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We walk back into the lounge room where I see Max sitting at the kitchen bench glaring at me. Oh crap, I forgot about him.
The other policeman comes back through the front door. “Two other apartments have also been robbed.”
I nod, relieved, it was just a crazy coincidence.
“I will be in touch if we find anything and a fingerprint team will be around to do the door handle but I’ll bet any money that they wore gloves so we will wait and see.”
I nod and smile as Max shows them out. I walk back into my bedroom and a creepy feeling oozes over me. Who would want a second-hand vibrator? Surely a criminal wouldn’t go home and use it on his wife … would he? Who knows, they are the dregs of society so it wouldn’t surprise me. A cold shiver runs up my spine as the disgusting thought rolls through my head.
Max walks back up to my door. “You ok, Tash?”
I slowly nod. “Yeah, sorry I’ve been a bitch tonight. I can’t handle all of you guys ganging up on me,” I reply softly.
He puts a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “Tash, we don’t try to gang up on you. We care about Joshua. He’s in love with you. We want him to be happy.”
My eyes tear up. “Can you stay in here in the spare room tonight. I’m a bit freaked out,” I whisper.
He nods. “What did they take from your bedroom that you’re not telling me?”
I shrug. “Nothing. I just wanted some privacy.”
He reluctantly nods and walks over to the door to leave, then he turns. “Tash.”
My eyes meet his. “Yes.”
“For the record, Amelie went to Joshua’s room that night, not the other way around. He was so upset about it he left without any guards and then nearly got killed by a hit man on the way home. He didn’t tell you this because he doesn’t want you frightened, not because he’s trying to keep secrets. He’s trying to protect you.”
I drop my head as I listen.
“We were all as shocked as you. Joshua tells us nothing, he only speaks to Cameron and Adrian. You underestimate him. He doesn’t talk about his private life to anyone.”
I nod with my eyes on the ground. “Thanks Max,” I whisper through my tears as the hard lump of hurt balls in my throat.
I wait for Max to come around to the front of the building to pick me up for lunch. How is it I have come to depend on Max? We have become friends by default. I have been forced to hang out with him and it’s strangely … comforting. He has been the only constant male in my close circle since Dad’s death. We walk in comfortable silence to his car.
“Joshua is leaving tomorrow night,” he says matter-of-factly.
I stop and look at him as I get to the door, and my stomach drops .
My eyes flick around to the two cars full of men watching us. I get into the car and slam the door hard.
“How do you know?” I ask.
“Ben called me this morning and asked me to come around for a meeting this afternoon.”
I chuck my bag onto the floor of the car. “And?” I snap as I flick my hair around my shoulders, annoyed.
“And I think, that if you are going to call him, you have twenty-four hours left to do it.”
I roll my eyes as I look out the window.
“Well, I wish he would go today, that’s what I think,” I snap angrily.
“No, you don’t. You think you have everyone fooled but I know what’s really going on here. You are pushing him away to protect yourself.”
I frown in disgust. “You know you are very opinionated for someone who is supposed to be invisible.”
He smiles broadly and I find myself mirroring his stupid grin.
