Page 19 of All's Fair in Love & Wrath
“Just a line of questioning when we see him. But we don’t see him often. He’s paranoid, and we’re staying under his radar for now, but we’re playing a waiting game that has an expiration date.”
“Why can’t you leave?”
“We have lives here, Sienna. You know that!” What I want to say is that you have no problem moving me around from place to place. I guess I don’t have one, then? If it wasn’t for Gage, there’s no way I’d have the job I do. But I’d have gone insane if I was cooped up in this place or the last. Lucky for me, Tommy is Gage’s uncle and pays me under the table. He also keeps his mouth shut about who I am.
“What about the bikers that said they’d help us?”
“Can’t trust outsiders.”
“But—”
“I’m goin’ for a walk. Stay put.”
“Where the hell would I go?” I mumble under my breath. Maddox leaves the cabin, and I’m left completely alone with my thoughts. I pace back and forth in the tiny kitchen, the wood floor creaking against my weight. I wish I could understand what was going through my brother’s head and whatit’ll take before he realizes this is all going to get worse if he doesn’t do something. Is it his fragile male pride? Maddox doesn’t seem like the type, but he’s also not reaching out to a club that very well could help us.
The burner phone feels like a hand grenade that could blow everything up at any moment in my back pocket. I pull it out, staring down at it like I’ve never seen it before. I can’t believe he drove back up just to see that I was alright. Who does that? Maddox would probably kill him if he found out. He’d assume the worst, which I probably should as well. But there’s just something about him that is disarming, that makes my hypervigilant body relax and unwind. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not.
I glance out the door, not seeing Maddox anywhere. With shaky hands, I pull out the folded-up piece of paper with Axel’s number on it and plug it into the burner phone, typing out a text, not really realizing just how badly I want to talk to someone.
Me: Hi.
Jesus, no, erase. That’s stupid. What the fuck do I even say? Hey? Remember the damsel you pestered at the diner yesterday? That’s me, let’s chat.
Me: Hey, it’s Sienna.
Erase. Nope. Can’t use my damn name, just in case. He wanted me to text him, right?
Me: I’m texting. Happy?
His response comes right away.
Unknown: Very. How was your day?
I exhale a deep breath that was trapped in my lungs and collapse onto the dusty old couch.
Me: Fine. Same as always.
Unknown: I’m glad you texted.
Me: I don’t know why I did to be honest
Unknown: Did you eat?
Did I eat? Who is this guy?
Me: What kind of question is that?
Unknown: Just want to make sure you’re taking care of yourself
Me: Pretty sure I said I wasn’t your problem
Unknown: And I’m pretty sure I said you couldn’t be a problem if you tried
Me: My brother is a hard sell. I’m working on it.
Unknown: If it works out, it works out. I just want you to be safe. Don’t want you in the crossfire.
Me: Why do you care so much?
