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He’d left her to do whatever she wanted without complaint. They’d both reeled from the loss of Courtney, exploding in different ways. Just… his coping mechanism was avoiding a nine-to-five so he could travel the world hunting his sister’s killer.
His eyes wandered to Jewel.
He’d complete his mission first and then return to the real world later.
18
Jewel picked at her tacos. She glanced around the shed where thick wooden benches were lined up. Every bench was occupied. A crowd hovered around the taco vendor. Chatter filled the air.
She darted her eyes to the right and left. Kross wasn’t here, as far as she could see, but it was still dangerous to be out like this. They were too vulnerable here.
How could Finn eat so comfortably when her insides were churning like this? Wasn’t he scared? Didn’t he understand how crazy Kross was? Perhaps she hadn’t been clear last night?
Kross. Was. Nuts.
And he was coming for her.
She’d decided the moment she woke up this morning that she couldn’t depend on Finn anymore. He’d bailed her out of a sticky situation, more than once, but Kross wasn’t his problem.
She only had herself to rely on.
Knowing Finn the way she did now, which wasn’t much since they’d only spent a day and a half in each other’s company, he didn’t seem like the type that would just walk away. She didn’t want him feeling guilty for leaving her behind when he got on his plane today.
Jewel shook her head and pursed her lips, wondering if she should beg him to stay. The thought was rejected as soon as it landed.
No, this was her war.
Even confiding in Finn had been a gamble. He was starting to grow on her and Jewel would feel immeasurable guilt if Kross hurt him just to make a point.
Finn would be safe.
Her safety was another matter. Since most of the money she made from Sweet Treats was tied up in Juney’s expensive boarding school, Jewel had little cash on hand to buy a plane ticket.
The best she could do was drag Juney out of school and buy a bus ticket to Mexico. From there, she could get another job and figure things out.
A chair scraped against the concrete.
A shout tore the air.
She gasped and whipped her head to the left. A child skipped past her, a huge grin on his dark face. His frantic mother followed, calling his name.
They were harmless.
Relief coursed through her veins.
“Is there a problem?” Finn asked. Jewel dragged her gaze to his and noticed him dipping his chin toward her soggy mass of tacos.
“No, the food is great.”
“That so?” He studied her with an inscrutable expression and wiped his fingers on a napkin. “If you’re done, we should head out.”
She sighed in relief. “We’re going back to the guesthouse?”
“Nope.” Finn didn’t share more.
Jewel stumbled out of the bench and followed him out into the street. Instead of turning toward his car, Finn strode in the opposite direction.
She scurried after him. “Do you even know where you’re going?”
