Page 24 of Justified Lies

Something passed over Ian’s expression. He knew that no one but El called her that. Well, it seemed that way for Sam, too.

“Stop messing with Ian. What’s going on with my brother?”

“Did you know that he spent his afternoon stalking your ex?”

Alarm lanced through her. El didn’t always do things like that. Oh, he would sometimes go off half-cocked, but stalking, that had never been his thing. She knew it was the PTSD, but it always worried her. “No. He did?”

“Yeah. Emily lured him away to dinner.”

“Why didn’t you call me?”

“I’ve been a little busy, so I was reviewing traffic cams around Oahu when I had a chance, and I noticed him parked there. Hopefully, TFH didn’t notice.”

There was something in her friend’s voice that had Eden’s nerves on high alert. “What are you busy with?”

“Things. Don’t worry about it.”

“Sam.”

“I told you. Don’t worry about me. Keep a tighter leash on your brother.”

“Am I my brother’s keeper?”

“Yeah. I mean, you always have been, haven’t you? Text me if you get any information you think I need. Moving locations again.”

“Okay. Be safe.”

“I will. Hey, Mix, you protect Eden. She’s the best person you could have as a partner.”

Then the phone went dead. With a sigh, she turned off her phone.

“Okay, let me have it,” she said.

“How long have you known her?”

“About five years.”

“How did you know her?”

“First, I want you to understand that I didn’t know she was your Sam. Not until she told me. And there is only so much I can tell you.”

“Her real name isn’t Sam.”

She shook her head.

“And you won’t tell me her real name.”

“No. She has her reasons, and most of them are legitimate. Some are just…well, she’s a little paranoid.”

“How often does she move?”

“A lot. She has reasons for that, too.”

He nodded. “It’s irritating that I had no idea you knew her.”

“Like I said, I didn’t know you two knew each other until she told me she’d checked you out and you were safe.”

“Checked me out.” He snorted.