Page 40 of Wired Fear

Connor still had no idea how the talk with Alika had gone, though from Sophie’s demeanor it didn’t seem like the possible pregnancy had thrown them into each other’s arms.

Sophie re-emerged from the office. Pink spots burned high on her cheekbones and her honey-brown eyes flashed. “Felicia answered Jake’s phone before I could leave a message. She assured me Jake is in good hands and being cared for.” She picked up the backpack she’d dropped near the door of the jet. “Where is this condo? Let’s go.”

Connor wasn’t about to argue with her change of heart. He followed Sophie down the steps. Clearly, something was amiss between Sophie and Jake, and the addition of Felicia was complicating things—but that wasn’t a situation he had any intention of helping resolve.

He was a bastard, indeed. But he washerbastard.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Day Six

Sophie stood on the deck of her little condo, looking out at the idyllic setting of Kalapaki Beach on the south side of Kaua`i. The sun was up at last, gilding nearby palm trees with golden light. The wind, usually such a part of life on that side of the island, hadn’t come up yet, and little peeling waves were being ridden directly in front of the resort by longboard surfers, standup paddlers, and bodyboarders.

Sophie stroked her phone with the ball of her thumb, gazing at the vista.Was it too early to try to call Jake?

“This is Felicia.” Sophie had been shocked when their receptionist had answered Jake’s phone when she’d tried to call him on his cell from Connor’s office the day before.

Sophie’s voice was sharp. “What are you doing with Jake’s phone?”

“I took his phone to monitor it, while he’s sleeping from the pain meds. I thought it would be helpful if I could answer questions from family members or the cops, if they called.” Felicia sounded clear and confident.

Of course. That made sense.

Sophie felt bad about the possessive, suspicious feeling growing in her chest. Felicia was just doing her job, looking out for them both. “I’m so glad you’re there to take care of him. How’s he doing?”

“He has a four-inch-long, two-inch-deep gouge in the back of his calf, and he’s lucky to be alive. I guess he dropped something on the sidewalk and bent to retrieve it, or the sniper would have nailed him.”

“Evil spawn of the devil!”Sophie swore. She pressed her hand over her thumping heart, imagining getting the news that Jake was so unexpectedly dead.

“What’s that?”

“Sorry. I curse in my native language. That sounds like a serious wound.”

“I imagine it hurts like crazy. He had stitches and he’s on antibiotics and has some good drugs for pain, so it’s just a matter of time until he’s back on his feet.”

“I’m here on Kaua`i on personal business, as I texted you. Mr. Hamilton flew over and we’ve been discussing the situation. I’m glad the injury wasn’t too serious.”What an understatement. “Can you tell me more details about what happened?”

“Sure. From what I gathered, Jake left our building, and somebody shot at him from an apartment across the street. He took cover behind a car. The shooter tried again and blew the window out on the car. Jake, being Jake, decided to go after the guy. Never mind that he was bleeding like a stuck pig.” Felicia’s voice wobbled. “Jake figured out where the shot came from, went across the street and found the room. Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on how you look at it, the shooter was gone by the time he got there. He directed the police to the location, and they ran prints on a bottle that was left behind. They identified Akane Chang as the shooter.”

Sophie swallowed and sat down abruptly in Connor’s office chair. “That man won’t have the decency to die, or at least stay in jail.Foul slime!”

“Your foreign swearing sounds so cool, better than me just yelling, ‘that evil asshole!’” Felicia said. “I gather Chang’s quite the public enemy number one.”

“And he has sworn revenge on Jake and me for testifying against him. Did the police send any support to guard Jake?”

“I’ve been trying to get a police officer stationed outside Jake’s room, but they’re acting like I’m a hysterical girlfriend or something. It’s super frustrating,” Felicia said angrily.

“And it doesn’t help when his actual girlfriend is on another island,” Sophie said. “Our CEO, Mr. Hamilton, is insisting that I stay here on Kaua`i until the Chang threat is neutralized. I’ll call Jake in the morning, but can you make sure he knows that I’m very concerned, and on my way back as soon as possible?”

“I sure will. Don’t worry. I’m taking good care of him, and your dogs, too.” Felicia had said goodbye and hung up.

Yes, every word of that conversation with Felicia yesterday felt chiseled into Sophie’s brain. She wished she didn’t feel jealous, territorial, and possessive just thinking of Felicia helping Jake into bed, fixing food for him, and taking their dogs for a walk. It was stupid and wrong and beneath her.

She understood Jake’s difficulty with her relationship with Alika now.

This was good. Educational. Painful as hell.

Sophie turned away from the ocean view at the sound of the knocker at her door.Probably Connor, with some new update or plan.

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