Page 114 of Flame
Her eyes sparkle. “I think you still get away with some of that nowadays.”
“I’m offended.”
“Sure.” She smiles, standing tall again. “So what can I do to help Bianca settle into Kismet Beach? She seemed to get along easily with the girls and Becca. That’s good.”
My heart swells with happiness and pride. I love how easily she fits in my world and how much she wants to.Who would’ve thought a woman like Bianca—wealthy, successful, powerful—would trade it all for life in a small town? Not me.
“Are you going to continue to work for Landry Security?” Mom asks. “You’re gone an awful lot. I thought maybe you’d want to find something closer to home.”
“This has all happened so fast. I’ll need to think about it before I decide on anything.” I reach into my back pocket and pull out my phone. Jason’s name is on the screen. “I need to take this real quick.”
“Help yourself. Want a glass of tea?”
I shake my head. “No. I’m good. Thanks.” I lift the phone to my ear. “Carmichael.”
As soon as the call connects, I sense something is wrong. It’s a vibe, an exchange of energy—some telepathic way of communicating that Jason and I share.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
His voice is low and controlled. It sends chills down my spine.
“Foxx, listen to me closely,” he says.
“Listening.”
“I’m at Mom’s. No one knows I’m here,” he whispers.
“Okay.”
My heart pumps so hard that I can feel it without searching for it.
“One perp is in the kitchen with Mom. He has a gun to her head,” Jason says.
“The fuck?”
That’s all it takes for me to slow down and begin calculating ways to eliminate the threat. My breathing is calm. My blood pressure steady. I’m laser-focused on the situation.
“Have you called the authorities?” I ask.
“Negative. There’s a second threat.”
He doesn’t have to tell me what that is.I already know. I whip toward the door.
“Where are you?” he asks.
“I’m at my mom’s. Fuck!”
Jason growls. “How the fuck did this happen?”
You took the question right out of my head.
My brain sorts through a series of events.
Sorry to bother you. But I was just at Smokey’s, and they found one of your keys. Becca gave it to me. I set it on your counter.
I stop, meeting my mom’s fearful gaze. “Quick—did you set my security alarm when you took the key Becca found to my house?”
Her brows pull together. “I think so. Why?”
