Page 39 of Tortured Tones

“Yes. Call me if anything changes.”

“Thanks, doc.” As he stood, I shook his hand.

“You’re welcome. I’ll see you and the guys at my office in three or so weeks for final medicals before the tour.”

“We’ll be there.” I never looked forward to blood tests, stress tests, or swabs of various kinds, but they were necessary.

After Donovan left, I sank onto the sofa beside Charlotte.

She stirred and licked her tiny lips. “Ma. Ma. Mommy.” Her little voice whimpered.

My heart constricted. I’d do anything to have Hannah or Shelby here to help look after her. But I was all she had. I hoped we both survived. I leaned forward and stroked her hair. “Hi sweetie. I’m here. How you feeling?”

“Where’s Ma? I’m hungry.”

“Me too.” I hadn’t eaten anything since lunch. “What would you like? A sandwich? Some fruit?”

“Cookies and milk.”

Did I have cookies? “Let me go see what we’ve got.”

I headed into my kitchen and found chocolate-chip biscuits in my pantry, and I grabbed the milk from the fridge along with a beer for me. I returned to the sofa and helped Charlotte to sit upright. As she nibbled on a cookie and sipped her milk, I sat beside her and savored a mouthful of beer.

Moments later, Ava returned from the office. If I’d blinked, I would’ve missed her gaze soften as she took in Charlotte ...then me. Warmth meandered through my chest as our eyes met. But it disappeared when she lifted her chin, and steel reset in her eyes. “Just so you’re aware, I’m monitoring a car that is outside your house again. I noticed it was there when we came home. I’ve aligned your neighbors and paparazzi friends to their vehicles, but this one has a female driver. There’ve been no women photographers by your front gate. Do you know if one of the nearby residents owns a white Camry?”

Shit. I would’ve never noticed an unusual car. I lived on a small dead-end street with six other houses owned by young wealthy property developers and business tycoons. I knew everyone thanks to some fucking wicked parties. “Not that I’m aware of. They own Porsches, Maseratis, and Bentleys. Is she someone’s housekeeper? Relative? Booty call?”

“We’re still trying to piece information together. Once we left this morning, she walked past your driveway twice, but kept her head down. I saw the same woman go up to a neighbor’s house last week. Do you know who this is?”

Ava handed me a tablet and showed me an image of a short women wearing blue jeans, a gray hoodie, and a red cap. Her long blonde ponytail fell halfway down her back. Blonde? Nope.

“She doesn’t look familiar. She’s not one of my neighbors.”

“We’ll keep an eye on her. If she’s back tomorrow, we’ll investigate further.”

“Thank you.” I handed over the tablet. “I don’t need some fan breaking into my home. I don’t want Charlotte or Hannah to get frightened or hurt.”

“Your house is very secure, alarmed, and monitored. We’ll keep you as safe as possible.”

I nodded. “I know.”

She tucked the tablet under her arm. “Is there anything else you need me for today, Mr. Tanner?”

Hmmm. Why did my name rolling off her tongue do strange things to my body temperature? Was I sick too? Yep. Definitely.

“If not, I’m going to take off,” she continued.

“You going to get Josh?” Her ex had supposedly switched around the days she got her kid last week to tie in with his meetings and travel plans.

“Hopefully.” A quiver of reserved excitement hovered in her level tone. “Yes.”

Would I ever be excited about having a child? That hadn’t happened so far. Not likely to happen anytime soon. “Okay. I’m good. Thanks.” I half-heartedly waved. “See you tomorrow for rehearsal.”

“I’ll be here at two-thirty. Make sure you’re ready.”

“Got it.”

Ava softened her tone and waved at Charlotte. “Bye, Charlotte. Be good for Daddy.”

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