Page 55 of Muddy Messy Love

His possessiveness stirs low in my pelvis, but as that worry dies, a monster grows. I clench the seat. “Oh my God, surveillance cameras. Someone will have us on tape.” Angry Zoes in orange jumpsuits charge through my mind, and I trace my cheekbone, recalling the damage.

“The police don’t track surveillance on every stolen car.”

I snap my head towards Cole. “Are you sure? Isn’t that their job?”

“Unless it’s connected to something more serious.”

“And what if it is?”

Cole huffs. “It’s not.”

“But how do you know that?” No amount of reassurance will be enough. Getting pinched for this will be the fresh fear I take to bed every night for eternity. I’m certain of it. And now there’s a cover-up. And Cole’s involved. I’ve dragged him into my mess like I did Jen and Liam.What the fuck is wrong with me?

Cole rakes his fingers through his hair, then pins me with that gaze. “Stolen cars are Slade’s MO. Murder and kidnapping aren’t.”

I flinch. “He…he’s done this before?” Pity swamps Cole’s eyes, and I look at my lap, shaking my head. “I’m such an idiot.”

He squeezes my shoulder, and some of my self-loathing melts under his touch. “No, you’re not. You just don’t know what you don’t know.”

His words circle my head and hollow out my chest. I look up at him. “That’s an extremely unsettling truth.”

His mouth twitches with a smile. “The fact we’re all going to die wins out for me.”

Now I smile. “Fair point.” We stare at each other while our souls silently converse, but my paranoia soon kills the moment. I must look like my mugshot.

Snatching my bag from the footwell, I scrounge for a tissue, but Cole catches my wrist. “You couldn’t look bad if you tried,” he says, ending my pursuit. I glance up at him, knowing I never said a word. Is he a mind reader now too?

Reaching out, he tucks a lock of hair behind my ear, slowly, as if he’s savouring every second. The tingles return and blanket my skin. My eyes drop to his lips for a sweet second, but then reality thumps me on the head. “How did you know where I was?”

Cole stiffens, and a million thoughts flash across his face, but he remains silent.

I frown. “Are you spying on me?”

He clears his throat. “I’ve had the firm’s PI keep tabs on Slade since his release.”

My mouth falls open. “Why?”

“I don’t trust him, and I need you safe.”

My face screws up. “But I’m not your responsibility.”

“Well, someone needs to look out for you, clearly,” he says, raising his palm to imply my predicament.

I clench my teeth because I hate that he’s right. Still, to track Slade…? What the actual fuck? As my mind reels, a puzzle piece slots into place as if young Alex set it there himself. “The other day, outside work. It wasn’t a coincidence, was it? You knew Slade was there.” His eyes tell me I’m right, and my nostrils flare. “And me? Are you keeping tabs on me too?”

He shakes his head. “I wouldn’t invade your privacy like that.”

I scoff. But my ex? That’s a different story?

“Please don’t make this a bigger deal than it is. Slade is trouble, and you’re a magnet to him. I don’t want him near you or Benedict’s.”

I crinkle my brows, unsure how to feel about this. The “bullshit” sign pulses in my brain, but it’s dim—uncertain—like me. The man wants to protect his business. Well within his rights. But why me? The whole thing borders on creepy, despite what the squealing tween in my brain thinks. But maybe in the glitzy legal world with a PI at your disposal, this kind of thing is no big deal. Maybe I’m catastrophising again.

Crossing my arms, I narrow my eyes. “How did you know the car was stolen?”

“A simple database search and a hunch. Didn’t you notice he had no keys?”

No. No, I didn’t.Good one, Avery.

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