Page 48

CHAPTER 48

Tristan

“Seven years. Even with my little share of fame, even when I knew that day was going to come eventually, I’ve managed to avoid them for seven years. Now, I’m one photo away from having the life I’ve built tumbling down over my head.” Birdie’s fingers stroke her lips absently as she stands by her office windows, watching the reporters from behind the curtains. “Any idea who is responsible for this circus?”

I have a theory. “Not yet, but we’re on it. I won’t let them come near you I promise.”

She gives me back my suit jacket; I’ve used it to cover her as I snuck her inside the house, just in case someone was hiding with a camera. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”

“I know what I’m saying, and I’ll always keep my promises to you.”

“Tristan, they have a photo of the stalker’s note. The one he left on my pillow. How the fuck did they get their filthy hands on it when there’s only a handful of people who have seen it?”

“Someone leaked it. On purpose.”

“Who? Me, Gia, Blake, one of your men? You?”

“With all due respect, I don’t appreciate the accusation in your tone. Every man in the team, including me, has signed an NDA. You could sue the hell out of us and the firm. We’ll all be out of business. If you don’t trust me and my men, trust that none of us is that stupid.”

“Well, it can’t be me, Gia is indisposed , and Blake hasn’t left his office in days, having crack for breakfast.”

I fold my arms over my chest, fuming. “There are cameras covering every inch of this house. You’re more than welcome to review the footage to check if any of the men who are supposed to protect you have broken into your office and taken a photo of that note.”

Her arched brow speaks volumes. “There’s one blind spot, where you and I stayed for hours analyzing the notes. I was too distraught to notice if you took a picture of them. If you did, I couldn’t prove it.”

Fuck you. “Are you for real? Why would I do that to you?”

“Because of Jacob. He’s a cop and a decent man that’s earning my trust, fully capable of protecting me from an abusive husband and a stalker, and you’re afraid he’d replace you. So you stab me in the back and tip the press because he has no jurisdiction over them. That kind of danger only you can handle.”

There is no way in hell I’d betray her like that. Where the fuck is this coming from? One night with that bastard and he manages to brainwash into distrusting me? This doesn’t make any sense. Birdie can’t be that stupid or na?ve. “Do you actually believe that bullshit?”

“Every crime has a motive. No one else on the list of people who know about the note can benefit from this circus but you.”

I glare at her, fighting the urge to shake her to snap her out of the trance he put her in. “Your list of suspects is missing one, Mrs. Abel.”

Her eyes twitch at the name; she deserves to feel a fraction of my anger. Then her hands fall on her hips, and she lifts her chin, challenging me. “Who?”

“The police. Didn’t you report that note? They have a copy. I wonder if you know someone there who was particularly interested in pursuing the dismissed stalker case, who tried to solve Saldana’s case with a theory about your alleged stalker killing her and failed.

“That can’t look good for a guy who has just transferred to a new precinct and needs to prove himself among his peers. We don’t even know why he transferred. He’s forty something with no wife or kids. Why start somewhere new, in a small town on a remote island of all places? Did he ask for it or was he forced to do it because he fucked up? I’m guessing the latter, and he’s doing everything in his might not to fuck up again, even if it means throwing you under the bus.”

“I can’t believe you right now. You’re going to say anything to throw him under the bus.”

“You can’t believe that a cop would screw you over, but you can believe I betrayed you like that after everything we’ve shared, after everything I’ve done to protect you?”

“You’re giving me no choice, Tristan. I don’t trust you anymore, and I can’t let you protect me if I can’t trust you.”

I’ve thought watching her on a date with another man was the most difficult thing I had to go through on this job, but I’m wrong. Her questioning my loyalty hurts more than anything. To hear those words from her, to see that look in her eyes, to know that I’ve lost her like that, is excruciating.

“You’re making a mistake. Can’t you see? That’s exactly what he wants. Think for one goddamn minute before you ruin everything.”

“Oh for God’s sake, Look at me.” She blinks three times.

My body goes fully alert. That’s her danger signal. My hand flies to my gun out of instinct. What’s going on? How could she be in danger here?

She glances at my gun and shakes her head. Then she flashes her phone at me and puts her index finger on her lips. “I don’t want to hear you say another word about Jacob. Do you hear me?”

I silently read the text on the screen.

Know it’s not u. Don’t trust Jacob. He called when I was getting the mail. Sounded so adamant on knowing where I was. What if he’s tracking me somehow & trying to make meeting me look casual so I won’t suspect he’s watching me? Could be wrong about this but my gut tells me I’m not wrong about the press. He did it for the case like u said. What if he bugged my phone yesterday when I wasn’t looking to listen to our conversations to get evidence?

My eyes widen at her and gesture for her to give me the phone. “I hear you, Mrs. Abel. Loud and clear.”

With a nod, she hands me the phone. I run to the control room and check her device for any threats. Her fists clenching and unclenching, she joins me and stares at the computer. “How long does it take?” she mouths.

“A few minutes,” I mouth back, more anxious than her to know the truth. If that asshole has bugged her phone, so help me God…

She takes a pen and a notepad from the desk and scribbles something. I lean forward and read it. I feel like my heart is going to explode. I can’t watch. I’ll wait for you outside at our spot.

Her footsteps echo out of the room, and I use the time to review the situation I haven’t had time to process. For a scary minute there, I thought she meant what she said about believing I betrayed her. It was all a part of her plan to nail Detective asshole. That woman never ceases to surprise me.

My heart beats faster with every percentage the scan progress line reaches. C’mon. Let's get the son of a bitch.

A box pops on the screen. The scan is complete, and the results are there.

Fuck.