Page 82 of Smoke Screen
“Zeke?”
“Yeah?”
Phin kept his gaze straight ahead. He needed to apologize. He’d caused this mess and now his privacy-obsessed family had reporters camped out in front of the house. But saying it in front of Maddy? Who already had a serious case of the guilts?Family first.“I’m … uh.”
“Don’t you dare fucking apologize,” Zeke said. “We decided to let Maddy stay. That’s on all of us.”
Relief surged, the tension inside Phin deflating like a ripped tire. Zeke could have torn him a new one. Had every right to.
But no. He’d given him a pass.
Family first.
Damned straight.
Phin clicked off, concentrated on the road. They didn’t use the back entrance to the property much. Mainly because it was a pain in the ass driving all the way around on a winding mountain road and then bumping and bouncing along what amounted to a dirt path.
And him in his Audi. His suspension might be toast after this.
Sensing Maddy’s attention, he glanced sideways, found her staring at him, her eyes filled with all sorts of questions.
“I’m so sorry. Your family must hate me.”
That statement, Phin could immediately shoot down. He shook his head. “Not at all. Zeke is pissed, but not at you. He called the sheriff—she’s a cousin to our cousins on their mom’s side—to clear them off the road. They’re creating a safety hazard.”
“Will that work?”
“It’s as good an idea as any.”
“Do you think the FBI told them?”
The sign for the Steele Ridge exit loomed and Phin flipped his blinker on. “Maybe. Probably.” He waved it off. “Seems logical. They want you uncomfortable. Uncomfortable people say things they wouldn’t normally say.”
“Good to know,” she said.
Had to love this woman. No screaming. No histrionics. No drama.
Phin cruised onto the exit ramp and slowed for the stop sign ahead. “We’ll get to the house from the backside of the property. The entrance is tucked off the road a bit. Unless you’re looking for it, you roll right by.”
“Once we get back, I’m leaving. I’m not putting your family through this.”
Here we go again.He hooked a right at the stop sign and stifled one of Cruz’s trademark sighs. This whole concept of her leaving aggravated him. “Where will you go that provides the security of our place? Plus, it’s too late. They know you’re there. Might as well ride it out.”
“It’s not fair to y’all.”
“It’s not fair to you, either.”
“But it’smyproblem,” she said, her voice a tad pissy. “Notyours.”
It’s my problem now, sweetheart.
He didn’t dare say it. Maddy had yet to show him a glimpse of a tantrum, but something told him that when it happened, it was epic. As much as he wouldn’t mind seeing her let loose, he wasn’t that guy. The one who created chaos for the fun of it.
In ten minutes, they’d be back at the house and he’d see what they could find out about how these reporters knew Maddy was in residence.
He’d start with Ash.
A few hours ago, they’d had that whole brotherly-love-kumbaya-moment and now?Nowthe feds unleashed a bunch of reporters on them and Ash hadn’t even sent a warning.
