Page 13 of My End
Billy pointed his fork at me. “You ex-military?”
I shrugged. “Something like that.”
They didn’t press. Didn’t seem like the type. Which was good. The less they knew about my past, the better.
Adam finished plating Tilly’s food and loaded a tray with her coffee, a fruit bowl, and a side of toast slathered in almond butter.
“I’ll be back in ten,” he said and pushed open the swinging door at the far end of the kitchen.
I watched him go with the tray perfectly balanced in one hand like he’d been born doing it.
Jeff stood, stretched his back, and muttered something about checking the gate camera logs. Billy followed, saying he needed more coffee.
And then I was alone.
I finished the last of the juice, rinsed my plate, and placed it in the sink.
Tilly was still on my mind.
The way she looked at me last night when I was doing my rounds and caught her watching from the window.
She hadn’t flinched. Not really. She’d looked surprised. Curious. Not scared.
I didn’t know what the hell to make of her.
But I couldn’t let her distract me.
I was here for Boone. For Gibbs. To finish what should’ve been finished months ago.
Everyone else in this mansion—Tilly, Adam, Jeff, Billy—they were collateral I didn’t want to hurt. But if they got in the way?
That would be on them.
I left the kitchen and headed back to the lower level. The halls were quiet, and sunlight poured through the tall windows as the world outside came alive.
Downstairs, my room was still cool and dim.
I peeled off my black T-shirt, tossed it on the chair, and fell back onto the bed with a groan.
Two days down.
How many to go?
I grabbed my phone off the side table, set an alarm for early evening, and dropped it beside me.
Then I closed my eyes.
And tried not to see Tilly’s face.
Tried not to wonder what she was painting.
Tried not to think about what it meant that Boone kept her hidden up there like a secret no one could touch.
Because I was already in deeper than I wanted to be.
And this was just the beginning.
Chapter Six
