“You keep secrets well.”
He smirks. “Part of my job, love.”
We enter the kitchen area, and he pulls a chair out for me. “Rest, and I’ll prepare an omelet. Ham, cheddar, and mushrooms all right?”
My stomach grumbles loudly. I chuckle bashfully. “Sounds perfect, but I haven’t gotten what you promised me.”
He pulls a slim, black phone from his pocket, presses his thumb to the reader, swipes a few times, and slides it across the table. I gulp when I see the local news channel’s emblem on the page. Bracing myself, I press play and watch as a polished, blue-eyed blonde in a navy dress with lace detailing around the collar appears on the screen, standing in front of Bank’s Funeral Home. Face perfectly done up by a make-up artist, she stares into the camera.
“The area is still closed for business while police continue investigating the murder of Councilman Arthur Bane in the alley outside of the funeral home. No suspects have been brought in, and no cause has been determined. The police urge anyone with information to come forward. You can leave a tip—”
I tune out as she shares ways to get into contact with the proper channels.
“They haven’t reported me missing yet?”
“We’re not sure. If your family shared your absence, the police believe revealing that would do more harm than good.”
I grip the sides of my chair. “That’s not enough information.”
“We’re working on it.”
I huff. “You have no idea what my parents and sister are going through.”
“Don’t be so sure,” he whispers quietly.
I latch on to the slight catch in his voice. “What does that mean?”
He continues to beat the egg mixture and pours it into a frying pan.
“Preacher.”
“Good to see you up and talking.” The deep voice precedes the massive president with dark, piercing eyes, brown eyes so deep they appear black, and coal hair he wears slicked back from his face.
“Grimm.” I nod respectively. “I’m happy to still be among the land of the living.”
“I know you talked to Preacher, but I was hoping you’d go over it with me again. Was he targeting you?”
Like I could say no to the warden.
“No. I was hiding in the basement, but I received a text from my mom saying she was minutes away from the building, and I couldn’t let her get caught in the middle of that.” My throat tightens. “He would’ve killed her.”
His lips form a straight line. “Yes, he would’ve. You saved your mother’s life by capturing his attention and drawing him away.”
“Then all of this was worth it.” I gesture toward the arm I hold close to my body to keep from jarring the still healing flesh.
“What did Bane say?”
I wince. “He asked for information. Flint said he was ready to give it to him, and then h-he shot Councilmember Bane and blew his b-brains out,” I croak as my heart speeds.
“You understand you’re the only witness to this, which makes you valuable?” Grimm asks.
“I don’t even know what I saw, and who will I tell?”
“Those are the things we’re still working to figure out. Flint could’ve gone rogue or been working under his president’s orders. Maybe he was hired by an outside party to take out Bane. I don’t know enough to make a move. Especially when none of my own men were involved. Until I do, the best thing is to keep you hidden.”
“No. I have a life and people who need to know I’m not at some madman’s whims.”
“We’ll agree to disagree on that,” Grimm says smoothly.