Page 50 of Romeo

“Good.Glad to hear it.”

“Jules, can I speak with you alone?”

“Uh, yes.Sure.”

Unease climbs up my spine as Odie leads Jules away from me and toward the house.They don’t go inside, something I’m fairly certain only happened because she chose to stop on the porch.

I watch them carefully, seeking any sign that he’s upsetting her.But she keeps her expression neutral, her arms crossed.Her body language is screaming discomfort, yet she remains steady where she is.

The strength of this woman astounds me.The fact that she wants to stay in the place where she nearly lost her life, as well as treat someone with respect when they clearly don’t feel the same.

It’s definitely a skill I lack, that’s for sure.

After a few minutes, he awkwardly hugs her then heads down the steps, pausing just in front of me.

“My sister is insisting on retaining your services as her protector.I don’t feel like I need to impress upon you just how much I want her safe.”

“You certainly don’t show it.”

“We have a strained relationship, Mr.Hunt, but that is none of your business.She’s my sister, my only remaining family, and if I’m entrusting her to your care, I want to know she’s safe.”

“I will protect her with my life,” I tell him.“It’s what we do.”

He looks less than impressed.“Fine.Then I suppose I will be seeing you at the funeral tomorrow.”

“I guess you will.”

He purses his lips and offers a curt nod then turns and climbs back into the SUV.Within minutes, they’re driving away, disappearing around the curve in the estate’s long driveway.

“Are you all right?”I ask Jules as she crosses over toward me.

“I’m fine.”Her tone is short, her expression masked.“Let’s get this over with.”She starts walking, though I note her movements are strained.

“You’re hurting.We can do this tomorrow after the funeral.”

“No.I want to get it over with.I’ll be fine.”

“Jules—”

She whirls on me, fury in her gaze.“I said I can do this,Mr.Hunt.I don’t need to be babysat or treated as though I’m made of glass.Okay?Not even a little bit.So stop.You’re here to keep me alive and help me find the truth.So do those two things.”Tears shimmer in her eyes, and I realize it’s not anger that’s causing this—it’s hurt.What did he say to her?

I swallow my pride, not allowing myself to dwell on the fresh anger burning in my chest.“Fine.Lead on.”I gesture straight ahead.

“Thank you.”She begins walking, following a dirt trail into sprawling gardens with blooming roses.

I begin walking, too, with Romeo at my side.I’m only half-focused at the moment, though, because I desperately want to chase after Odie and find outexactlywhat he said to upset her.

“I ran through here then headed into the tree line.”Jules’ voice rips me from my thoughts as we walk the path just as she described, heading into a grouping of tall oak trees.

A few seconds later, she stops and points to a hole at the base of an old tree.

“That’s where you hid?”

She nods.“The tree is hollow.It’s been that way for as long as I can remember, but my grandfather never had it cut.I used to hide in it whenever we played hide-and-seek.No one ever found me.”

“I can see why.”I kneel and study the dirt at the base.There are a bunch of leaves moved around, though recent ones indicate that it’s not been freshly disturbed.“How long were you in here?”

“Until just before dawn.As soon as I thought it was safe, I slipped out and ran back to the house to check on my grandfather.Since I was worried the killer might still be here, I climbed up the trellis leading to my bedroom instead of using the front door.”

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