Page 26 of Out of Control

I headed upstairs and checked all the windows up there as well, closing the floral curtains tight before I took a quick shower, careful not to wash out any of the hair dye before I climbed in bed. To hell with dinner, I was exhausted.

I put in my airpods and loaded up the next chapter in my audiobook, letting the soothing words help me drift off to sleep.

I awoke to someone knocking furiously on my front door.

I jumped out of bed, hurrying down the steps. Who could it possibly be? The sun was barely out.

I was a few steps away from the front door when I remembered the events of yesterday. Was it Blake or someone worse, having already taken out my bodyguard?

“Who is it?” I called, still several feet back from the door.

“Lucas Blake with the FBI!” he called through the door. “Please let me in.”

I cracked the door open, but kept the chain latched. “What the hell are you thinking making a racket like that so early?!” I hissed, trying to glance around his broad shoulders up and down the street.

“I have to go deal with something and I’m not leaving you alone, so you need to come with me. Nice hair.”

I straightened, hand going to my head. Although I didn’t try to get it wet in my shower last night, inevitably some water got into my hair. I caught a peek in the bathroom mirror before retreating to bed and knew I had a bunch of strands that would be starting to curl back up, the rest still mostly straight, but after getting up so suddenly my hair probably looked like a rat’s nest.

But it was a dick move to bring that up when he was the one who roused me from sleep so suddenly.

“I’m sorry, I thoughtyouwere followingmearound, not the other way around,” I said. “You go do your thing, and by the time you come back maybe I’ll feel human enough to face the world.”

Plus I was expecting a call from the Morelli law offices in a few hours. I didn’t want Blake around to eavesdrop and hear more than he probably should.

Maybe my intentions were good, but I was definitely doing things that were in the realm of morally gray in my quest for justice. I wasn’t stupid. I knew that it was wrong to drug someone and snoop through their personal things. Martin, my inside guy and only acquaintance, was very clearly disturbed by what little he knew of my mission, and for good reason.

“You’re going to get yourself arrested, and probably me too. When you do, what’s gonna be the point of all this?”He was right, of course. But it was my mom. They killed her and covered it up. I had to do something.

But Lucas Blake clearly saw the world in black and white, and if he knew I was initiating my own investigation he’d cut me out of it and likely arrest me, just like Martin said.

“Athena. Please. I’m dealing with an emergency here. Can you make an exception and please help me out here? Just this once.”

I wanted to keep being petty, but his eyes were begging, and he looked agitated, almost close to panic. Something was seriously wrong.

I reached for my favorite leather jacket hanging behind the door along with my new bulletproof vest and grabbed my keys.

I wasn’t a monster. Whatever was going on, he was asking nicely, and looked like he was one minute away from getting down on his knees in front of me. If this man, usually so strong and anxious to be in control of every situation, was stooping low enough to beg me to help him, then I would help him.

eleven

Lucas

Idid my best to ignore the flash of thigh next to me. I should have specified that there was enough time for her to get dressed, but I appreciated her giving in too much to raise my concerns before she grabbed her essentials and followed me out to the car.

Apart from my urging for her to buckle up, we drove the rest of the way in silence. Only once we pulled up to the driveway did I have anoh shitmoment. I didn't want this woman intersecting with my private life, but it would go against my duty to leave her alone in the car. It hadn’t even occurred to me what bringing her with would mean, but I couldn’t leave her by herself, unprotected.

When my mom called, a note of hysteria in her voice, at six in the morning and told me to come over right away I didn’t think, just reacted. If she needed me then I needed to be there; I was the only one left in her life and I couldn’t just ignore her when she sounded like that.

But I still didn’t know for sure whose side Athena was on. She went on a date with a mafia enforcer and could hold her own in a fight. She defended criminals and scumbags for a living. She was defensive and uncooperative most of the time. Her own mother worked for the Morellis before her death.

What if Athena was a danger to my poor, lonely mother?

I let the engine idle for a moment while I debated what would be considered the “right thing” in a messed up situation like this.

My mom made the decision for me, rushing out to the front porch when she saw me pull in, her eyes lighting up when she saw I had company.Shit.I knew what she was thinking.

She rushed forward and opened the passenger door for Athena before I even had my seat belt unbuckled. “Come inside, both of you! Come on!”

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