Page 84 of Devil's Riches

I lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “Maybe.”

“How could he possibly know what we’re doing?” she asked. “Only two other people in the world know that we’re looking into the Golden Circle, and they’re locked in a bunker with no communication devices.”

I nodded slowly. “That’s true.”

Alexis leaned forward, eyes wide and bright with certainty. “Seriously, Nate, it’ll be fine. Sometimes a coincidence is actually just a coincidence.”

“I know. But I want to go to the dinner thing. Just in case.”

“I don’t think you can,” she said. “I mean, it’s Edward’s event, so he’ll probably think I’m rude as hell if I bring you without an invitation. I can’t let that happen. I need everything to go as smoothly as possible.”

“I know, but I don’t want you in that house alone.”

“I won’t be alone. Sascha will be there, remember?”

That didn’t bring me much comfort. From what I knew of Sascha, she was an emotionally-fragile nervous wreck, so I couldn’t picture her doing much to help Alexis if anything went wrong on Saturday night. She seemed like the type of person who’d simply curl into a ball and put her hands over her ears while the world fell apart around her.

Alexis took in the still-apprehensive look on my face, and she let out a short sigh of irritation. “Nate, it’s going to be fine. This is the exact opportunity we were hoping for.”

“I know. I’m not trying to ruin it. I just want to know that you’ll be okay,” I said, lips tipping down at the corners.

“Why don’t you sit outside the house in your car on the night of the party?” she suggested. “If I even get a whiff that something’s wrong, I’ll text you right away, and you can come and help me.”

I nodded slowly. “That could work.”

A small smile curved her lips. “I really think it’ll be fine. Edward doesn’t know a thing,” she said, reaching across the table to lay her hand near mine. “Besides, I know you. You won’t let anything happen to me, will you?”

Her faith in me made my pulse quicken as my throat grew thick with emotion.

I straightened my back and squared my jaw. “No,” I said, taking her hand and squeezing it in mine. "I’ll never let anything happen to you again.”

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