Page 125 of Shadows of You

Roan’s eyes narrowed. “You’re the one who keeps showing up in our lives. Think it might be time for you to get one of your own.”

“People have the right to know the truth!” Oren shouted.

“Except you’re not giving them the truth. It’s why your paper fired you, isn’t it?” Roan snapped.

I sucked in a breath. Roan hadn’t shared that tidbit of information.

Oren’s face heated. “I’m freelance. My narrative can’t be controlled.”

“Have fun publishing that on conspiracy theory websites,” Roan snarled.

Oren struggled to keep his breathing under control. “People are going to see that all of this is lies from a bitter woman. Someone who couldn’t handle her sister’s happiness. Just you wait.”

He stormed off, and I gaped.

“What is wrong with him?”

Roan sighed, moving into my space and wrapping me in his arms. “I didn’t want to ruin our night, but remember when Holt called?”

I nodded. We’d been mid-game of Sorry! with Cady, and Roan had stepped out onto the front porch to talk to his brother.

“He’s had his security team at Anchor doing some digging on Oren, Steven, and Tyson.”

“He didn’t have to do that,” I mumbled.

Roan just shook his head. “He wants to help.”

“You two already have my house rigged like Fort Knox.”

“We do not,” he argued.

“Whatever,” I grumbled.

Roan squeezed the back of my neck. “Holt’s team hasn’t found a lot on Tyson and Steven yet, but Oren is a different story. His wife had an affair, and he found out not long before your case broke. From everything we can tell, he’s turned into a hell of a misogynist. And he’s active on some pretty messed-up forums.”

I shivered. “And he lost his job?”

Roan nodded. “His paper didn’t want him out there covering the case. They didn’t think there was anything left to report on. But he wouldn’t take no for an answer, so they let him go.”

“That doesn’t sound like a good combination of things.”

“No,” Roan agreed. “It doesn’t.”

My gaze dropped to the ground. “Is that why you’ve been sticking close?”

Roan took my chin in his fingers and lifted. “You want me gone?”

I swallowed hard. “No.”

“Good,” he said with a grunt. “Because I’m not going anywhere.”

* * *

I hummedas I wiped down tables. The tune wasn’t even discernible, but I didn’t care.

Elsie glanced up from her computer as I came by. “You seem like you’re in an extra good mood.”

“I am. I’m happy.”

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