Page 83 of Unguarded

“What kind of picture were you supposed to get? Me and her?”

She shakes her head and frowns. “No, just something juicy or her in some kind of compromising position. The better the picture, the more I would get paid.” Her eyes trail down to my lips. “Do you really want to be with her? You’ve never committed to a woman in your life.”

She leans into me and tries pressing her lips to mine. I shove her away, taking a step back. My hands are shaking. I have to find out who it was, who was behind it, and how they knew to use Kacie to get it.

“I need the contact information for whoever it was. Give it to me—now.”

She crosses her arms and sits back down again. “Why should I? What do I get out of it?”

I want to smash every window in this fucking house until she agrees to give it to me. My fists clench at my sides.

“Because her fucking life is in danger! She has a stalker who’s been killing birds and gifting them to her, telling her she’s going to be next. Whoever the fuck paid you for that could be the same person.I need it now.”

Kacie gapes up at me, the cigarette dangling from her lips. Her eyes begin to well with tears. She rises to a stand, slowly walking over to the faded yellow kitchen counter. She grabs a pink sticky note and steps back over to me. She holds it in her hand, releasing a shaky exhale. She peers up at me.

“When did it happen?” Her voice suddenly sounds small.

I stare at the paper in her hand. My ears are ringing. All I can think about is snatching it out of her hand and finding the person responsible.

“When did what happen?”

“When did you fall in love with her?”

Goose bumps prick on my skin at her words. I blink down at her, feeling my jaw clench.

“When did you fall in love with her?”

Her words ring inside my head.

“When did you fall in love with her?”

My limbs start to feel numb. I realize Kacie is still speaking. I attempt to focus on her words.

“You’re the most emotionally disconnected person I know. You suppress all your feelings. You’re like the fucking Tin Man with no heart. You and I were hooking up for almost a year. One day, you saw me out with Todd, and it didn’t affect you one bit. I only did it to make you jealous! Then, you left on that tour, and next thing I know, you’re violent at thethought of someone hurting a random celebrity you’re paid to protect. You’ve never given that much of a shit aboutanyonewho’s not your family.”

She’s hugging her stomach as she steps toward me, coming close enough to lay her hands on my chest. “Please, just tell me what it was I didn’t have. Do you really think she’s better for you? Is she actually going to be a part of your world here? Are you going to start wearing suits and dining at Michelin-starred restaurants in Paris with her, being hounded by fans? That’s not you, Cash. It never will be.”

I grip her wrists, peeling her off me. I take the sticky note from her fingers. She’s right, but I’ll die before I admit it to her. I don’t belong in Monroe’s world. I never will.

“I have nothing more to say to you. I never told you I wanted anything more with you. I never meant to hurt you, but what you did with the photo could’ve put her in serious danger. You’re not allowed back at Redford Ranch.”

I turn around, leaving her house and climbing back into my truck. When I look down at the sticky note, all it has is an email address.

[email protected]

I pick up my phone and snap a picture of it, texting the photo to Holden. I tap his number to put a call through. He answers on the second ring.

“Cash, where are you?”

“I just sent you a picture of an email address. Can you get your buddy from prison to tell me who it belongs to or the IP it was sent from? Anything will help.”

“Yes. Where are you?”

“I’m driving myself off a cliff. Just do it.” I hang up the phone and turn up the volume of the local country station, pressing my foot down on the accelerator.

The numbnessin my hands feels good as I swing the axe down toward the wood.

“When did you fall in love with her?”

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