Page 36 of Time to Bounce

Her eyes widened. “What does that mean?”

“It means he’s missing, and we have to find him,” I explained. “It means that we won’t stop until he’s found.”

She bit her lip.

“I don’t think you’re in danger,” I said. “But I just want to make sure you’re aware that you could possibly be.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “Anyone could’ve come over and given me that information. Why did you?”

Because I’m an asshole, and I wanted to see you.

“It’s just business.” I shrugged.

Her shoulders drooped. “Oh.”

She picked up her ice cream and turned her back on me.

“Do you mind if I do a walk-through of your place?” I took a step toward her.

She shrugged. “Sure.”

I followed her to the door, and watched with relief as she unlocked two locks, then immediately turned off an alarm.

When she let me in, she locked the door behind me and waved her hand in a go-ahead gesture.

I went through the house, checking under beds and in closets, before checking every single window to make sure it was locked.

They all were.

I stopped at a photo of Gavrel and Athena and felt my heart ache.

I fucking hated that she was alone.

I hated even more that she was being reminded that she was alone with this trip she was taking.

Something she’d planned with her brother when he was alive.

Forcing myself to leave, even though I wanted to pull her into my arms and protect her with my dying breath, I headed back to the main room where she was now half done with her ice cream.

“Dr. Pepper ice cream?” I asked curiously.

She shrugged. “It’s new. I thought I’d try it. And last time it melted while we were…”

She didn’t finish the sentence, but she hadn’t needed to.

“Any good?” I asked as I walked toward the door.

She held out the spoon to me, and I had to force myself not to take a bite.

Not because I didn’t want to try it, but because she’d been so sweet to offer it to me.

“No thanks,” I said, my hand now on the door. “Please be aware of your surroundings. I’ll have a blue and white outside your house tonight to watch over you. When you leave tomorrow, they’ll give you a ride to the airport.”

She was already shaking her head. “No. No ride. I’m driving my own car.”

I nodded once. “Okay.”

I opened the door and walked out of it.

---