Page 85 of Boulder's Weight

"Your job," she repeats with a slight smile. "The job that now includes keeping a woman safe from her psychotic brothers while helping us deal with Andrés. That's a lot on your plate."

"I can handle it," I say firmly.

She stands, signaling our conversation is ending. "I know you can. That's why you're getting the café assignment."

I walk back to my room with Amara's words echoing in my head.

Am I really that much more focused?

Did claiming her make a big difference?

I find Kelsey sitting cross-legged on our bed, sketching in a book that must be from Oakleigh.

She looks up when I enter, a guarded expression on her face.

Things have been tense between us since the incident in the café storage room yesterday.

She gnaws on her bottom lip. "Your meeting over already?"

I nod, dropping onto the edge of the bed. "I'm assigned to café security. You'll have me breathing down your neck for the foreseeable future."

Relief flashes across her face before she smothers it. "Lucky me."

"We need to go over some security protocols," I say, all business now. "You need to know what to do if shit goes down."

To my surprise, she closes her sketchbook and gives me her full attention. "Tell me."

For the next hour, we go over everything—exit routes, safe rooms, signals, code words.

Kelsey absorbs it all and asks smart questions, points out potential weaknesses in our plans, suggests alternatives.

"You're good at this," I say as we finish mapping out the café's blind spots.

She shrugs, but I can see she's pleased by the compliment. "I've been running and hiding for a while now. You pick things up over time."

Working together like this feels natural, like we've been doing it for years instead of a couple weeks.

It's alarming how easily she fits into my life, my space, my thoughts.

My phone buzzes, breaking the moment.

It's Brick.

"We've got movement," he spits out. "Craig Warlow's been spotted outside the café, asking questions."

My body tenses immediately. "I'm on my way. Don't engage with him until I get there."

"Too late," Brick replies. "He approached me. Says he wants to talk to you, specifically. I've got him contained at thetaqueríaacross the street."

I glance at Kelsey, whose eyes are glued right on me, "Keep him there. I'll be there in twenty."

"What is it?" she asks as I end the call.

"Your brother, Craig, is with Brick," I say, watching her face carefully. "He's asking for me."

Fear flashes in her eyes, quickly replaced by confusion. "Why would he want to talk to you?"

"I'm about to find out." I stand, checking that my gun is secure in its holster. "Stay here. Oakleigh will keep an eye on you."

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