Page 31 of Guarded Knight

G’s hand grips the steering wheel tightly.

I offer her a smile. “I thought it already was.”

“All I know is from what I see, if Cameron comes here,” she glances at G, “he’ll have a rude awakening.”

“Yeah. But who wants the drama… sorry, Freya. It’s never-ending, babe. How did I get you into all of this?”

“It will end. Soon I bet.” She beams sweetly.

But I don’t miss the flash of worry in her brown eyes.

This is like being a kid all over again, everyone fussing over me and worrying I’m not going to be okay. Only this is worse because my own bad judgment brought this upon us.

Thankfully, we make it back without incident, and I’m hopeful it’s just G’s paranoia. And mine.

But when we walk inside the apartment, something feels…wrong. Not glaringly so, not obvious. But my brain snags when I see the entrance light on.

“I thought we turned that off,” I murmur.

Freya shrugs. “Maybe I left it on.”

The apartment smells faintly off, like someone else’s cologne clinging to the air. Or maybe that’s just my nerves refusing to settle.

The locks are in place. Gabriel guards the door like a wall of steel. But something tells me we’ve already been breached.

8

I didn’t sleep a wink.Not only was I riled up with paranoia, but I also had a nightmare. One of the reasons I haven’t minded taking jobs that run on naps instead of full nights’ sleep is because of this. I haven’t had one in a while. I’ve had a good run recently.

But last night, thinking about Cameron coming, triggered the dark, creeping regrets and inadequacies that started when I left the SEALs. And after one sweaty, startled wake-up with me reaching for a nonexistent gun, I didn’t want to let myself fall asleep again. Not with a chance of calling out in my sleep and waking Lara and Freya. I didn’t even get a nap after two a.m.

I feel like crap.

And on top of all that, Anton texted he was flying back on the last flight out and that there’s some big shit to discuss. It was enough to keep my mind reeling because ofmybig shit discovery to top it all off. The fact that Cameron knows where Lara is now? That he’s here in California? It makes me want to drag her into my arms and bolt the doors behind us.

I sit up, raking a hand through my hair, already feeling like a wreck. I’m still digging through the mounds of blankets for a shirt when my phone buzzes.

ANTON

OUTSIDE. DIDN’T WANT TO KNOCK THIS EARLY. BROUGHT COFFEE.

I slip quietly out the front door and onto the fire escape-style landing, careful not to let it creak. Birds chirp, and the sky is just starting to lighten with morning haze. Anton leans against the railing.

“You could have had the courtesy to invite me to the party.” He holds one cup out. “Looks like it was a bender.”

I take it and lift the hot cup in the air. “Hair of the dog,” I grunt and sip. “Didn’t sleep.”

Anton nods as if he knows why, but also as if all he can do for me is nod.

He pulls out a small notebook from his back pocket and opens it to his entries. “Got Cameron’s last few addresses, checked his whereabouts at the times the notes were left. He had a restraining order filed on him three years ago and another was dropped. He was also brought in for breaking and entering back in college but he got off. Frat buddy’s dad was a lawyer.” He taps the top entry. “You were right to keep her close.”

I take the papers and study them. After scanning Cam’s record, I check out his employer’s records.

“Wait.” I examine the dates. “This break-in at Lara’s, the night the money and note were left, he was at work? Do I have that right?”

“You do.” Anton is grave. “Old Cammie boy was reportedly working night shifts in Albuquerque at the time.”

“Reportedlyworking,” I echo. But I also realize it’s not right next door. “It is nearly an hour from Santa Fe…”