Page 170 of Bishop

“There’s been a change of plans, baby girl.” Geppet drags me away from the door. “Follow me.”

“Is everything okay?” I ignore the urge to glance over my shoulder to search for my brothers and turn my eyes to Geppet. “Did you ditch the tail?”

“I did, but I want to make sure you don’t have one, too.” He raises my hand to tuck it around the crook of his arm. “How did you know I was being watched?”

“My brothers called and mentioned something about traffic surveillance photos of you with my mom. They told me you were already back in town. So I read between the lines and assumed they were tracking you.”

He drags me across the road, dodging us through the busy traffic as I struggle to keep up in my two-inch pumps. “It sounds like they’re telling you an awful lot for someone who claims to not be on their side.”

“Excuse me.” I pull my hand from his grip, acting offended. “I’m not going to burn a bridge that’s giving me valuable information. Would you have even known you had men watching you if I hadn’t mentioned it?”

“Good point.” He slides a hand around my waist, pulling me back into his side. He leads me farther down the road, his touch drifting lower with each step until he’s palming the curve of my ass. “Let’s go in here.” He stops in front of the doors to a busy diner. “We’ll blend in with the crowd.”

I nod, ignoring his touch. At least I try to. But it’s difficult to dull the disgust when there’s no coke to balm me. No liquor to stifle the taunting voices in my head.

We walk inside, being greeted by a middle-aged waitress who escorts us to a booth in the middle of the diner, the bright fluorescents making me feel like we’re under a spotlight.

Geppet orders coffee. I opt for juice. My pulse is erratic enough without more caffeine.

Then once we’re alone, Geppet leans his elbows on the table, taking me in like he hasn’t seen me in years.

“For someone going through hell, you sure look good.” One corner of his mouth lifts in appreciation. “A sight for sore eyes and all that.”

Usually, this is when my confidence gains a boost. When I know my body has set the trap and all that’s left is to reel my victim closer to his demise.

Tonight is different.

I’ve never manipulated someone with my daughter’s life on the line. Never had to exude seductive perfection while my brothers watch from the shadows.

I give a half-hearted smile. “Thanks. It’s been a rough week.”

“Well, you always handle yourself professionally. I’ve rarely seen you flustered. You either don’t care about much or you know how to hide your emotions perfectly.”

My skin prickles.

His comment sounds like a fragment of conversation he would’ve had with my mother. That while they drove across country, they discussed my heartlessness or how skilled I am at hiding what’s inside.

“Maybe it’s a bit of both.” I shrug. “But I care about my daughter and I want to make sure she’s safe.” My attention latches onto a couple entering the diner over his right shoulder, the woman’s eyes meeting mine before she looks away. “Are you sure you weren’t followed?”

“Positive.” He mimics my line of sight, glancing behind him to take in the new arrivals, barely sparing them a two-second glance. “And I should thank you for the heads up about the tail. I had no clue I was being watched.”

“You’re welcome. Us outsiders have to stick together.”

He huffs a sound, part chuckle, slight scoff. “Are you an outsider, though? Your mom is convinced you’re working with your brothers.”

“I’m not.”

“Have you done what she asked then?”

The question is callous. Far colder than I would’ve expected from someone looking to work together. Then again, the conversations I’ve had with Geppet in the last twenty-four hours have been more than double the speaking time I’ve shared with him since he was employed by our family years ago. I don’t know him well enough to determine if this is normal or my mother’s influence.

“Do you mean, have I killed my brothers?” I lower my voice. “No. I’m not a murderer, Aaron. I can’t do that, and my mom knows it.”

“She seemed pretty adamant in the car.”

I smile at the waitress passing by and drop my voice even further. “She’s obviously still in shock after what happened. There’s no way she would want me to carry out her request.”

“I disagree. She spent the good part of a cross-country trip telling me it’s the only thing that would make her happy. That, and also dealing with your daughter.”

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