Page 82 of Misdirection

Anxiety thrummed inside her. She was ready to be away from Jason.

It wasn’t because she didn’t like being around him, but because she needed some distance right now. Plus, she wanted to focus on investigating without having to explain herself.

“I’m going to follow you back to your apartment,” Jason stated.

Surprise rushed through her. “You don’t have to do that.”

“I want to. Especially after what happened earlier. I would hate for something to happen to you on the road, especially if I could be nearby to help you and wasn’t.”

She started to argue again but knew it would be no use. Jason had already made up his mind, and he was just trying to be a gentleman.

“If you insist,” she finally said. “It’s your time and gas.”

“My time and gas are worth it for the peace of mind I’ll have when I know you get safely back to your apartment.”

Warmth ran through her blood.

She didn’t want to have that reaction. But being around Jason made her feel more human than she’d felt in a long time.

“Okay then,” she finally said.

She gave Loki another quick head rub before climbing out of the Range Rover and walking to her own vehicle. Then she climbed inside and started the car. The engine hummed to life.

She put the vehicle into Drive and started back to her apartment—sticking with the story she’d told Jason. But once Jason saw that she was safe, Olive would go out again to Adriana’s and see what she could find out there.

In the meantime, she needed to call Tevin back.

“Where are you?” Tevin demanded, worry lingering in his voice.

Olive gripped her steering wheel. “I’m driving back from Jason’s place. It’s a long story.”

“I have time.”

She pressed her lips together, suppressing a spreadsheet joke on the tip of her tongue.

Then she updated him on Jason, Damon, and Alex.

“Wow,” Tevin said. “That’s a lot. What are you doing now?”

She glanced in her rearview mirror at Jason’s vehicle behind her. “Jason is following behind me to make sure I get back home okay.”

“What a gentleman.”

“As soon as he leaves, I’m going to do some surveillance on Adriana.”

“I’m going with you.”

Her lips curled. “I was going to ask you to come.”

“I’ll wait outside your apartment building. Let me know when you’re ready.”

“Perfect. As soon as the coast is clear, I’ll find you.” She switched lanes. “In the meantime, can you look into Adriana’s background and see what you can find out? She’s definitely up to something.”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

“Work your magic like you always do.”

“Ah, you flatter, you flatter.”

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