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“Um, okay.” I swallowed, trying to process all the information. “So, since it’s arson, that means…” My breathing caught in my chest and the words caught in my throat.

The fire had been set,intentionally.

I understood it in theory, but…how? It didn’t seem real?

Why? Andwho?

“Ms. Siegler?”

Forcing myself to focus on Beth, I dragged in air to my lungs. A look at her serious expression brought reality crashing down on me.

If the fire was deliberately started, thenwhy? I didn’t want to go there, but my mind jumped to a more pertinent question. What was in my apartment that someone wanted to destroy?

Fifty

Maximus

I ignoredthe first call from Gianni—and the first three texts.

The fourth text made me want to ignore the call that followed, but I knew if my half-sister said she would hunt me down, well...

“What?” I demanded after taking the call.

“My...aren’t we cheerful this morning,” she said harshly.

“Fuck off.” I checked my watch. “I have a Zoom conference in fifteen minutes.”

“Then you have about thirteen minutes to talk to me. That steel trap brain of yours has every detail you need for the conference already memorized.” Gianni didn’t sound at all concerned. “And regardless, I think you’re going to want to hear what I found out this morning about the fire at Tina’s place.”

Fear grabbed at my throat, but before I could say anything, Gianni continued.

“Is she there?”

“Tina? What? No.” I had a flashback to the argument we’d had. Remembering, frustration jabbed me. “She insisted on going to work. Doesn’t matter one fuck that I’m the one paying her.”

Several seconds passed with Gianni saying nothing.

“Something tells me she cares very much about her own independence, my dear brother.”

I wanted to tell Gianni to mind her own business. She didn’t know a damn thing about my relationship with Tina.

“Why are you calling?” I asked, pushing aside my feelings for now.

To her credit, Gianni let me change the subject. “I’ve got a friend who works with the investigation department out of the Houston Fire Department. It’s looking more and more like the fire at Tina’s house was intentional.”

“Arson?” My hand tightened on the phone, rage settling in, taking root.

“Looks like it.”

“I have to go,” I said.

“Hey, James…wait.”

I hesitated, then said, “Make it fast.”

“Listen, I don’t want to go offering relationship advice or anything…at least, I normally don’t. But usually, you don’t do relationships. And I like Tina. You can’t treat her like she’s a subordinate who works for you.”

I bit back the urge to point out that Tinadidwork for me. But that wasn’t what she meant—and I knew it. More like, I’d already fucked up.