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“Fuck you.”
“If you’re into that, I won’t judge. Maybe Diana would like—”
I was across the room in seconds, ready to level the kid, but I stopped short. In a split second, the shutters had fallen over Matthias’s eyes, making them go dead. In an instant he’d gone from the teasing swagger of a friend to the cold façade of a killer. If I touched him, there would be blood. A lot of it.
While I didn’t make a move, I kept direct eye contact and held my ground, showing him that I wasn’t fazed but also wasn’t aggressive. After several breaths, the kid seemed to shake off the killer and then averted his gaze.
Shit. Whatever had happened to the guy, the killer was never far away. He was there, always ready. Poised, waiting. The kid could be dangerous. But I also saw the horror and remorse in those eyes as Matthias had wrestled the killer back into his chains. Hell, what had he survived?
Matthias’s voice was quiet as he said, “As to the boyfriend, I found him. Let me tell you, that wasn’t easy without a name, but they shared a lease together. He works at McLean Law Associates. He’s pretty much a low-level messenger. Basic courier stuff. So if he ever did find her, the job allows enough leeway for him to come after her.”
“Address?” I asked through clenched teeth.
Matthias rattled it off. “I texted it to you already. You want us to handle it? This is sort of what we do, and usually no one ends up dead.”
Read: You kill too much. Yeah, but so do you, kid.
“Thanks, but I’ll be dealing with this myself.”
Read: Sometimes people need to get dead.And I’m afraid to unleash your monster.
Matthias nodded. “I’ll go.”
Before the kid opened the door, I called out. “Kid, listen. I—” Fuck, what could I say? “If you need to talk to someone who gets it, I’m around.”
Matthias’s gaze lifted. “Yeah, I hear you.”
That exchange was the best either of us had to offer.
When he was gone, Diana stalked up to me. “So, where were we?”
“Babe, can we put this on hold?”
She frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I just got some information I was waiting on. It looks like I probably have to work a little tonight.” I wanted to see if I could find out any other intel the kid had missed.
She searched my gaze and narrowed her eyes. “You’re lying. What’s wrong?”
My frown deepened. How did she know I was lying? I was a damn good liar. I’d spent years perfecting the ability.
“Did I do something wrong?”
What? Was she insane? “No. You didn’t. You, and this, are exactly what I need. I just have to work.”
She tipped her chin up. “I don’t believe you. Just tell me what’s going on. Does it involve me?”
I clenched my jaw, and she took that as an affirmation.
“Okay, now you have to tell me.”
I hated to do it, to make her think that she was going crazy. But I had to because right now, we couldn’t get into it. She would worry, and she’d been through enough as it was. “Look, if you need to know something, I’ll tell you.”
She placed her hand on her hips and gave me a withering look. “Really? Now it’s ‘need to know.’ I’m the littlelady, the damsel in distress? Okay, look. I needed you to rescue me down the side of a ravine. Fair enough. But since you brought me here, I’ve been pulling my weight, trying not to be a burden. Not be a bother. I appreciate it. I don’t want to impact your life more than I already have. But I thought things had changed with us. I thought maybe something was happening.”
My frustration bubbled to the surface. “Yeah, I thought so too. But you’ve been damn secretive about your past, even knowing that I’m worried about your safety. I keep waiting to walk in here and find you gone.”
She glowered at me. “Ikeep waiting to be kicked out. For you to tell me I’ve overstayed my welcome. Hell, for all I know you have a girlfriend.”
