Page 10

“ I don’t want to freak you out, but I’m going to cry—or barf.”

My new “bride” begins our married life with such tender, loverlike words.

I sigh and look around Minegold’s Jag. He’s still standing outside the vehicle, eyes darting as he searches for danger.

“Well, there’s nothing in here that would make a good bucket.

As for the sobbing... here.” I pull off my tie. “Use this.”

Therese stares at me for a second before she takes the tie with her slender fingers. “Thank you. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

“What are you sorry for? Crying after a big, stressful event is a perfectly normal reaction. You'd be surprised how many strong men—and even monsters—I’ve seen tossing their cookies after a hard night of fighting, of seeing death, even if it’s something evil in a kill-or-be-killed situation.”

“That's just it.” Therese dabs at her eyes using the back of her hand. My tie stays in a puddle in her lap. My mind briefly wonders what it would be like to put my head on such perfect thighs and have her stroke my brow while looking down at me with those beautiful, adoring eyes. “I am so sorry that I got you into this mess. I'm sorry that you have to stick with me for a week or two while they find out if I'll need to testify. I’m sorry that Kim is gone now and that I’m officially someone else’s problem.” She shudders.

“I don’t ever want to retell my story again—and I’ll probably have to.

I can't imagine getting on the witness stand in front of Matteo.

Estrada has to have powerful lawyers. They'll rip me to shreds.

I don't even know if my hard drive evidence will be admissible.”

One doesn’t live for decades serving justice (and servicing leaky pipes) without learning some things about the human court systems. “Oh, I imagine it will be. It was on your device, and you acquired it in good faith during the marriage. He specifically told you that he had photos for you on his computer. Did he ever show you anything else on that laptop? For instance, did he ever pull up a picture of a place you two might go out for dinner or ask you to look at a take-out menu, something non-work-related?”

“Sure, sometimes.” Therese shrugs. “That was the only laptop he ever used during our travels.

“Then you make the case that this was a computer you both used—even if you used it very sparingly. Since your pictures were on his hard drive, your case is even stronger. He had your property, and you had his. You were just sharing, like married people do.” My throat feels oddly tight around the words.

I can't imagine this lady sharing anything with a demon-serving, murdering terrorist. “Can I ask you a question?”

Therese’s tone is a bit sharp. “I'm not just a pretty face and a nice pair of legs! I have a degree in computer science. It isn't hard for me to clone a laptop, and I knew Matteo's password.”

“That's another point in your favor if it comes to a trial. Somebody doesn't give you their password if you're not allowed to access their device. Also, I wasn’t going to ask about your abilities, more like your motivation. Why not just download the photos? Why take the entire hard drive?”

“Well, Matteo had multiple profiles on that computer, labeled ‘Matt Home’ and ‘Matt Away.’ We were traveling. So, even though he had business meetings in every city we went to, we still had lots of time to hit the beaches and do couple-y things. I wasn't sure where he put the photos because they were personal photos—but they were taken while we were away.” Therese heaved a deep sigh. “Hindsight is twenty-twenty. I heard that growing up and never got it. There were lots of things I didn’t understand about Matteo, down to little things like not really knowing where the boundaries of married life and business crossed for him. I didn’t want to dig through his computer, so I figured I’d download the entire hard drive onto my USB, find the honeymoon pictures, and then delete everything else. ”

The way Therese blushes when she says ‘honeymoon pictures’ makes me wonder if there were some pictures that were definitely meant for Matteo’s eyes only. It doesn’t help that I’m still in shock from the way she kissed me with a blend of softness and eagerness.

Stick to business, Reginald Gray . I use my full name in my head, scolding myself as I used to do when bombs were falling and children were screaming. Focus. “Okay. This situation is terrible, but it could be worse. We’re going to the ‘burbs, not a third-world country or a terrorist stronghold.”

“We need to move now,” Jakob suddenly springs into the driver’s seat. His fast movements don’t translate to the car. There are no peeling tires or burning rubber. The Jag pulls out and purrs away.

“What’s wrong?” Therese’s voice is choked.

“Nothing. I intend to keep it that way by staying one step ahead of them,” Minegold replies cheerfully.

I glance out the back window. I suspect we’ll still have a tail, but a little ways back.

The car has some basic protections around it, but they still found it earlier—or was it Therese they honed in on across continents and oceans?

It makes me wonder if something has been imprinted on Therese herself—a binding spell? A curse?

Certain spells don’t respect laws of the courts and pieces of paper. A divorce isn’t necessarily respected by magic—especially dark, possessive magic.

There are people in Pine Ridge who can easily help us detect such a spell.

Even if our odd wedding didn’t break Matteo’s hold, maybe it will be enough to distract Therese’s tail long enough to put distance between us.

After all, even if the wedding was unexpected by us, it had the right trappings for onlookers—a bunch of strangers in suits, the music, the flowers, and even rings.

Therese follows my gaze. “I don’t see them.”

“Good,” Jakob’s voice is jolly—but anyone who knows him would know he hasn’t dropped his guard.

“Do you think they bought it? The wedding?” Therese whispers as if we might be overheard.

“The wedding ceremony was a surprise, but having them witness it might actually be very helpful. Seeing is believing.” I cough. I saw it. I almost believed it.

Stop that.

“That touch with your hoop earrings was brilliant. You’d make a good field agent, Ms. Macgyver,” Minegold praises with a laugh.

“Right.” I slip the gold hoop off of my finger. “I don’t think this would stand up to a closer inspection. I’m sure I can find—”

Therese does a little hop in the seat next to me, looking genuinely excited and happy.

Something in me... sparks.

Sparkles.

No. It can’t be.

I smooth my jacket as she speaks, hand lingering over the center of my thick slab of a chest, wondering if you can feel the moment you grow a soul.

“My grandfather’s ring and my wedding ring!

I still have my wedding and engagement rings in my luggage.

I didn’t know what to do with them. And my grandfather left each granddaughter some jewelry; I got his ring.

It’s simple and thick, but it could be a wedding ring. They don’t have to match, right?”

“Right.” My throat is constricting again.

I don’t want her to wear Delgado’s ring!

At the same time, I feel humbled to wear something of her grandfather’s, something from the Sloane and LaFontaine families, even if it is just part of the show.

“Good props,” I say before I can fall farther into my own head.

Minegold clears his throat. “All right, you two. I’m afraid you will have to do more than just disappear into the house. If those men found you once, they may find you again. Pine Ridge is a close-knit little town, and the paranormal community is particularly tightly woven.”

“So... Won’t they know that Reggie is just helping me out? That it’s all fake?” Therese asks.

Ugly words. All fake. I try not to release the dull, angry groan that sounds so monstrous. Instead, I cough. “Jakob and I didn’t tell anyone anything. There was no time.”

“And Reggie hasn’t been feeling well. He’s been lying low all week and being quite antisocial all month,” Jakob exposes my sulking cheerfully.

“I expect a good many people will believe that he was involved in a tempestuous online romance that culminated unexpectedly—with me serving as best man as he wedded an old family friend.”

Therese’s sweet smile melts me. I look at my hands, worried they may truly start to lose their shape as I feel warmth rush through me.

“I do feel safer than I have in months with the two of you—old family friends.” She puts a hand to her throat as her eyes well up.

“I feel like Grandpa Artie is watching over me. I know he’d say I couldn’t have chosen better. ”

A better bodyguard or husband? Both? I can’t speak. My mind is whirring too quickly to make words.

“Indeed! So, let’s get your backstories straight. Therese, Reggie can follow your lead. You’re the one who has to play the part convincingly when you venture out in public. If Delgado or Estrada continues to keep tabs on you, you can be sure that the goons will report back.”

“I never met Estrada... Well, I don’t think I did.

” Therese shakes her head suddenly, a dark frown on her face, changing her sunny beauty into something dangerous.

“I joined Matteo on so many ‘business dinners’ at fancy restaurants. Oh God, I could have been shaking hands and eating prime ribs with murderers and drug dealers!”

I don’t have the heart to point out that there’s no maybe about it. “Let’s focus on why you broke up. What’s the story you’ve been using?”

At that, Therese is silent. She crosses her legs and wraps her hands over top of them, knuckles pale. “The truth?”

“Yes. To me, always. I won’t lie to you, either.” My voice is suddenly stern. “We’re partners. Survival and safety depend on honesty and trust. You can trust me with your life, Therese, as your family has always trusted me.”