Page 111 of Vain

“Don’t ask stupid questions, Matilda.” He tuts as Kellen hands him the key with a chuckle.

“Yeah, Matilda.”

I elbow Kellen in the ribs, making him wince.

“See what I mean? I’m gonna walk my new bestie over,” Kellen huffs, leaving Aiden and me alone for a few minutes.

“I’m sorry about before. I didn’t mean to check out. It was just a lot to deal with. I’m feeling better now, knowing that everyone is okay.”

He presses his lips to my forehead. “Baby, you don’t have to explain yourself to me.”

“I know. Ugh, my head’s a mess.”

“I bet,” he says, wrapping his arms around me. We sway in each other’s arms until Kellen comes back.

“Sorry to interrupt, but I’ve got Banner on the phone.” He holds the phone up as he closes the door.

“Hey guys!” Banner calls out.

“Hey Banner.”

“You doing okay, sweetheart?”

“Better than I was, thanks to Aiden and Kellen. They’re taking good care of me.”

“That’s what I like to hear. I’d hate to have to beat their asses.”

“As if he could,” Aiden mutters, dragging me over to the sofa, where he tugs me into his lap.

“So I’ve done some digging. You want me just to lay it all out?”

“I don’t know, Banner. It’s already been a rough day.” Aiden looks at me, worried.

“It’s okay. I’d rather just rip the Band-Aid off.”

“Balls of steel.” Kellen winks.

“Ovaries of titanium.” I wink back, making him laugh.

Banner waits for us to quiet down before he begins. “The same vehicle that ran you off the road was seen a street away from Matilda’s house, an hour before the fire started.”

His words hit me like a blow. “What?”

“I agree it’s fucked-up. Please don’t ask me how I know this, but the police have been looking to question Daniel again, only they can’t locate him. Your mother, who says he’s been staying with her, hasn’t seen him for two weeks.”

I look at Aiden, trying to figure out what that means. “Do we know if Tilly’s mom saw anything that might implicate him? Even if it was just to tie him to the shit sent to the studio.”

“Nothing that I can find in those files. But that doesn’t mean she doesn’t know something, of course.”

“Would she willingly protect her daughter’s stalker?” Kellen asks.

“She won’t go out of her way to protect me. But she wouldn’t set me up to be harmed either, because then she’d lose everything I worked for.”

“Not if she’s the beneficiary of your estate,” Aiden says softly.

I shake my head. “She’s not.”

“Does she know that?” Banner asks.