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It makes me think she’s talking more about her own experiences. However, she presses on. “A man who cares about you, who loves you, he’s going to show up for you even after he already has you, even after there’s no other benefit to him than knowing he’s made your life a little bit easier.”
“Angel shows up for you every time, doesn’t he?” I ask her with an appreciation for her insights.
“Don’t get me wrong, we’ve gotten to know each other over the years. We were friends for a bit before he became my boyfriend and then husband. So there are days where he wants to show up for me and he can’t. That’s just life. Some days you give 100 but only get 20 in return. You can’t expect anyone to give you all of them every day. Now, like I said before, when it matters, Angel is there for me. He won’t let anyone breathe wrong around me or our family. If you know that man will put his life on the line for you, for his principles, that’s a man in my opinion worth growing to love.”
“So love at first sight isn’t a thing?” Curiosity surges through me. Avery has to be in her late 30s or so, possibly older. I know she and Angel are celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary in a few months. Her insights into love have me wondering about my future with Rex.
“It’s not a thing for me, but I don’t know everything so I won’t say it’s not a thing. When it comes to matters of the heart, Raina, sometimes you have to be smart, and other times you have to feel your way through it. When you figure out which times call for which, write a book and let the rest of us know,” she says with a wink before returning to her sketchbook.
The bell over the door rings, forcing us both to look at who’s coming inside the shop. My heart races, uncertain if it’s Rex, Angel, Owen, or whoever’s looking for him. That’s why I like working here. It gives me moments to block out whatever is happening in the world outside of those doors.
Fortunately, it’s Angel. He walks behind the partition that separates the studio from the waiting areas and sits a cup of coffee with a to-go bag of food beside Avery. He leans down to kiss her before turning to me. “Morning, Raina.”
“Mornin, bossman,” I reply.
Even as Avery draws, she turns away from the book just enough to thank Angel with another kiss before he retreats into the back office. The love they have in their eyes for one another is something I see for me and Rex.
My mind wanders about everything I’ll get to do with him, everything I’ll get to be. When the bell above the door chimes again, I hope it’s him. I want to love him more than anything and to know that he loves me. I have a feeling it’s that deep for Rex—from the way he holds me while we sleep at night to the way he continues to be the man for me.
However, there’s something ominous in the steps walking into the shop. Avery looks toward the person coming inside and then at me.
“Doll, why don’t you head inside the office and file those invoices I told you about?” she tells me with a nod.
I don’t ask questions. I get up to move toward the office, and Angel comes out. The fierce look in his eyes along with the strength of his walk tell me I need to get out of sight.
“Mr. Carlyle, good morning,” Angel greets the stranger in the shop. “Welcome. How can I help you?”
I continue to walk toward the office, but my steps aren’t fast enough as I hear the deep voice behind me. “Please, don’t leave, dear. Join us. My name is Lorenzo. I’d like a word with you all.”
My heart flutters as I turn around, smart enough to know I can’t walk away from this. He’s tall with ink-black hair slicked back into a low ponytail, with his hairline desperately trying to flee away from his temples. His eyes are dark, sunken, and menacing against his high cheekbones. The leather jacket he wears reminds me of Rex’s scent, but there is nothing sexy about Mr. Carlyle.
Angel stands between me, Avery, and Lorenzo. I can see the gun tucked into the back of Angel’s waistband—a reminder of Avery’s words to me moments ago.
“Now, Raina Olsen of 382 Newton Drive, apartment 1D, daughter of Owen Olsen. I need you to do something for me,” Lorenzo says, his eyes looking through Angel, piercing into me like a fear I’ve never known.
“What do you need from me?” I ask him.
He leers at me, his gaze sinister. “Call your Daddy.”
11
REX
The tin box sitting in my passenger seat has dents in it from where I had to pull it out from under the sink. What the hell was Owen thinking by leaving it there?
I call him as soon as I get into my car. Luckily for me, he answers right away. “What’s wrong, Rex?”
“For starters, your little stunt last night set off all kinds of alarms at Raina’s place. I have her place wired with cameras and motion sensors,” I tell him with a twinge of annoyance.
“Did you find it?” he asks, with his voice barely above a whisper.
“The box? Yes, I found it. It didn’t take a search party or anything. Pretty fucking obvious hiding spot if you ask me.”
“I wanted it to be obvious to you. Those are the originals in that box. I have copies with me and that’s what I’m using to lay breadcrumbs for the agents I’m working with.”
“Is talking on your phone okay? I feel like you shouldn’t be talking on the phone about this.”
He sighs. “I probably shouldn’t but I just don’t give a fuck anymore, Rex. I’m tired of being a fuck up. I hid those originals hoping you’d find them. Just listen. Lorenzo doesn’t know I’m working with the feds yet. I mean, at least, I hope he doesn’t. I have all the faith in the world that he’s going to know real soon, if he hasn’t figured it out.”
