was right. Anger, because it was none of his damned business, and fear, because I had no idea who this giant man was and he was clearly interrogating me, in my own home, about something I knew nothing of. Something criminal.
I still had my hand on my throat, trying to get rid of the lump that was forming there. I felt hot tears in the corners of my eyes. I blinked them away before they could fall.
“Fuck you,” I spat out.
“Answer my question.” he countered, emotionless.
For a second, I had liked Gunner, and his willingness to admit that his initial attitude had been wrong. Now, though.
It burst out of me like a dam breaking as I buried my face in my hands and sobbed. Of course, I still missed Trevor, and of course I felt like shit for moving on with my life so quickly, but I shouldn’t have to be ashamed of the way I healed.
Gunner blinked in confusion before his face fell. “Oh, fuck. You really don’t know anything, do you?”
“What are you even talking about!?” I yelled. “Anything about what, Gunner? All I know is that my fiancé died, and left me with this nightmare of a situation. In a house I sort of hate, and what is looking more and more like some sort of illegal activity for me to deal with!” I hiccupped another sob. “And then the cherry on top is that the security person he hired is a grade A asshole!”
He winced, holding up his hands in front of him. “Wait, wait. You’re right. I’m being an asshole. I read this entire situation wrong. I thought you were someone that you clearly aren’t.”
“What do you mean?” I asked again, walking to the kitchen to grab a tissue for my leaky eyes.
He sighed. “I’m sure that you’ve gathered that your fiancé was involved in something that he shouldn't have been. I was under the impression that you were an accomplice, but I can see that isn’t the case.”
I sank down miserably onto the stool by the breakfast bar, shaking my head. “I didn’t want to believe it. I’ve been so scared that he did something horrible to someone before he died, and there is nothing I can do to fix it. I feel like … like …” I sniffled. “Like he was a stranger.”
Gunner approached me again, but this time he put his hands on my shoulders. “Look at me.”
I did as he said, noticing with a start how gorgeous his eyes were. Forest green shot through with brown.
“Trevor was definitely involved in some things, but I don’t think he hurt anyone. I can’t say for sure, but I’m just telling you what I’ve been led to believe. And, no matter what he did, it doesn’t fall on you. Don’t carry that burden around, it can only lead to heartache.”
