“Shh. Calm down, Rembrandt. I don’t hear anyone shouting stop.”
He raised an eyebrow then, his eyes widening. “Right.” He scooted away. “Maybe you should. You barely know me, Eve.”
Funny, the way he said, it sounded like he knew her, however.
“I know you’re a good man. A man who is committed to justice and that when I’m with you, I feel safe.”
His jaw tightened and he looked away again. Ran his thumb under his eyes.
“It’s going to be okay.” She touched his shoulder.
“No, it’s not.” He turned back to her.
Oh. Right. “I’ll bet my dad is foaming at the mouth.”
“It’s not pretty. He thinks I screwed up his operation. That Hassan is going to pack up and move, and it’ll take months to find him again and set up another possible sting. But that’s not the worst—”
“You need to back out of the party tomorrow night.” She got it, really. “You’re probably right.”
His mouth opened. “No, I mean—yes, you’re dad is there, but—I need to be there.”
“Rem, I think maybe we need to rethink that. I mean, I want
you to join us, but after tonight—”
“I’m going to your party, Eve.”
Really.
He held up a hand. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to…” He sighed. “I think your dad is in danger.”
She frowned.
“Hassan will retaliate. And, I think he’ll try to murder your father.”
She froze. “Does he know my father is the one who killed his brother?”
Rembrandt stilled, as if considering her words. Then, “Uh, I don’t know. Maybe not. Maybe Hassan didn’t see it. And no one else was around...”
“Then he doesn’t know who pulled the trigger.”
He looked at her and one side of his mouth tweaked up. “No, he doesn’t. You’re right.” He blew out a breath. “Huh.”
He started for the door.
“Rem!”
He stopped, his hand on the knob, and turned at her voice.
“You don’t have to protect me,” she said.
The look he gave her undid her, reached right in and took a hold of her heart, pulling it from her body. “Yes, I do, Eve. Because if I lose you, I lose everything.”
The way he said it was as if he’d felt that way for ages.
And then he left.
She sank down on the step, her heart thundering.