Page 16 of Take

“I was coming to see you.” I cleared my throat. “To check your home security. Then, as I was driving past, I saw you struggling with that guy on the sidewalk.”

“Oh. How did you know where I live?”

I cocked a brow. “I work in security, remember? So…the guy wanted your handbag?”

Her frown deepened, and she sat on the beige sofa. “No, he didn’t.”

Now I frowned and sat across from her in an armchair. “What did he say?”

“Not much. But he did say, ‘you’re coming with me.’”

I stiffened. “He knew you?”

“I don’t know, Reath.” She scraped a hand through her hair. “He didn’t say my name.”

“You didn’t recognize him?”

She shook her head. “I’ve never seen him before in my life. He was…average. White, brown hair, average face.”

Nothing distinctive. That would make it hard for me to track him down.

“Wait.” Her head lifted. “He had an accent. But I’m not sure from where.”

Dammit. “Okay. I’ll look into it.”

“Thanks.” She tilted her head and rubbed her hands up and down her arms. “It wasn’t just a mugging, was it?”

“I don’t think so.” No, my damn instincts were pinging. There was something else going on here. I needed to get a message to Jack and find out what he was working on. And if there was anyone out to get him. I was careful to keep my thoughts off my face. I was good at it, and regularly beat my brothers at poker, thanks to it.

Frankie studied me for a second. “You think this could have something to do with Jack’s work.”

I hid a jolt. No one read me. Ever. But apparently, Frankie could.

I had the uncomfortable feeling that Frankie Parker saw more than I wanted.

“Maybe. Or maybe New Orleans just has a bad crime rate.”

“Well, thanks for the rescue, Reath.”

I glanced around. “Does this place have a security system?”

Her nose wrinkled. “No.”

“I’ll install one.”

She huffed. “Reath—”

I liked the way she said my name. Especially when she was pissy.

Damn, what was wrong with me?

I rose. “It’s what I do, Frankie. PSS can have it installed quickly.”

“Fine.” She rose as well. “Thanks, again. I’d better get those groceries put away and start dinner.”

A part of me didn’t want to leave. “If anything worries you, call me.”

“Okay.”

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