Page 104 of Not A Whisper

“No, I’m ok. I need to pee as it is. I think my throat is just going to be sore for a while.” I ignore his quip about running into the building. If I hadn’t, Cory and Josh’s fate could’ve been a lot worse. We both know that.

“Right, well, we should get going.”

Without thinking, I wrap my arms around his waist. Trip’s not an affectionate young man by any means, but I need this. And secretly, I think he does too. Trip stiffens. I’m not sure if it’s in surprise or discomfort, but the tension melts away after a moment. When his arm comes around my shoulders, I find myself relaxing too.

“I’m sorry this happened, Trip.”

He’s silent for a second. When he speaks, he’s unnervingly calm. “It's only a building. We were thinking about relocatinganyway. Everything inside can be replaced with the insurance we have. It’s not the end of Baniker Carpentry.”

I swallow hard. Thank goodness for insurance. I guess. “Still, this will set you back, won’t it?”

Trip shrugs. “Yeah, but clients will understand. We’ll redirect them to companies that we’ve partnered with before and it’ll appease them. In the meantime, we can do smaller jobs with the tools in our vans and extra supplies we have. Don’t worry about it.”

“Of course I’m going to worry about it! This was yours and Carlos’s livelihood. And someone just—” I cut myself off with a loud gasp as an idea hits me. I stiffen. “Oh my god, Trip! During my run-in with Garry, he told me to ask Carlos about his business! Do you think he’s behind this? That he would do something like this?”

Given Garry’s track record, this seems like child’s play. Still, it’s so devious…

Trip flinches hard, as if I’d struck him. “When the fuck did you talk to Garry?”

“Didn’t you get my text?” At his darkening glare, I guess he hadn’t. “Garry caught me going to my car tonight.”

Quickly, I tell him everything. With each word, Trip grows more rigid and angry. By the time I’m done, I’m pretty sure the only reason Trip hasn’t exploded with rage is because it’s not physically possible.

“Fucking bastard!” Trip’s arms drop to his side where his hands curl into fists. “He’ll try to rip everything away from us until we’re left empty-handed and hopeless. He wants us desperate.”

I shake my head, dread pooling in my stomach. “You’re right. He said he’d bring you to heel. Desperation must be one of his ways to do that.”

A hard tremble rushes through Trip’s frame as he lets out astring of profanity. I cringe. Where did he learn this type of language? It’s enough to make a sailor blush. When his voice finally trails off, I squeeze my arms around his waist and bury my face into his chest.

“I won’t let him break you and…” Anger surges through me as I replay tonight’s events. “I’ll kill him if he touches any of you.”

My promise is spoken so softly that I don’t think Trip hears me. I’m wrong. There’s the shortest pause before Trip moves. His hand comes up and his calloused fingers wrap around my neck possessively. I tilt my head to look up at him to find Trip staring at me, his expression softer than I’ve ever seen it.

“Given your history, I know you mean that,” he says, gravely. “I also know that you would only do it for people you care about, so I guess—mad or not—I’ve gotten under your skin?”

One side of his mouth curls up into a smile. It’s a strange smile for Trip, full of genuine warmth but also twisted, with a hint of vulnerability. It’s a side of him I’ve only ever seen once. And it had taken a bottle of Jack Daniels, a late night, and breaking into my hotel room for me to see it then.

I press my lips together, hesitating. I’m notmadat him, or the others, as much anymore. But like I told Jason, telling the guys how I feel gives them power over me. And they certainly haven’t proven themselves to be overly trustworthy.

Apparently, Trip doesn’t need a response. He chuckles darkly.

“Thanks to a new tattoo, it’s safe to say you’ve gotten under mine. I can’t believe you did that, by the way. That’s a fucking brutal payback.” He shakes his head, still smiling and clearly unbothered. “You know, Bri, I wouldn’t have made you sign those papers without good reason, right?”

I roll my eyes. “I get it. It was for my protection?—”

“Exactly. Look at what Garry can do without even being present. Imagine him coming after you in the same way. We’re just lucky he hasn’t yet. But I told you, he’ll torture us, Bri, if he can find a way to do it. If he hurt you…” Trip’s teeth clash together and he snarls. His whole body tenses and trembles as his face darkens. “Hurting you, in any capacity, would be a way to torture us.”

His admittance is unexpected. The grip on my neck tightens as he leans down and places his forehead against mine.

“I know you’re mad at us for what we did, but I’ll do whatever I have to keep you safe. Even if that means I don’t get to marry you myself. I don’t regret it. Haven’t and won’t.”

Oh. My lungs deflate, leaving me feeling lightheaded. Trip can be so intense sometimes. His scowl deepens as he lets go of my neck and straightens. He reaches into his back pocket and pulls a small manilla envelope free. When he offers it to me, I don’t take it. Instead, I take a full step away from him.

“Oh no, you’re not tricking me again. Whatever is in there, I’m not signing it.”

“Good, you’re a quick learner. In any case, I’m not asking you to sign anything.” Trip shoves it into my chest. “Open it.”

“Is this why you wanted me to come out here? To show me this?”

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