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Jack’s tone leaves no room to question exactly what he’s saying. Andrea winces at the words. She knows Jack walks the line when it comes to the law. But when it comes to her, I don’t think there’s a line he’s not willing to cross.
There’s no surprise or questioning look on Irene’s face. I assume she must know more about Jack’s brothers more than Andrea and I do. “Well, I say good. The lying bastard shouldn’t get away with it.” Irene checks her watch just as Charlie pops into the office.
“Closing time,” Charlie says with a bright smile. Her face falls when she takes in the expressions looking back at her.
“Shit, sorry, Charlie. I’m coming to help clean up.” Andrea hurries over to the door.
Charlie side steps to allow Andrea to pass her to go into the kitchen area. Charlie pauses for a moment, then follows Andrea.
“Jack, don’t you feel an ounce of guilt for making that call. Protect her at all costs,” Irene says as she rounds the desk to pat Jack on the back.
Jack nods. “I’ll protect her, whatever it takes.”
Irene gives Jack a squeeze before turning her attention to me. “And you”—she points at my chest—“better not hurt her.”
I don’t respond immediately because I’m unsure if she means Andrea or Charlie. Surely, she doesn’t know about Charlie and me.
Barely a whisper, as if she’s reading my mind, she says, “Either of them.” She levels me with a stern look before passing me to go into the kitchen area with Andrea and Charlie. She leaves me speechless.
Jack’s chuckle draws my attention. He shakes his head as he walks past me. I guess Charlie and I aren’t hiding our sparks for each other very well.
I walk into the kitchen with everyone else. Andrea seems to have already filled Charlie in on what’s going on. Her face isn’t happy and cheerful like it normally is.
Irene turns to us. “I already locked up the front. Let’s go out the back door. Jack, you should pull your truck around. Charlie and I are already parked back there.”
Jack heads out the back door without a word. I follow him, hoping to take a look around before everyone walks out. Thankfully, it doesn’t look like the press is outside yet. Jack pulls around with the truck, and I open the back door of the café to let the ladies know the coast is clear.
Irene, Andrea, and Charlie file out the back door. Jack gets out of the truck to open the passenger door for Andrea. As she climbs inside, I notice her expression still appears worried. I turn to tell Charlie bye, and I feel everyone’s eyes on us.
Irene takes notice. “See you all tomorrow,” she says with a sly smile.
It makes Charlie and me smile. “I’ll text you later,” she whispers.
I nod with a smile. “Looking forward to it.”
I get in the truck with Jack and Andrea, my eyes still on Charlie as she climbs into her mustang. I shake my head when she revs the engine and backs up. That girl and her lead foot. She speeds out of the parking lot like her ass is on fire. I chuckle as Jack waits for Irene to pull out before he leaves the lot, Charlie already halfway down the street.
Chapter Thirteen
Andrew
The ride is quiet for several minutes, everyone lost in their heads. Soon, it seems Andrea’s thoughts become too loud for her to handle on her own, so she voices a concern out loud.
“Do you really think we need to get SJ involved?” She looks to Jack first, then glances to the back seat at me.
I nod. “Yeah, I do. This will get crazier before it gets better, and neither Jack nor I can be there for you all the time.”
He shakes his head in disgust. “He’s right. The case is too high profile. The reporters will be like starving dogs with a bone.”
“I just think we might be overreacting. I mean, what if it’s just a few reporters? I won’t answer any questions, and they’ll leave over pure boredom.” She sounds so sure. If only she knew how fucking crazy these cases can get.
“It’s just not worth the risk. Plus, I think SJ wants to come. I think he misses everyone.” I hope that angle will work better. I don’t want to worry her more by telling her all the insane experiences I’ve had with high-profile cases and reporters.
Hell, it’s a miracle they weren’t here before the trial, but now? Now there’s zero chance they’ll leave her alone. Nothing will happen to her or Addy if I have a say in it.
“I just think you two are overreacting… like alwa…”
Her sentence is cut off as we turn onto the street where she and Jack live. All we can see is a line of people with lights, cameras, and microphones. Row after fucking row. There must be dozens of them. The news vans are parked all along the side of the street. The neighbors are going to fucking love this.
