Page 45 of Breakup Games

“I’m thirty-three,” Elsie points out. “And Kat just turned thirty-five like a few weeks ago and Mira isn’t thirty-five yet.”

“I have until September to join you,” I tease, knowing Zara hates the fact that she’s not officially in her “late” thirties. “But really, this isn’t about anything more than trying to catch a bad guy. Oh, speaking of!” I hop off the leather couch and go over to my purse, which I left hanging on the back of a chair. We just got done riding and put the horses back out in the field, grumbling about the misting rain the entire time we walked back.

“He texted right before I got on.”

“Where did that phone come from?” Kat asks and I love that we know each other well enough she recognizes a new phone right away.

“The FBI. They really do have some creepy advanced tech. They were somehow able to backdate Instagram posts.” I unlock the phone and read Enzo’s text.

Enzo: Hey baby, just checking on you. Spent the night looking for that asshole and finally found him passed out on a bench at like 2AM. Had the cops take him in to sober up and then I bailed him out this morning and took him for coffee. We talked about getting his life straightened up.

“Seriously?” Kat asks with a laugh. “He thinks you’re going to buy that?”

“This guy is text book delusional.” I bite my lip, considering what to say, talking out loud as I type.

Me: OMG! That is insane. I’m so glad you’re okay!

I sent three melting-face emojis.

Me: You really are my hero!

“Okay but why would he make up that crazy story?” Elsie asks and I quickly recap what happened last night.

“I think you’re playing with fire,” Kat tells me and the rest of the group agrees. “I know how much you wanted to be out there chasing after bad guys, but you don’t have the same training or legal protection as an actual FBI agent.”

Before I can come up with a rebuttal, Enzo texts back.

Enzo: I’m just doing what I’d want someone to do for me. We all make mistakes in life.

I consider his words, putting on my profiler hat again. He’s giving me a half truth again, and I’m pretty sure I know it’s about his family.

Me: We do, and it’s so kind of you to help. I’m impressed! Are you busy tonight??

Enzo: I am, baby. Gotta go out of town and handle some business.

Me: Oh no! :-( Where are you going? Hopefully it’s somewhere fun!

Enzo: Jersey Shore. Got some fam there to visit. I’ll hit you up once I’m back next week.

Me: I hope you do! <3 Don’t forget about me

Enzo: You are unforgettable, baby.

“The way you switch your entire personality for this guy is impressive,” Kat tells me.

“Thanks.” I black out the screen. “It’s manipulation, at its finest. And this guy is easy because he’s so full of himself and his own bullshit he can’t see through anyone else’s.”

“Now he’s a bad man.” Elsie shakes her head. “But they're not all like that.”

“I wish I had your optimism.” Kat wrinkles her nose. “No, actually I don’t. Because then I might get married again.”

We laugh and trudge through the rain, leaving the comfort of the lounge. I have just enough time to go home, change, and take Violet for a walk before going into the office for back to back sessions the rest of the afternoon.

My real phone is still in my car, plugged into the charger. I have a few missed texts from my mom and Beth, my sister, and one from Mason. I open his first and blink as I read the words on the screen.

Mason: You’ll hear this on the news soon, so figured I’d tell you now. They found another body in Gary, Indiana. TOD matches with when EM left. Be careful, Mira.

Chapter

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