“Hey.” I nod him over and point down at the ground when he reaches me. “Any of your guys do this?”
“Fuck no. They know better. No smoking on the job.”
“Yeah, I figured,” I grit out.
I would have liked for it to have been one of his guys, but instead my gut is telling me this isn’t good.
“There are five all right here.” Slade looks around, then goes to the other side of the tree. “There are more on this side, and clear shoe prints in the mud. Looks like they lead to and from the woods. They’re fresh, too.”
My body tenses and I rub my hand down my face. I’m thankful that all the security is being installed, but it isn’t enough. There’s something wrong here, and now Mark’s name is the only thing pounding in my head. Something’s gotta give and I need that fucker gone. I know it’s him. I didn’t do what I really wanted to all those years ago, but this time things are going to be different.
I need to talk to my sister and find out what happened. I should have talked to her about it more and let her know she could tell me, but I also tried to give her space. It’s clear Mark isn’t staying out of our lives. I know Steph won’t come back to this town until Mark is long gone. I also know he won’t be done until he gets what he wants. And I have a feeling he’s got his eye on my Genevieve.
I pull out my phone and check her location. We shared it on our phones yesterday just as a way to stay connected even when we are apart. I was worried I was being overprotective, but I see now that my fears were valid. When I see she’s still safe at work I breathe easy. He wouldn’t be stupid enough to fuck with here there. Well, at least in the building.
I hit call. “Hi, honey,” she chirps into the phone, surprising me when she grabs it on the first ring.
“Hey, lady, what are you doing?” I try and keep the tension I’m feeling out of my voice. I don’t want her to ask me any questions about why it might be there, because I don’t want to make something up. And I don’t want her to worry about anything or anyone who might be watching her.
“Just got back from lunch with Gabi.” God, how can someone sound so sweet? Her voice is like a calming balm to the rage that was building in me.
“All is good?” I ask as I look up and see two black SUVs pull into the driveway.
“Everything is perfect. More than perfect. I miss you.”
“I miss you, too. So much that I want to come pick you up when you’re done at work.” I try to play it cool. I’m not worried about someone coming up to her as she leaves work, but I have a need to keep her safe.
“But I’ve got my car. It would be silly to leave it at work when I live so close.”
“But I want to pick you up. Tell me I can,” I push. She’s silent for a second. “I have plans for us,” I add quickly.
“Oh. Okay,” she says, and there’s excitement in her voice. “I’ll text you when I’m about finished?”
“Perfect.” I move toward the SUVs because I’m eager to talk to the security guy Sam about everything that’s going down. He normally wouldn’t be out on a job as small as this one to install security, but I give him a ton of leads for work. Every project I touch, I always recommend his company.
“Okay, so I’ll text you later,” she says. I know she doesn’t want to get off the phone, but I have to right now. I need to get this done and then I need to get to her.
“See you see soon, my ladybug. Love you,” I say, then hit the end button on the phone and slide it back into my pocket.
Chapter 21
Genevieve
I stare down at my phone wondering if he really just said that to me. I debate calling him back and asking him, but I don’t want to come off pushy. Maybe it was something he accidentally said. He forgot he was talking to me and not to one of his sisters. It’s crazy to say I love you already, right? He can’t really love me this fast, even though I’m having those feelings. I swear I feel it in the way he touches me.
Instead of calling him, I dial Gabi. She’ll have the answers. Maybe she can reassure me. Look at her and Neal. They say they fell in love instantly.
“Miss me already?” she sing-songs into the phone. My sister can hardly sit still right now unless she’s throwing up, but that doesn’t stop her for long.