Page 95 of Jagger

Her comment was right on cue to a knock on the door. “I took care of that. I think we need some time out of the house.”

“You? Did you hire a babysitter?”

“Something like that.” I wasn’t positive I’d done the right thing, but I’d heeded my brother’s advice. Staying cooped up in the house wasn’t good for anyone, least of all Bella. I moved toward the door. My choice in babysitters was meant to be an olive branch of sorts. It surprised me that I’d bothered. Why would I care about whether people got along and there were no hard feelings?

I opened the door and immediately glanced toward Bella. She was none too thrilled to see Zoe standing in the doorway.

Zoe immediately sensed the tension, but I encouraged her inside. “If you don’t want me here, Bella, I completely understand.”

Whether or not Bella blamed Zoe for Cally running away I wasn’t certain. I could easily tell on Bella’s face she wasn’t prepared to place her trust in anyone.

“This was a mistake.” Zoe started to head for the door. “I just want you to know how sorry I am. I was overwhelmed that night. I feel terrible.”

“No. It’s fine. Really, Zoe. It wasn’t your fault. The entire scene was chaotic, so much so I’m surprised how amazing you werekeeping the other children calm. Cally is fine. She’s a tough little girl,” Bella told her. “It’s just been a few difficult days. Getting out will do me some good. Please stay.”

I could tell Zoe was relieved as she turned around. “Take your time tonight. I love kids and Cally is such a great little girl.”

“And I hope you love dogs,” Bella added. “Soon, we might have a menagerie.”

“Of course.” Zoe pulled two bags from her purse. One contained a few pieces of chocolate and the other dog bones. “I always come prepared.”

Bella seemed more at ease. “Well, Cally will have fun not being forced to be around her overprotective mother.”

“I think you’re a great mother and I’ve been around a lot of them.”

“Thanks for that. Sometimes, I just don’t know.” Bella smiled.

“Trust me,” Zoe said. “I’ve seen some real wingdings.”

Bella burst into laughter. “I bet. So, where are we going?” Her smile was more relaxed than before, the look she gave me forcing my balls to tighten almost instantly.

“Dinner and maybe a hot spot in town. Well, as hot as it can be in Danger Falls, I guess.” My answer surprised me. What did I know about hot spots? Until moving here, I hadn’t been inside anything more than a total dive in over ten years.

She glanced at me with a funny look on her face, even wrinkling her nose. “Then I guess I’ll dress up.”

I didn’t want to tell her that almost no one in town bothered to wear anything more than jeans in the winter and shorts inthe summer. Maybe the testosterone-filled male inside of me wanted to see what she’d come up with. “Take your time. We’ll leave whenever you’re ready.”

“Cally’s upstairs in her room. I’ll show you the way. If you don’t mind making her dinner, that would be helpful.”

“Absolutely.”

As the two women headed up the stairs, I immediately moved into the kitchen, pulling out my phone. No message from the man I used to trust with my life. Funny how that kind of camaraderie ended when one of the two tried to kill the other. Kirk was many things, including a good friend, but when push came to shove, he’d followed orders.

Just like I’d been doing for years.

The organization had mentioned that you couldn’t trust anyone. That had been something I’d reminded myself of more times than I could count. Still, after the dust had settled and the misunderstanding was brought to light, we’d resumed our friendship and he knew he owed me.

Which was why I continued to be furious. He’d obviously forgotten we’d both left the organization in disgust after learning of their involvement with some unseemly people from other countries.

It was obvious favors meant nothing.

There was one more person I could contact, someone who had the muscle, the money, and the soldiers to start a war. He was also one of the most dangerous men in the world. If I asked for his help, I’d owe him a favor.

It would be well worth it.

I glanced toward the kitchen doorway before locating the man’s private number.

While this wasn’t a good idea, I didn’t care. I’d do anything to protect Bella.

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