Page 28 of Wired Fear

“You don’t still have feelings for him, do you?” Marcella sounded horrified. “Never forget what he put you through. That funeral! I was there. I saw what he did. What he is.”

“I don’t forget. But I do forgive. It’s complicated. He’s my friend. He understands me like no one else does. I don’t have any secrets from him.”

Marcella snorted. “You didn’t sleep with Connor, too, did you?”

“Ha. No. Not since his fake funeral. I’m over him that way. But he is not over me. He told me so clearly.” Sophie listened to the shrill song of the coqui frogs and the gentle shush of the water against the seawall below the building. “I am working closely with Connor on a confidential project. He will have to know eventually, and I’d rather it was sooner than later, in case it causes problems.”

“Brace yourself for more fireworks,” Marcella said darkly.

“Ugh! I’m tired from all of this drama. I’ll keep you posted on any new developments.”

“You’d better. Are you telling everyone your baby news? Or am I sworn to secrecy?”

“I’d prefer you kept this news quiet until…things settle a bit. It is early—perhaps something will go wrong with the pregnancy, and I want to get the paternity question answered and out of the way. Then I can talk more openly about it. Tell my father.” Sophie shook her head. “I don’t know what he will say.”

“Frank will just be worried about you, Sophie. And he’ll want to be involved.”

“Fussing like a mother hen. I can hear him now. He will want to know everything.”

“Exactly.” Marcella yawned. “Let’s both get some sleep. See what life brings in the morning.”

Sophie said goodbye. She rinsed her dishes, brushed her teeth, turned off the lights, and snuggled into her new bed.

She couldn’t help remembering the sight of Jake assembling the bed for her, his absorption in the project. His thoughtfulness was so endearing.

Fresh tears filled her eyes.There was no way out of this situation that didn’t hurt someone.

Lying on her side, the glass slider open with just a screen, she looked out at the moon on the ocean. She listened to the frog chorus, and the wind in the banyan, and the sound of the ocean. She stroked her abdomen with her fingers, tracing the tattoos in Thai that encircled her navel:love, joy, bliss.

Perhaps those things were coming to her in a surprising new way.

Ginger hopped up onto the bed stealthily. Sophie pretended not to notice as the dog curled once and pressed her warm bulk up against Sophie’s back.

She still missed Jake, but Ginger was warm, too. Sophie fell asleep, one hand resting on her belly.

Chapter Twenty-One

Day Four

Connor pushed open the heavy metal door of the jet as Sophie arrived for a morning meeting. Her eyes were puffy. Her short curls surrounded her face in a frizzy nimbus, and an ashy cast to her skin indicated stress. She was clearly upset about something.

“Pim Wat’s flash drive is a waste of time.” Sophie smacked the item in question into Connor’s hand. “I don’t know how to move forward on this situation with the Yam Khûmk?n.”

“Come get settled. Have some tea.”

“Perhaps another cup would be all right.” Sophie slid into the jet’s dining area, pulling a computer tablet out of the small backpack she carried everywhere. “I’m cutting down on caffeine.”

Connor put on the automatic kettle and measured the loose leaf tea they both liked into a hand thrown clay pot he’d picked up in Japan. He glanced over his shoulder and watched as Sophie’s long, golden-brown fingers flew over a wireless keyboard she’d connected to the tablet. “The Yam Khûmk?n’s tech contact Leni Keng has responded to my email. I’m telling him I need more information than Pim Wat provided. I don’t even know what she truly wants me to do at this point.”

“What happened last night?” Connor cocked his head. “You look like you’ve been crying.”

To his surprise, Sophie’s eyes filled immediately. She gave an audible sniff but didn’t look up. She shook her head, and a tear spilled. She dashed it away. “We have business to take care of. We can speak later.”

Connor frowned.

He returned to his own tablet, plugging in the drive to peruse the information Sophie’s mother had provided.Sketchy, at best. Not enough to do anything with.

Could Pim Wat have some other agenda involving Sophie? Some other reason for trying to lure her to the Yam Khûmk?n’s temple stronghold in Thailand?

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