Page 87 of The Ruthless Note

He licks his lips and glances down.

“Is something on your mind?” I ask.

The waning sunlight causes him to squint at the horizon. He peers at me. “I wanted to ask you… have you seen anything lately? Anything you didn't expect to see?”

What kind of question is that?

I mull it over.

The calm expression on his face begins to fade as the quiet stretches.

“Have you?” he presses.

“What do you mean?”

“Nothing.” He hurries ahead.

I take a step forward and then I stop. My eyes wide, I ask urgently. “Is someone breaking into your house too?”

Rick freezes on the sidewalk. Fingers folding into fists, he looks straight at me. “Someone broke into your house?”

“I don't know.” I’m a little scared by the intensity of his stare. “It could be just our mistake. The other night, the door was open. A few nights before that, Vi lost her necklace.”

“Did Vi see anyone strange that night?”

I shake my head, hating to think about what could have happened if someonehadbroken in. My little sister was at home. Alone. Anyone could have walked in and just…

“I've got a lock at home,” I tell him, trying to reassure myself too. “I'm going to change the doorknob and add a new bolt.”

His jaw clenches. “I’ll ask Hunter to help you out.”

“I can do it myself.”

Rick stares at me with dark eyes and in a grave voice says, “Let Hunter help.” He rips his gaze away and runs his hands through his hair. “You need to be careful, Cadence.”

“Of what? Burglars?”

“Just…” He licks his lips in agitation. “Be careful.”

With those haunting words echoing in my ears, we get the beer and return to the party. But I’m not really in the mood to celebrate anything and Rick looks like he’s done with socializing too. I’m relieved when Hunter finally takes us home.

Vi heads inside right away. Her bedroom door slams shut and it’s loud enough to get Hunter’s attention.

“Did I say something wrong in the car?” he asks, pausing his search through the toolbox to look up at me.

“No, I think she might just be disappointed by Rick. I keep telling her not to get her hopes up with him…”

“He’s not a bad guy. He wants to be there for you both. He just doesn’t know how.”

“I get that. But I shouldn’t have dragged Vi there just to feel uncomfortable and out of place.”

Hunter straightens to his full height, his head lowered. “I guess that’s my fault.”

“No, I don’t blame you. I just think… maybe we can love Rick from afar, you know? You don’t always have to be best friends with your family. Relationships are complicated.”

“That’s true.” Hunter expertly takes down our doorknob. “But you don’t know if you don’t try—whether it’s a relationship with family or a relationship with a guy.”

My breath hitches in my throat. Is he talking about us right now?

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