Page 88 of Twisted Hearts
27
Shawn
“Want the worst of it?”
I dropped my head toward the counter and closed my eyes. “What you’ve given me isn’t enough?”
“Unfortunately not,” Jaxon replied, and I was starting to really despise that stone-cold voice of his. “Well, there are two things. One is Saul Mancusso bought a plane ticket for Raleigh Thursday night.”
“What?” My head whipped up and I jumped, seeing Addi walking from the hallway into my kitchen. “He’shere?”
“And MaryAnne Johanssen and her son hopped into a black SUV this morning. Sun wasn’t even up yet, but Briggs says it was him with her. Unfortunately, he lost them once the car hit I-95.”
“You’re fucking with me.”
“Wish I were. We’ve got guys ready at all exits, keeping an eye out for the SUV for when it reaches us, probably any minute now if they didn’t stop, but looks like they’re coming this way—most likely to bring Addi back.”
She stood at the counter across from me, eyes wide on my phone at my ear.
“That’s shitty news, Jaxon.”
“Keep her safe, and hopefully this will all be over tonight.”
“Yeah.” I clutched my phone and gritted my teeth. “What do you need me to do?”
“Don’t let her out of your sight.”
“Right.” Like I’d do that anyway, but I needed a plan. They were here. Looking for her. They’d made that obvious the night before. Tonight, hopefully it’d be over and Addi would be safe, would be able to stop hiding out of fear.
“Keep me updated. I gotta fill Addi in on this.” I ended the call and hadn’t even set the phone on the counter before she braced her palms on the countertop.
“Fill me in on what?”
I wanted to tell her all this and freak her the fuck out about as much as I wanted to shove toothpicks beneath my fingernails. “Do you want coffee?”
“I want you to tell me why you already look ready to murder someone.”
“Coffee?”
Her eyes narrowed, fingertips tapping out a rhythm. “Shawn.”
“I’ll tell you,” I promised, even though doing so made sludge rise in my throat. “Now, do you need coffee? Breakfast? Anything?”
Her lips pushed to one side, kissable lips I wanted to get mine on, but not now. Not today. Holding her in my arms all night had only fueled my desire for her. She’d woken up terrified and burrowed intomelike she didn’t want to be anywhere else. For a woman I knew didn’t trust easily, that said everything.
“Black,” she finally said on a sigh. “But then you’re talking.”
“Deal.” I flashed a grin at her and turned my back. Grabbing a mug out of the cupboard, I filled the cup, and when I came back to hand it to her, I walked straight toward her.
I set the coffee mug down and slid my fingers to her neck, cupping the back of her head. “Good morning,” I whispered, right before I dropped down and pressed my lips to hers.
“Mornin’,” she murmured, easily following my lead.
I kissed her softly, no tongue, just teasing brushes of my lips against hers before she pulled back.
“Talk before you distract me completely.”
Which was what I would have loved to do.
