Then her entire view changed in an instant. The angry voice floating out of Mr. C’s office had her slowing her steps outside the door that stood cracked open a tiny bit.
“I expect results. The fact it took this long to retrieve this information does not make me happy.”
Sarafina shivered at the tone of his voice. Unhappy did not begin to describe how he sounded. Furious. Irate. Deadly.
“Daxton Delcroy. I knew there was something off about him. FBI. Why am I not surprised? Find him. Take care of him. And Ryan, well, that’s unfortunate. I expect results much faster this time. Do I make myself clear?”
Sarafina wanted to melt into the wall. Slapping her hand over her mouth to muffle the cries that wanted to escape, she honestly couldn’t believe what she just heard.
Take care of him? What about Ryan? What was unfortunate?
Dax had been right. Mr. C was a bad man. Taking care of him could only mean one thing.
Kill him.
His secret was out. She could only assume Mr. C thought Ryan had a hand in it as well.
Controlling the shivers overwhelming her body became impossible. She couldn’t stand here much longer, but her feet were frozen. The sound of footsteps coming her way inside the office jumpstarted her into motion. Backing up a few steps, knowing she had no time to go anywhere else, she tried to keep her composure as she started walking forward without a care in the world. Like she hadn’t been eavesdropping outside his door.
The door swung open and Mr. C stepped out. “Fina, what a surprise? I wasn’t expecting you.”
Expecting? Mr. C sure liked to expect things in a certain way. Forget what you heard. Stay calm. Be cool. “Lily called. She wants to pack up her room. Looks like we’re going down memory lane. She has a lot in her room left over from high school.”
Mr. C laughed. “Ah, yes. Memory lane. Well, don’t fret if you girls want to make it into a sleepover. Make it a true memory lane sort of thing.”
Sweat trickled down her back. Leftover from her walk, or from the effort to not visibly shake in front of him? Who knew. But his suggestion made her think only one thing. He wanted Ryan alone, Lily free. Oh, jeepers, he was going to kill Ryan.
“Fina, are you okay?” He took a step toward her and touched her shoulder. “You don’t look well.”
A laugh bubbled out of nowhere. “I’m truly doing the memory lane thing today. I walked from my parents’ house to here and I’m exhausted. Ms. Stinner said there was freshly made lemonade waiting for me.”
He pulled her into his side and started walking toward the kitchen. “My dear, Fina. It’s hot out. That wasn’t very wise. No wonder you look so pale. You had me worried there for a second. A nice cold drink should cure you.”
“She does make the best lemonade.”
“And if she knew you were on the way, I’m sure she made it just for you,” he replied with a friendly laugh.
“She did talk to Lily. And now I’m glad. I’m parched.” She laughed, hoping it came out sounding sincere. His hands were rocking her to the core, scaring her more and more as each second passed. Could he feel the trembles everywhere? And if so, did he think it was from her dreadful walk? She could only hope. Otherwise, she would be dead.
Dax.
She had to tell Dax. As soon as possible.
What about Ryan? Should she say anything to Lily?
Mr. C finally let her go as they walked into the kitchen and grabbed the pitcher of lemonade out of the fridge for her.
“Girl, you’re here. You look terrible.”
Sarafina twirled around, the relief plain in her eyes. Not that she would divulge to Lily why she looked so relieved. She made up her mind. Lily wouldn’t understand. She might confront her father. That would be bad. Very bad. She’d tell Dax and he would take care of it all. Trust. That’s how much she trusted him.
“I walked here. I know. Dumb. Want some lemonade with me?” she said, as Mr. C laid a hand on her shoulder. Not tensing from his touch took all her strength.
“You ladies have fun. I told Fina if you wanted to make it a sleepover with a true memory lane experience, you should.”
Lily laughed. “Does that include sneaking out to go to a party with a bunch of boys?”
Mr. C dropped his hand as he walked toward Lily. “Not that you two ever snuck out very well, but I suppose. I’ll be in my office if you need me. Have fun.” He shifted his gaze to her. “Always a pleasure to see you, Fina. Drink up. You still look pale.”
She lifted the pitcher he had set in front of her and smiled. “I’ll be fine, Mr. C. Thanks.”
He nodded and walked out.
Lily grabbed two glasses and Sarafina filled them up. She downed one glass with ease, refilling her glass before following Lily to her room.
How could she ask for Dax’s number? How could she pretend like everything was normal? She had to speak to him. Right away. Now. Immediately.
Someone could be on their way to kill him right this minute. Every terrifying thing she tried to drown out when he spoke about Mr. C pelted her senses. She believed him now. When he said he was a dangerous man, she couldn’t deny it anymore. She could only assume he would want the job done right away.
No—expected it done right away.
Lily shut her bedroom door and plopped onto her bed. “Spill it. What’s wrong? I can’t believe you walked from your house to mine. What’s up with that?”
Sarafina dropped her butt next to her and then blurted, “I need Dax’s number.”
Lily’s eyebrow rose in surprise. “That’s so unlike you to go after a man like that. Good for you. But what aren’t you saying?”
She let it all spill out. Well, besides the part where Dax worked for the FBI and that her father finally knew and wanted to kill him—and Ryan. She poured her heart out, even the part where Lora wanted to take him away from her. Because that’s how it felt. Not that she believed she could. When Dax told her Lora held no candle as she did, she believed him.
Trusted him.
Right now, she needed his arms to wrap her up and make her feel safe. Or maybe she needed to wrap her arms around him and keep him safe. He was the one in danger. Not her.
“I knew you liked him, but wow! Screw packing. Let me call Ryan and get his number for you. You can do your thing with Dax, and Ryan and I can christen our house once again,” Lily said with a giggle.
Sarafina laughed with her, but it didn’t reach her eyes, nor sounded real to her ears. That was the best plan. Her father wouldn’t hurt Ryan if Lily was there with him. Would he?
That’s the thing. She had no idea. But Dax would.
She needed him. Now.
She only prayed he would answer her phone call.
Dax grabbed another box and shoved his baseball trophies into it without any care whatsoever. Did it matter if it broke? Why did he even care about a dumb trophy anymore? His life, as he knew it, was officially over. Done. Complete. Wiped clear.
He was moving to Hong Kong. Or so everyone would think.
Witness protection? Not quite there, but damn close enough. Or maybe he was, who the hell knew. His story didn’t hold as well as his boss planned. Here he was, a week and a half later, packing his shit and waiting to leave. His fake boss was sending him to Hong Kong because his cover seemed to be crumbling.