Page 136 of In the Air Tonight

“That’s witness tampering. I’ll pass it on to the AG.”

“I don’t want her to get in trouble.”

“He’ll give her a warning. She’s got no business bothering you or asking that of you.”

“I told her I wouldn’t change my mind about testifying.”

“That’s good. She needs to accept this isn’t going away, no matter what she tries to pull. I’ll give the AG a call and have them talk to her. I’m sorry that happened. It was wildly inappropriate for her to come there, and we’ll make sure she understands that.”

“Thank you.”

“No problem. Keep in mind if she came there, then word’s out about where you’re staying. You and Jack need to keep your wits about you, all right?”

“Will do.”

“What’d he say?” Jack asks when I put down the phone.

“He’ll have the AG’s office reach out to let her know it’s inappropriate for her to be confronting me and it could lead to witness tampering charges.”

“Good. I hope that scares the hell out of her.”

“He also said to keep our wits about us now that word’s out about where I’m staying.”

“Since you wouldn’t let me hire security, I ordered cameras to put around the property. I don’t like that she was able to sneak up on us this morning. Even Fenway didn’t hear the car.”

“Probably because we were making so much noise.” As I say the words, I feel my face get warm.

“Ah, I love that.” He smiles as he caresses my cheek. “So sexy.”

“You have work to do, mister.”

“I really do, and I hate that I do.”

“Show me what I can do to help. I want to make myself useful.”

He stirs something on the stove. “I will. After I feed you.”

I go to see what he’s making. Eggs with veggies and potatoes mixed together. “That looks yummy.”

He tosses some spinach into the mix and puts bread in the toaster. “I can’t let my new assistant work on an empty stomach.”

“I’m not your new assistant. I’m helping you out temporarily.”

“We’ll see,” he says with a smile.

“Yes, we will.”

Ryder

NOW

I’m at my parents’ house because I don’t have anywhere else to go. I wouldn’t dare go to Cam’s right now with things so tense between us. Arlo sent a brief text to tell me Caroline and the kids are staying in town after her close circle of friends rallied around them. That’s a relief to me.

Arlo’s wife, Jenn, is one of Caroline’s best friends, which is probably one of many reasons she told him to stay away from me. Of course she’ll take Caroline’s side against me. Everyone will, even though most of them were my friends long before they ever met her.

I haven’t heard a word from Dallas, which is concerning. Having my friends drop off the radar makes me lonelier than I already am without Caro and the kids.

My mother comes in with groceries that I help her put away.

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