Page 62 of Axe-ing for Trouble
“Which is why I needed those financial records. And I’m gonna need more. Parker has done a ton of legwork. Your family too. But I’ve got a different perspective. I know I can connect the dots.”
I trailed my fingers over the Post-its and closed my eyes. I was so fucking close. I could feel it. And while I probably seemed like I’d lost my mind, he was at least listening, so maybe I wasn’t totally gone yet.
“And let’s say, for the sake of argument, you do figure it out,” he hedged. “Then what?”
“Then we go to the police. Or the FBI or Parker. Whoever.”
He dipped his chin. “As long as you promise you won’t put yourself in danger.”
With a hand pressed to my heart, I bowed my head. “Promise. Will you help me?” I gave him my best puppy dog eyes. It would be so much easier if he could be my man on the inside, collecting all the business records.
“You’re insane,” he said with a smirk.
Yes. I knew he’d be on board.
I flipped my hair, only slightly regretting the sassy move when pain shot down my arm. “Insanely brilliant?”
“Something like that,” he grumbled.
“You need to trust me.”
He crossed his arms, and I got momentarily distracted by the veins in his forearms, wishing I could run my tongue along them.
“I want to trust you,” he muttered. “But you’re trouble in human form.”
“Eh.” I waved away his concerns and wound the thread around another pushpin.
“Seriously, Mila.” He sighed. “You were literally being shot at less than two weeks ago.”
I took a step closer, looking up into his stormy blue eyes.
His concern, while annoying, was adorable.
Grinning, I patted his bearded cheek. “Jude, if I let being shot at stop me, then I’d never get out of bed. We’ve got work to do. Buck up.”
Chapter20
Jude
Since finding the phone, Mila had transformed. She was energetic and focused, spending hours in the spare room, talking to herself and slapping Post-its all over the walls.
Noah wanted to meet at the Caffeinated Moose this morning, and though I was loath to leave Mila, she’d kicked me out with a to-go order for scones and a latte. Then she’d gone straight back to work. Even Ripley barely acknowledged me when I said goodbye, too intent on watching the every move of her new favorite person.
Day by day, she was healing. And recovering her phone and the evidence it contained had been a huge leap toward ending this nightmare once and for all.
But, and I’d never admit this to anyone, the discovery made me sad. It was bittersweet, I supposed, because I enjoyed helping her. A tiny glimpse of her and a whiff of her delicious scent were enough to brighten my days. But now that she had what she needed, it was only a matter of time before she could go back to her life. And when that happened, I’d be me again. Except this time, I’d have the memories of her smile, her laugh, the sighs she let out when I brushed her hair.
The coffee shop was buzzing when I walked in. This place was one of several new businesses that were transforming the feel of our downtown, bringing it back to life.
When I stepped inside, I quickly found Noah settled in a back booth with two coffees in front of him.
He slid a black coffee across the table as I reached out to my niece, who was making grabby hands at me.
“She keeps growing.”
She pawed at my beard, giggling.
“Toddlers do that,” Noah replied. “She just learned how to walk, and already, she’s full-on running. I thought I was terrified before.” He shook his head.
