Page 124 of Ruthless Sinner

We also have the name of the guy who followed me and took the pictures. His name is Roland Patterson. I’ve never heard of him but that’s probably becausehe’s a small time criminal. Despite that, he knows how to move around and stay off the grid.

As we have his full name, Virgo is trying to track him down now.

He’ll will be here any minute now to show me the emails and plan the next steps.

During the space of time since I spoke to him I’ve had to figure out my fucked -up situation here with Serenity. Which of course Virgo isn’t happy about.

I’ve had to think fast on my feet to make things as believable as possible if anyone came checking here for her. That meant moving her car into my garage and reconfiguring the tracker to make it look like she’s at Carla’s house. I also did her phone too and I’ll set everything up for New York for tomorrow.

I have a feeling we’ll be in for a rough couple of days. After that I don’t know what to do if I don’t come up with a solution.

Serenity is more than a risk to me now.

Now more than ever.

And still, losing her feels like I’ve just lost a vital organ.

I’m not sure how I’m supposed to function. My mind is numb and I feel like I’m walking around in someone else’s body.

I knew we had to end but that didn’t stop me from wanting her.

I still do.

When I enter the living room, I hear the front door open.

That would be Virgo.

Seconds later he comes in looking like he’s doing his best to hold his tongue.

We have a mutual respect for each other, so we never over step any lines. Sometimes though, things need to be said. I sense I’m about to hear what he really thinks about this problem I’ve created with Serenity he warned me about weeks ago.

“Hey,” he says, and glances toward the stairs.

“Hi.”

“She’s not going to come running down to make us snacks is she?” I deserve the raw hit of sarcasm in his voice.

“No. She’s locked in my room.”

“Locked?” His brows raise and he pins me with a hard stare.

“Virgo, cut me some slack. I know I fucked up. I know I fucked us over when I said it wouldn’t come to that and it has. But I’ll take care of it.”

His jaw clenches and he looks like he wants to give me a mouth full but he’s holding back.

“Alright. I’ll leave you to it.” He raises his hands in resolution. “I pray you know what you’re doing though Dante. Or maybe it’s better I pray that we find something as fast as humanly possible. Then you don’t have to worry about it.”

Better he prays for the latter. Everything that comes next will be played by ear.

“Let’s just focus on the real problem.”

“Dante, she is arealproblem.”

“I said I’ll handle it.” This time I can’t keep the irritation out of my voice. I hate being called out or questioned even by my best friend.

“Fine.” Virgo presses his lips together in a thin line of disapproval but I’m thankful when his face softens and he switches to his business mode.

“Let’s sit.”

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