Of course, he’d know there was more. “A few times I’ve felt like someone is watching me. Only when I’m out though, because I keep everything closed up at home. Doors dead-bolted, shades drawn.” To the point home was beginning to feel like a cave. Or a prison.
“And?” Dev arched his eyebrows.
She flicked her gaze to his and away again, afraid he’d see too much. “What makes you think there’s more than that?”
“Because you’ve always been level-headed and avoided drama. If this is bothering you, there’s more.”
Damn, he was good. With a heavy sigh, she reached into her jeans pocket and pulled out the note that had been under her wiper blade. His jaw tightened as he read it with Reyes looking over his shoulder.
The words rolled through her head, having been burned into her brain after reading them dozens of times last night.
One choice made the opposite way can be the difference between life and death.
Dev’s stormy blue-green gaze rose to hers. “When did you get this?”
“It was on my car at the hospital.”
“Last night?”
When she nodded, he fisted the hand braced on the side of her SUV and held up the note with his other. “Did you tell your father about this? Or any of what’s been going on?”
“Not yet.” She grimaced and reluctantly admitted, “Prior to last night, it was all just kinda random stuff. Nothing seemed connected.”
“And yet you were still feeling paranoid.”
She shrugged. “I was hoping I was overreacting. That it would just go away.”
“Geezus fuck, Shelby.” He thumped his fist against her car. “Now that’s stupid.”
Reyes shot him a frown. “Ease up, man.”
He arched his eyebrows at his brother. “The fucking line was cut and you say ease up? She’s lucky it wasn’t her brakes.”
Her stomach churned as she nodded. “I’ll tell my dad today.”
“Now.” Dev gripped her elbow and steered her toward the door leading into the mansion. “You will tell him right now.”
Shock delayed her response for a few steps, but then she jerked her arm free from his hand. “I said I’d tell him. I don’t need you to march me inside like I’m a five-year-old.”
He whirled around to face her. His expression pinched in pain for a second, then turned to stone. “You’re acting like a five-year-old by thinking ignoring this will make it go away. That’s a good way to get yourself killed.”
The leashed anger in his voice sent her back a step as much as his blunt words. If she didn’t know better, she’d think he cared, but no way that was true.
“That’s a little extreme,” she whispered.
He raised the fisted note between them once more. “This is extreme. Your parents have bodyguards, don’t they?”
She drew back with a slight frown. “Of course. Dad gets death threats. Especially whenever someone doesn’t like the way he votes on a bill.”
“In this context, the word death is definitely a threat.”
She reached up and snatched the note from his grasp. He was right, but it galled her to have him point out how willfully naive she’d been.
He continued to the door and held it open. “Are you coming with me, or am I telling your father about this by myself?”
She glanced at Reyes, but he was no help as he leaned against her vehicle, arms crossed over his chest as he watched the both of them with curious interest. Shelby turned back to Dev and held his gaze as she approached. Instead of passing through the door, she tipped her head up while slipping the wrinkled note into her back pocket. “Why are you making this your business?”
Surprise flashed in his eyes before he stiffened and looked away, denying her the chance to read anything else.