“I can’t be. You know the rules.”
Kaleb snorted. “That wouldn’t stop me.”
“I know. Besides, I’m not into her.” Michael’s voice was firm. Kaleb must have given him a doubtful look, because Michael repeated, “I’m not into her. I have my reasons.”
My stomach dropped a little.
“Brother, I can sense. I know. If this girl is as ‘amazing’ as you say she is, you’re just being stupid. But I keep forgetting, you’re all about chivalry and honor,” Kaleb said in a singsong voice.
“You should try it sometime,” Michael answered quietly.
“Just please don’t tell me you’re holding back because of Ava.”
“Kaleb,” Michael said, sounding frustrated, “I’ve already told you how things are with Ava—”
He stopped talking when light flashed on in one of the upstairs windows, throwing a yellow square on the stone terrace floor. “I’d better go back inside,” Kaleb said in a rushed voice. “Tell her—don’t treat her like a kid.”
“Go!” I heard Michael make a hissing sound through his teeth, and then a door closed.
The light in the upstairs window went off.
I sat for a minute, trying to process. I couldn’t swear they were discussing me; no one said my name. Call it massive paranoia, which was entirely possible, or incredible intuition—I was pretty sure I was the “she” in the conversation.
But who was the “he”?
Sneaking away from the terrace, I crept back the way I’d come. I didn’t hurry, giving Michael time to clear out so I could avoid running into him. As I neared the front of the house I got curious and peeked in one of the low windows.
On one wall hung several photographs. Even though they were lit from above, a strange reflection shone off the faces, making them hard to see. Scanning them one by one, I paused when I reached the last picture in the row. Something about the face seemed familiar. Before I could place it, another light went on inside the house, causing my shadow to stand out in sharp relief on the grass. I flattened myself against the wall until the light went off again, then I took off in the direction of the car, flinging the door open when I reached it.
I let out a scream.
Someone was already sitting there.
Chapter 21
Be quiet,” Michael whispered. “Are you trying to wake the dead?”
“What are you doing?” I managed to choke out, clutching my hand to my chest, my heart pounding.
He’d turned off the inside car lights, but I could still see his angry expression in the fading light. “I think the better question is what are you doing?”
I briefly considered telling him I was lost and tried to think fast. Nope, nothing. I shook my head, gasping for breath.
“How did you find me?”
“I wasn’t looking for you. I was looking for the Hourglass,” I said. “I got the address from the business cards on your bedside table.” Okay, not helpful. “Dru’s keys. Just sort of … there on my kitchen floor … needed me to let the couch guys into your loft. I’m sorry.”
Spies should be able to endure torture and still keep their secrets. I spilled mine out like pennies from a broken piggy bank.
Michael sighed and leaned back on the headrest. “Great. What else did you find?”
“Nothing really.”
Except a picture of a gorgeous girl and some notes written in code.
“It’s not safe for you to be here,” Michael said, reaching up to grip the steering wheel. “We need to get you off the property before anyone sees you.”
“You mean someone like Kaleb?”