Page 149 of Executing Malice

“I’ve been meaning to get back to you after our last conversation. What’s your name?” He fishes out his pen and pad from his front pocket. “Where are you coming from? What’s you’re date of birth?”

“Seriously, Reed? I want to take a shower.”

Neither are paying me any attention.

To my surprise, Dante gives him everything without batting an eye. Even confesses to a parking ticket that has Reed’s lip twisting down.

“Have something against following the rules?”

I roll my eyes. “It’s a parking ticket.”

“That’s how it starts.” He turns back to Dante. “Where are you staying if I have more questions?”

“Here.” I say, planting my hands on my hips. “He’s staying with me. You can find him here.”

Reed slaps his book shut and glowers at me. “That’s a bad idea. You don’t know him.”

I could tell him the truth. Tell him Dante is from my past and I do know him, but that would only encourage Reed to dig into the story. He’d want to know how I wound up in Jefferson.How Dante found me. He’d know Dante lied about his last name, because I definitely noticed it wasn’t the same as Everett’s. That would then connect Dante to Everett and cause a whole other train of problems.

“Am I a stupid person, Reed?” I ask instead. “Am I reckless and untrustworthy? Do you think I’m so dumb I would just blindly make decisions that are questionable?”

Reed seems taken aback by my annoyance. He blinks several times, mouth opening and closing.

“That’s not...”

I push on. “What’s more, how about you give me a little credit. I’m a grown ass woman fully capable of making decisions. If anything, I’m insulted that you’re standing in my home, treating me like a child.”

I could have smacked him for the way he gapes at me. All his earlier righteousness has vanished into uncertainty.

“That’s not ... it’s my job to look after you,” he murmurs. “Some guy rolls into town on a bike, pisses everyone off, has no home and shacks up with you is concerning. Mom and Dad would agree.”

“Then I would tell them it’s not their — or your — business who I shack up with.” I soften my tone. “I love you, and I appreciate you looking out for me, but Dante is my person.”

Icy blue eyes sweep from me to Dante and stick. “I’m only a phone call away.”

I expect some witty comeback, but Dante inclines his head. “I appreciate that. It puts my mind at ease that Leila has someone to look after her if I’m not here.”

Reed says nothing, but his muscles relax a fraction. The knot in his jaw loosens. He takes a breath and nods.

“Does this mean you no longer need a victim to watch horror with you?”

My mouth quirks. “Don’t pretend you’re upset by that.”

Reed snorts. “Nope. Not going to miss that.” He moves like he’s coming in to give me a hug but stops himself. “Go take a shower. You look disgusting.”

With that, he lets himself out.

I watch him stalk with wide strides to his cruiser and I’m about to let out a breath when he stops at the back of my car. The air hums. Solidifies as if he’s going in slow motion. I watch him touch the trunk. My heart drops into my stomach. The world tilts. Every nerve in my body sharpens to a scream, but inside, I can’t move. My nails dig into my thighs, cutting half-moons into flesh.

His fingers drum against the paint once, a thoughtful patter, as if weighing whether or not to open it.

Had he smelled something? Was there a puddle of congealed blood dripping through the trunk floor?

“You need air in your back tires,” he says at last. Knuckles rap twice, each hollow knock ricocheting through my skull like gunfire.

I think I’m about to be sick.

“I’ll do that today,” Dante promises when I can’t feel my tongue to use it.