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I couldn’t hide the shock. “Not even a little bit. She was here at the house, and that wasn’t the direction in the conversation I was headed at all.”
“Officer Carl asked me,” he confessed. “I told him she was sleeping at your house, and he dropped it.”
I nodded, wishing I’d kept things to myself. Ian didn’t know Sadie like I did or he never would have asked that question, and it didn’t make me feel great that Officer Carl had questioned Sadie’s whereabouts either.
“All I’m saying is I know something isn’t right, and I don’t believe it only concerns Carmella.” I walked over to the window in my office. Even though it was only October, a light dusting of snow coated the naked tree limbs outside. It would probably melt by tomorrow, but it was a swift reminder that winter was coming.
“Stay focused on the problem at hand. Don’t go trying to make more.”
I clenched my jaw. “I’m not, but I’ve been in this business long enough to know when something isn’t right.” I spun around from the window and faced my brother. “Our parents taught us how important our instincts were. I don’t know why you’re suddenly discounting those.”
My security system buzzed, and I glanced at the video by the front gate. I squinted my eyes before recognizing the person.
I glanced at my brother as the driver rolled down her window and pressed the button.
“It’s Melanie,” I told my brother, who suddenly lit up.
“Something you want to mention about the barista?” I joked.
My brother’s expression returned to stone. “Listen, I know what Mom and Dad taught us, but they also ensured that we took personal feelings out of our equations. The problem here is that your equation is riddled with personal factors.” He shook his head. “You’re still in love with her. You can’t separate that out.”
I picked up the photograph of my parents propped on my desk and sighed.
“They spent their entire lives protecting us, and the moment they took a break, they were gone.”
Ian studied me. “Those two things aren’t parallel.”
“If they hadn’t let their guard down, they’d still be here. I’m not letting my guard down.”
Ian pushed his fingers through his hair and groaned.
“We can’t go back and change the past, just like we can’t know what the future holds. But Mom and Dad wouldn’t want you putting yourself in danger because you can’t separate your feelings for this girl.”
“She’s not just some girl, Ian.”
The doorbell chimed, and I shook my head. “We’ll discuss it later.”
“Absolutely.”
I made my way to the door with Ian behind me.
The moment I swung it open, Ian seemed extra animated, nearly jumping in front of me to invite Melanie in.
“I didn’t mean to barge in. I just wanted to see how Sadie was doing, and I couldn’t reach her on the phone. I hope I’m not intruding.”
“Not—”
Ian shook his head, interrupting me. “Not at all.”
I hid my smile and gestured down the hall with my brother and Melanie behind me. When I reached the kitchen, Sadie and her family were coming back inside.
Sadie spotted Melanie immediately and smiled while Elena beelined to the coffee pot.
“I’m so glad to see you,” Melanie said, touching her chest. “You didn’t answer your messages, so I got worried… you know, with everything going on.”
Sadie looked truly touched and nodded. “I’m totally fine. Just left my phone in my bedroom to charge.”
Melanie laughed and glanced over at me. “Sorry. I guess I’ve officially turned into a worrywart. I just don’t want anything to happen to you.”
