Page 59 of Killer Notes
“Are you okay?” I ask, worry inching into me for the older man.
He shakes his head no. “This never happened to me before. I’ve been a driver for thirty plus years and I never…” He shifts his attention to the front windshield. I follow his gaze and see my friends, John and Tobias surrounding… Laney?
What the hell?
I step out of the bus and walk toward the group gathering around my personal assistant. Tobias sees me first, breaks off, and heads toward me.
“What’s going on?” I ask, my eyes shifting to Laney, who’s smiling at an unhappy Connor.
“Laney’s car broke down,” Tobias grates out, his agitation clearly evident by his tense jaw line.
“Why is she out here?” I glance between Laney and her VW bug that’s spewing white smoke from the engine.
“Apparently, shewascoming to pick you up. But after my call, she decided to head straight to Black Rock,” Tobias explains.
“But that still doesn’t make sense. Why would she be on this road now, when you called her two days ago?”
“I asked her the same thing.”
“And?”
“Evidently, she got lost, so she decided to stay a couple nights around here,” he explains, but by his tone, he doesn’t believe her excuse. And neither do I.
“And she happened to be on the road when our bus drove up?” I glance at Laney before giving Tobias my full attention again.
“Isn’t that just coincidental,” Tobias sardonically says, then adds. “And very convenient.”
I shake my head. “What’s wrong with her car?”
“I don’t know and, at the moment, I don’t care. She nearly caused a major accident. She almost got herself run over by the bus when she stepped in front of it.”
“What?”
“Yeah. The driver says she stepped onto the middle of the road, waving her hands.”
I want to reach out and smooth the angry creases on Tobias’s forehead. Then kiss the frown off his face. Instead, I lean in and say, “Let me talk to her.”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea.” Tobias leans in closer. “I don’t trust her.”
I dart a surprised look at Tobias. “Really? Why?”
“I can’t explain, but if you must talk to her, I’m not leaving your side.”
I release a sigh, eyeing my P.A., who turns her attention to me and frowns. I avoid her stare and touch Tobias’s hand. “Okay.”
“And after?”
I know what he’s asking. “I guess there’s only one thing to do. She’s coming on the bus.”
“Are you sure?” he asks. I want to sayno, but as Tobias steps closer, our chest touches, and I inhale his scent. I would rather pull him back to the bus, lock ourselves in the tiny bedroom, and do dirty things to my bodyguard.
“Hey.” Laney strides up with an angry glare across her face before quickly pasting on a remorseful smile. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to cause such trouble.”
“Are you alright?” I ask, stepping back from Tobias and scanning her face for any signs of the old bruises from her attack.
“I’m fine. Just a little shaken up. That’s all. How are you?” She shakes out her hands, then drops her face, the heavy wisps of brown hair falling forward to hide her features.
“What were you thinking to step out in front of the bus,” I scold. “You could have been killed.”