Page 164 of Secrets (The Sins Trilogy 2)
“Thanks, Byron,” I say. “The drive really cheered me up.” I lie because I feel like he deserves something after the rejection.
He laughs. “Well, I can’t exactly say the same. But I appreciate your being honest.”
“Oh, Byron… I’m really sorry.”
He smiles. “It’s fine. Really. Call me the next time you have a day off and we’ll go do something fun together. As friends.”
I shoot him a smile as I climb out of the car…and spot Bobbi snapping a photo in our direction.
What the hell? I want to yell at her to stop, but can’t. That’ll only get Byron’s attention, and he already doesn’t like her that much. I don’t need a public brawl. “Okay. I will,” I say, and shut the door.
As soon as Byron pulls away, I march toward her. “Were you talking a picture of me?”
“I was taking a picture of that Maserati. Nice ride. I might get one someday, when my bakery takes off.”
Unbelievable. She’s not even trying to give me a plausible lie. “You don’t have the decency to tell me the truth even when you’re caught red-handed?”
“What do you want me to say, Ivy?” Her voice is clipped, like I’m the one being unreasonable and insulting. “I took the photo for my vision board. I’m making one on Pinterest.” She purses her lips, a frown pulling her eyebrows together. “I’m taking a course on charting my destiny, and it’s this week’s homework.”
“Okay, straight up. Are you spying on me for Tony?” I never thought she was, but now? The whole excuse about homework sounds so flimsy. Just like Tony’s repeated crap about the “danger to my life.”
She cocks an eyebrow. “All right, if you want to know that bad.” She unlocks her phone and taps and scrolls her screen a few times. “Here. Texts between me and Tony since you moved in with Julie.” She hands me her gadget.
I read the one from Tony.
I know how you feel about spying. I’m not asking you to do that. I just want to know if she’s safe. Just yes/no is fine.
Since that time, Bobbi’s been texting nothing but Yes to him every evening. And he always responds, Thank you. No matter how liberal a definition you use, that’s hardly spying. But I don’t know why he’s going this far to check up on me. He knows we’re done. And he never did this with Audrey. He reacted with annoyance and contempt to her clingy and jealous antics. I always thought if he and I ever broke up, he’d be the same way with me, too, no matter who left whom.
Suddenly, my head is full of conflicting emotions. I give the phone back to Bobbi, who puts it into her pocket.
“Why does he even care?” I say more to myself than to her, looking at my ring-less left hand.
She answers anyway. “I’m not judging you for leaving him. He lied to you, and that’s a shitty thing to do. But he didn’t lie about the danger you’re in.”
Her tone is oddly matter-of-fact. It’s the same one she used when she spoke about taking a bullet, and a shiver runs through me. “So Tony wasn’t just…exaggerating or something? I’m really in danger?”
“Based on what I know? I’d say it’s likely. Somebody tried to kill you before. They could try again.”
“The other girl could’ve been the real person they wanted to get.”
“And? That makes you a witness. If I were the killer, I’d want you dead for sure.”
Tony said something similar, but back then I was so angry that I rejected it outright. But now, it’s really sinking in. I stare, incredulous that I’d be considered a witness to something I only recall bits and pieces of. “But I don’t remember anything.”
“Uh-huh. And of course the killer will believe that.”
The comment puts a hard stop on my denial. If I were the killer… Bobbi’s right. I would want the sole witness to the crime permanently silenced.
So whether I was the real target or not, it doesn’t matter. Somebody out there wants me dead.
My blood runs cold.
“Now do you get why Tony’s still keeping me on the payroll?” Bobbi asks.
I nod jerkily, then go into Julie’s apartment, half dazed. Bobbi follows me to the entrance without saying a word, as though she knows exactly the kind of confused fear I’m feeling right now. She nods goodbye as I close the door.
Julie isn’t in. Probably running errands or shopping. I fall on the couch and bury my face in my hands. The more I learn, the more I realize Tony’s deception wasn’t some simple game. And it’s only leaving me more conflicted and confused.
