“Do you trust Mia?” he sends back.
I frown at the phone. “Yes. Why?”
“Text her. Tell her to send you a text that says this. Rex, your main priority is keeping Laurel safe at all costs.”
“I got in your head about Rafe, didn’t I?” I ask.
“Just send her the damn text. Then show Rex. If Rafe does try any shit, Mateo’s wife’s word will hold more weight than Rafe’s. Rex is only here because Mateo told him to be.”
God, this is going to be so awkward to explain. I type out a quick text to Mia, begging her not to make me explain why I need this right now, then I copy and paste Sin’s message.
A few minutes later, I get a video message. I tap it and Mia’s face fills the screen. “Hi Rex, this is Mateo’s wife, Mia. I just wanted to make sure you understand that your main job right now is to keep Laurel safe at all costs, all right? Top priority. Thanks!”
Rex grins over at me. “Wow, your boyfriend is a paranoid motherfucker, isn’t he?”
“He’s had some bad experiences,” I explain. “When we get to Rafe’s, he wants you to stay there with me.”
“So, I’m your bodyguard now.”
“Yes. Against everyone, Rafe included. Not that it will come up,” I rush to assure him. “I’m sure it won’t. Things have been a little rocky lately, so Sin just wants to make extra sure.”
“Got it. So, I’m there in case Rafe turns on you?”
Grimacing, I say, “No, not… I don’t expect that, I just—”
“You don’t have to tiptoe,” he assures me. “My lips are sealed. Just trying to understand the situation I’m walking into so I know what to be prepared for.”
Placing a hand on my tummy, I tell him, “I’m pregnant. The baby is Rafe’s. But now I’m obviously with Sin. It caused a little bit of friction. We are in the early stages of rebuilding.”
“Got it,” he says with a nod. “So, Sin gave him that shiner, huh?”
I bite my tongue, remembering Virginia’s earlier words about not trusting everyone I meet. This new way of life is going to have a learning curve, but I would rather be safe than sorry.
Instead of sharing, I tell him, “They’re supposed to be working together, but since the truce is so new, Sin just wants to be sure. It’s possible that during a prior dust-up, Rafe may have grabbed me and put a gun to my head. We don’t think he would have actually pulled the trigger, and we don’t think he is in any way involved with whatever is happening tonight, but just in case we’re wrong, we aren’t going to bet my life on it.”
“I understand,” he says, like a good soldier. “You’ll be safe with me, don’t worry.”
48
Laurel
The wait is agonizing.
I don’t even know exactly what we’re waiting for, and it isn’t the most comfort
able wait in the world, because Rafe tried to dismiss Rex with a handshake and a “thanks, now you can get back to work” but Rex refused to leave.
Rafe saw right through it, so he knows Rex is here to make sure I’m safe from him. I’m sure it’s at least faintly offensive, but I refuse to feel bad. If he doesn’t want me to have a bodyguard around him, then he should have never pulled a gun on me in the first place.
So, it’s just me and these two gangsters, waiting.
Juanita makes us all dinner, but I’m too nervous to do more than pick at it.
“This isn’t how I thought you’d next visit me, kitten, but if you want to keep yourself busy, you can pack up the rest of your things. Obviously you left in a rush last night, so you left a lot here,” Rafe tells me, stabbing a piece of asparagus.
“Oh, yeah, I suppose I should do that,” I murmur, my face flushing faintly. It’s weird that I’m already so thoroughly Sin’s, but I still have stuff at Rafe’s house.
“I packed up your books last night,” he tells me. “You can take them with you when you leave.”