Page 206 of Sins & Secrets

“Is he after her?”

“He might know that I know, and I can’t risk her safety.” He merely nods and I add, “I can’t lose her. I’ll fucking lose it, man.”

“The safest place for her is distance. Well, anywhere fucking away from you.”

“I know … I know.”

“Good thing you’re separated, huh?”

“She tell Jules that?” I ask him as dread races through my blood. Before I can tell him we’re not, and that there’s no way I’m leaving her, he laughs at me.

“Jules tells me everything. I know the papers got it wrong.”

“I’m not leaving her; I’m just protecting her. There’s a difference.”

“If you want the world to think you’re broken up,” he says, “then you need to treat her like you are.”

“I don’t know if I can treat her like that. She’s pregnant.”

“I heard.” He lifts his beer in a mock cheers. “Congrats on that, man … but doesn’t that make it even more important not to risk anything happening to her?”

“Don’t make me feel worse than I already do.” My words are bitter and my heart sinks. “How long’s it going to take?” I ask him to get back to the point.

“To dig up dirt, plant evidence, figure out how to kill the guy … it could be a while.”

“I don’t have a while,” I bite back. “Every day is a day I have to put her through this.”

“There are worse things you could do.”

“I can’t lose her,” I tell him and he nods in understanding.

“I’ll watch her myself,” he offers and a small sense of peace relaxes me, but only a fraction of the way.

I rub my eyes with the back of my hand and finally pick up the beer on the table.

“If anything happens to her …”

“Nothing’s going to happen to her,” he reassures me before asking, “What’s the third thing?”

I look him in the eye and tell him, “I want him to go to jail for what he did. Whether you get real evidence or have to create some. And if that’s not possible, I want James Lapour dead.”

CHAPTER 11

Kat

“Ithought you were taking time off?”

I didn’t even hear Sue come in. I glance at the clock in the upper right of my computer screen. It’s already five o’clock and time for our dinner date. The girls are taking turns keeping me occupied. It’s almost like they’re babysitting me and if it was anyone else, I’d hate it.

But I can never turn down a date with Suzette.

“You of all people should know that working is all I’m good for.” My voice comes out flat although I meant it to be funny. God, I’m tired. I’m always tired now even though I’m finally starting to sleep like the dead.

I guess the first trimester of pregnancy will do that to you.

“Oh honey, have you not looked at your shoe collection recently?” she asks, quirking a brow. “You’re good for so much more than work.”

I stand up slowly, feeling every muscle stretch with a sweet ache as I do and grin at her. “Ha-ha,” I say sarcastically, but the smile on my lips is genuine.

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