Page 71 of Babies for the Big Shot

She smiles. “Here we are.”

“What do you want?”

Rebecca doesn’t flinch. “A conversation.”

“With Sara? Absolutely not.”

She arches an eyebrow. “Afraid I’ll say something… illuminating?”

“I don’t want you near her.”

That makes her smile wider. It seems I confirmed something.

“She’s already in the blast zone,” she says. “You think keeping her in the dark is going to protect her? It won’t. If that photo exists, others might too. And whoever’s behind it, whoever wants to use it, isn’t finished.”

I don’t answer. I don’t need to. The silence says enough.

Rebecca leans forward, her voice lower now. “I didn’t send it. But I might know someone who knows who did.”

“You said youmightknow.”

“I mightfind out.” Her gaze hardens. “Big difference.”

“Then why bring me here?”

She shrugs, unapologetic. “Because I wanted to see your face when you realized you’re not in control. And maybe because I missed you.”

I stand. I’ve had enough of her games.

“If you find out who sent it,” I say, “and you give me something useful, I’ll owe you. Keep away from me until then.”

Rebecca’s smile turns cold. Triumphant.

“Oh, sweetheart,” she murmurs. “You already do owe me. You should be more careful where you press your luck, because right now, someone out there has a lighter, and you’re walking around soaked in gasoline.”

I don’t respond.

I walk out into the noise of the city, coat collar up, head down, every step weighted.

If she’s right, if someone is targeting me through Sara, I need to shut it down.

Now.

Before they do more than send a photo.

Before they take the one thing I’ve never had the guts to hold onto.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Sara

“I should’ve just told him,”I mutter again, sinking into the couch until I feel buried beneath my own mistakes.

Laura doesn’t look up from her laptop. “Told him when, exactly? Before or after he disappeared into his office like a brooding vampire CEO?”

I groan and cover my face with the nearest throw pillow. “This is such a mess. I had a whole plan. Sort of. A loose outline. Okay, fine, it was just ‘catch him in the hallway and blurt it out,’ but still. Now he’s actively avoiding me like I’m a walking HR violation.”

“Maybe he’s just busy?”