Page 54 of Stripping Bare

“And he knows you won’t be able to say no to that kind of bait.” The chill of fear solidified in her chest. This was bigger than Jonah or her alone, yet he was taking this very personally. “What do you think he meant about knowingsecrets?”

“He obviously got his hands on info from your files. Doesn’t get much more secret than that. Now he’s bringing whatever this is to my turf. To my goddamnhome.”

And one thing she knew from being at Steele Trap, Jonah was intensely loyal. To the people who worked for him, to his family, to the people he cared about. The way he’d helped his hometown proved that a hundred times over. “Do you really think Carson could do something like this? It doesn’t seem likehim.”

“There’s only one way to findout.”

“You can’t go after him. That’s what hewants.”

“And that’s exactly what he’s going to get. He couldn’t have made it any clearer that he’s willing to go through the people in my life if that’s what it takes to get to me. I’ve gotta stop this guy.Now.”

“Jonah, you make video games. You’re not acop.”

“I may not be law enforcement, but being a gamer is way more valuable rightnow.”

“You think this person is actually in SteeleRidge?”

“I know he is,” Jonah said, his voice as hard as his last name. “And if he wants to play, then I sure as hell plan towin.”