Page 64 of The Reluctant Hero

“Following Amanda,” I give him an innocent grin I don’t feel. He’s delaying me. Yes, I know where she lives now. I have her number saved in my phone. But something is off with her.

She fell back into her quiet, thoughtful side, and I don’t think that’s a good thing. I want to know why.

“No,” Ace says in a low tone of rage.

I widen my eyes as if I’m surprised at his stance on it.

“Isn’t her ex trying to get back with her? I thought you said he seemed violent?”

He can’t argue with his own logic, but that doesn’t mean he has to like it.

His eyes narrow on me. He knows I’m up to something. He just isn’t sure what it is. Ace has a great sense of when I misbehave. Better than Cade’s by miles.

“Don’t kill the fucker,” he mutters and looks away in clear dismissal.

“Ok,” I nod eagerly and walk away.

“And don’t fuckin’ touch her!” He adds. I wave a hand over my shoulder in acknowledgment.

Vanessa sees me coming and tries to chat.

“I’m sorry, I have a meeting to get to,” I lie with a subtle wince. “Let’s catch up later.”

“Sure,” her eager smile sends me off to the elevator.

Vanessa isn’t money-hungry. She simply wants affection. An ear to listen to her woes. A boyfriend in a real sense. She won’t find that with any of us, but I don’t have to be rude about it. There’s no point in stirring up that level of drama. She seems the quietly vindictive type as well. She’s very good at keeping vultures, like Sarah, the lying banshee, away.

I casually make my way outside with everyone else. Amanda is easy to spot, with her bright hair shining copper in the sunlight. It’s easy to maintain a decent distance. She doesn’t act as if she has any idea she’s being followed.

Her first stop is a second-hand clothing store. I watch her look for the most bizarre mishmash of bright colors and camouflage. As she leaves, she seems pleased with her purchase, holding a giant sun hat.

I’m not sure what to make of it.

I walk her to her building and wait for her light to come on, signaling that she’s at home safe. The light doesn’t come on. She returns without the sack of items and turns East.

My brows furrow as I keep pace behind her.

She may not notice me, but there are plenty of people that do. I make sure they do. Any thug eyeing her for arobbery. Any interested glance. I meet all of their gazes without expression. A warning and a promise at the same time.

My little imp is off-limits. She has been since I first saw her.

When she hops the steps to a local library, I pause to appreciate the bounce of her ass and then follow.

I ask the librarian a few questions, keeping my good boy facade intact so I’m not as obvious about my obsession. A few twists and turns of the aisles later, I find her in a section marked as law books.

Is she hoping to represent herself? I’m not sure that’s wise with her temper.

She spends several hours looking up fact after fact. Each time she pulls a book, there’s hope. Each time she finds the passage she’s looking for, defeat slumps her shoulders. By the end of it, her face is covered with both hands as if she’s struggling to contain herself.

She straightens with her jaw clenched and puts everything away as she found it. That sheer determination guides her out the doors with angry steps.

Before I leave the library, I stop by the front desk.

“Excuse me,” I interrupt her stamping with a grin. When the older woman looks up at first, she’s irate. That ends the longer I hold my casual smile.

“How may I help you?” The question is tired but meant well.

“I’m wondering what that woman was looking for?” I point at Amanda’s retreating back. “She seemed really upset. I’m a little concerned.”

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