Page 7 of Moth to a Flame

Beverly:Company policy says no digging into our subscribers’ accounts for personal use.

Among her many responsibilities, she’s notified whenever anyone abuses their access to our database and violates our privacy policy, then fires their ass.

Two weeks. That’s how long it’s taken the system to alert her about what I’ve been doing.

Very bad. I’ll have someone get on it tomorrow.

Me:Okay, and?

I imagine her green eyes narrowed at the screen. Her hand tugging at her long red hair while her wife asks her what’s wrong.

Beverly is sharp and smart. She’s been with me since I was twenty-four. Back then, the thirty-four-year-old woman believed in the idea of Moth to a Flame. She believes in it to this day.

She won’t let anyone mess with it, including me.

Beverly:One word—lawsuits. A few more—don’t want them on my record and yours, boss. Or to have it fuck up getting listed on the stock market.

She’s right.

Don’t give a fuck.

Me:Don’t tell anyone about that and nothing will happen. Simple.

Beverly:I won’t. Delete these messages too. I’ll set up a meeting for tomorrow morning. We’ll talk.

The street clears of people. When I get out of the car, Beverly sends me a question mark.

Ignoring her won’t make her stop. If anything, it’ll make her show up here. I could shut my GPS down, but it’ll be too late. She already has my location. No doubt about it.

Me:No need for a meeting. No one’s suing anyone.

Especially if they’re dead.

Me:Unless you’re going to sue me for being overprotective of our subscribers. That’s all I did. Looked out for a woman who seemed naïve.

Looked. In the past tense. Yeah, right.

Beverly:That’s it? You’re looking out for her?

Me:Looked. Yes.

Sort of.

Beverly:Landon, are you lying to me?

Way I see it, there’s no use telling her the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help me God.

I’m not going to kill Regan. I don’t feel like I will. She isn’t in any danger from me.

If I intended to kill her, I would’ve said something to Beverly or my best friend and Chief of Finance, Vince. I would’ve never let it get that far.

No. Regan isn’t in danger, not today.

Someone else is, and see if I give a fuck about his life.

Me:No. Why aren’t you with Faith? Already bored after one year of marriage? Thought you two were in love.

Beverly:My wife is fine. It’s you I’m worried about.

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