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He easily moved out of the way. And then, unexpectedly, he pulled out his phone and handed it to me.
I scrolled through his contacts and found Gabriel’s number. I tapped the screen to dial it.
This was going to be good.
Gabriel answered on the first ring. “Is she all right?”
“Aha!” I yelled in his ear. “You think you can ghost me? Well, you can’t. What do you think you’re doing hiring a guy to stalk me? And for the record, he’s doing a terrible job. I found him and with only a little threat, he gave you up.”
“He’s not hiding from you.”
That was…well…ugh.
“Why did you hire him?” I asked. “This is crossing a major line, and that is not cool. And we were having a nice conversation earlier and then you just dropped off. That is even less cool. Where are you right now? I want to see your face as I berate you.”
“I’ll text you the address. Let Harold drive you. It’s too far to walk.”
With that, he hung up.
A ding came from my pocket.
Scowling at the big guy, I asked, “Are you Harold?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I pulled out my own phone, and there was an address, just as Gabriel had said.
I was going to get my answers.
TWENTY-SIX
GABRIEL
I braced myself for Layana’s arrival, for the verbal lashing she’d inevitably assail me with. I would not apologize for sending security to watch over her. It was the right course of action, and I refused to pretend otherwise.
My biggest hesitation, though, was inviting her here.
To see the house, and meet the person who made me who I was.
Was this a mistake? It was spontaneous, reckless, and more like something Layana would do than I would. Yet she’d inspired me to make a quick, rash decision.
I wanted to let her in.
As I swiped the paintbrush across the wooden shutter, I listened for the sounds of her approach.
Before long, the grating sound of gravel crunching beneath tires let me know that she had arrived. A car door slammed.
“What are you doing?” she called out to me, with less fury in her voice than I’d expected.
“Painting.”
“Why?”
I could feel her drawing closer.
I said, “The shutters are due for a fresh coat before the spring showers and pollen begin.”
“This isn’t your house.”
