Page 131 of Ugly Beautiful Scars

"Not a whisper." Mike rubs the back of his neck where tension's obviously building. I think both of us will need several deep massages when this is done. "Street's been clean. Had eyes out for Josh too. Nothing."

The news should be a relief, but it's not; it only puts me on edge as I read between the warnings. Miller and Josh might be across the country, but something about those Navy Caps has bothered me from the beginning. I've been eager for them to reappear, but they probably sense that.

"How's she doing?" Mike asks.

"Better." I lean against the wall. "Tough as hell. Most people would be falling apart, but she's so fucking resilient."

Mike gives me a side glance, reading my body language like he can discover the private conversations Londyn and I have. "She's special."

"Yeah. She is."

"And the plan?" He turns fully in his chair now, facing me.

"Three days. We'll get everything together, then fly out."

"Australia's a good choice. Far enough. Different time zone."

"That's the idea."

Mike falls silent and I can't quite read his expression. His body is sagging though, and his fingers are a tangled knot.

My shoulders tense because I'm worried he's going to lay into me again about getting involved with a client. To avoid that, I change topics. "How's Mona and the kids?"

His face immediately brightens in that way it always does when he talks about his family. "Man, Noah lost another tooth. Kid's gonna be all gums by the time I get home." He pulls out his phone, swiping through photos to show me. "Look. Mateo built this crazy Lego tower. Mona got a pic before the dog knocked it over."

The image on his screen shows a bright, colorful structure that looks like it defies several laws of physics. "Architect in the making," I say.

"That or a demolition expert." Mike laughs, swiping to another photo of what I assume is the aftermath. "And Mona's doing good. Morning sickness is finally easing up. Says she's craving pickle juice. Like all the time, which is just..." He makes a gagging noise.

"Sounds delicious," I deadpan.

We both laugh and the tension in my shoulders melts away.

As Mike continues scrolling through family pictures, my eyes drift to the painting hanging on the wall, the one I bought from Sienna's gallery. The window, the gray interior, the world outside. When I bought it, I felt trapped behind that window. Now I'm not so sure where I stand. In the color? In the gray? Somewhere in between?

What I do know is that I can't exactly roll it up and stuff it in a suitcase. But I like it and I'm not giving it up. I'll have to see if Declan and Sienna can store it for me. They bought a new place south of San Francisco. They still travel most of the time, but they wanted somewhere to come back to. Roots and wings, I guess.

Mike's phone buzzes with an incoming text. His face softens as he reads it. "Mona," he says, typing a quick response.

That's my opening.

"You should head home," I say. "We'll get you on a flight tonight. Or first thing tomorrow."

Mike's head snaps up. "What?"

"There's no point in both of us staying. Londyn and I are leaving in three days."

"And you need backup until then." He pockets his phone, his expression hardening into something I recognize from our Marines days: stubborn duty. "I'm not bailing early."

"It's not bailing. It's being practical. Miller is in California. Josh is AWOL. We haven't seen the Navy Caps in weeks. I'd feel better if you went home. I want you safe with your family."

"It's only a few days. And maybe I'll find something in that time. It doesn't seem strange to you? Those Navy Caps."

I clench my jaw because if he's also having suspicions, then something definitely isn't right. "What about them?" I ask, even though I can sense what's going through his head.

"Josh seemed like enough surveillance for Miller, especially since he kidnapped her from the office. That was his plan all along, wasn't it? Why the extra men watching her on the street?"

Yup. His worries are the same as mine. If our Navy Caps aren't connected to Miller, like we apparently both suspect, I want Mike out of here now. I've already put him in enough danger.

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