“You tell me you need a friend, I’m there for you, Leeta. You know that.”
I sighed, relieved. I did know that. Tim might be the most dramatic, self-absorbed person I knew, but he always had my back. Any hint that I needed him, and he was there for me.
“What’s up? Everything okay?”
“Not really. Just a few problems in the old love life area,” I said.
“What’s up? You might feel better if you let whatever it is out.”
“You’re just nosey,” I chuckled. But he was right: I probably would feel better. “This doesn’t go beyond us, okay?”
“Of course.”
I explained—in as little detail as I could—about Mace’s sister, her rape, and him trying to “catch” the bad guys. I left out the bit about him kidnapping me; Tim didn’t need to know that. Or that I’d slept with him last night.
“Look, you obviously feel sorry for him because of his sister. Why don’t you focus on helping him with that? You don’t need to decide how you feel about him right now, Leeta. You’re allowed time to process how you feel.”
“Thanks, Tim. I think that was about the deepest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
“Yeah, well, don’t get used to it,” he grumbled. “But seriously, anytime you need to talk, I’m here.”
I hung up feeling better.
He was right: I didn’t need to decide on how I felt about Mace right then, but I could still help him. But to do that, I needed to gather every bit of information I could on Anna and this website.
After a quick search, I realized I couldn’t do it without Mace’s help. He was already so far ahead of me with his knowledge, trying to do it on my own was both stupid and a waste of time. What was the point retracing the steps he had already uncovered?
Reaching for my phone, I texted him.
I need all the information you have on Anna and what happened to her.
My phone began to ring. I sighed. I wasn’t ready to talk to him. But how else was I going to help Anna?
“Yes?” My voice came out tight.
“Why do you want that?” he asked, confusion clouding his voice.
“Because if I’m going to help you find out exactly what happened, I need to know what you know.”
“No way, Leeta. No fucking way. You are not getting involved here,” he growled.
“Guess what, Mace? You don’t have a choice.
Either I help, or it’s the cops. Your call.” His silence confirmed his decision. “Right, so get me what you know. Either email it, or drop it over, or whatever.”
“Fine,” he sighed, sounding less than thrilled. “I’ll drop it over.”
I threw down the phone, annoyed that he didn’t want me involved. If he had really wanted to keep me out of this, he would have hid his stash of videos better. I mean really, I was useless with a computer, and it had taken me ten minutes to stumble across them. What the hell had he been thinking?
Standing up, I went into the small kitchen and poured myself a glass of water. Gulping it down, I tried to calm myself. He would be here soon, and the last thing I wanted was for him to see how much I was hurting.
Chapter Eighteen
Mace
I pulled up outside the motel feeling a little on edge. I had no idea what was going on in her head, especially after the night before. I groaned. Why did I go there? All I’d done was confuse the situation even more. Sleeping with her when she was vulnerable was a low act.
I should have kept my cock in my fucking pants.