She doesn’t respond right away. “And… what did they say?”
“They’re concerned,” I drawl, rubbing at my jaw. “Brienne offered to bring in the police. Offered security.”
Her brows rise slightly. “Let me guess—you turned it down.”
I shrug. “Didn’t want the attention. Don’t want this to turn into a circus if it’s nothing other than some asshole trying to frighten you.”
“Well, I’m scared,” she says quietly, and I regret diminishing that.
“I know, and that’s why I’m going to help you find out who’s doing this and we’ll put a stop to it.”
She gives me a small smile. “Thank you for believing me. And for not discounting it.”
I wave an impatient hand at her, not wanting to fall prey to her gratitude. I don’t want to lapse back into the easy friendship we had all those years ago. I’ve spent a lot of time creating a life where I only count on myself.
Am only responsible to myself.
I will help Mila out, because it also helps me, and that’s the only reason she’s here.
Liar.
I ignore my inner voice and tell her, “I also called McLendon.”
Her eyes widen, her mouth, framed by lips that are way too plump, falling open in shock. “You did what?”
“You heard me just fine,” I say with a grimace. “We didn’t talk long, but I wanted to get a read on him. See if he was involved.”
“And?”
“He seemed clueless about it and even a little concerned on your behalf. Actually put aside his hatred of me—”
“Us,” she clarifies.
“Us,” I agree, “and heard me out. Said he hasn’t talked to Peter or Jace since they got locked up. He told me where Ryan and Colton are—both still in Minnesota. Real estate and gym ownership. He doesn’t think they’d be behind this.”
Mila lifts a naturally arched eyebrow a little higher in skepticism. “Do you trust him?”
A bark of laughter erupts from me. “I don’t trust anyone. And he made it clear on the call that he still thinks I’m a traitor.”
“You are not a traitor,” Mila exclaims angrily, shooting off the couch and standing before me. “Don’t ever let me hear you call yourself that again.”
I’m stunned by the fury in her words and partly touched that she cares enough to make her complaint known. I shake my head with a small smile. “I didn’t call myself that. He did, but I don’t ever forget that’s the way I’m viewed because of my actions.”
“And why you don’t trust anyone,” she murmurs, taking a step back and sinking down onto the cushion again.
She sounds so sad about that and it also touches me. No one’s been sad for me for a very long time. Because it gets me in the feels, I move on, needing to put this crap in the back seat where it belongs. “While I don’t trust McLendon, he sounded genuine when he said he didn’t know who was behind this. He also saidhe didn’t think Ryan and Colton could be involved. Seems to think they’ve moved on.”
“But he can’t be sure, which means we don’t know anything more from him than what we knew before.” Mila shakes her head. “Too many people who hate us.”
“Yeah, it’s a fucking mystery though. Who hates you enough to try to hurt you is the real question.” I shift forward in the chair. “Which is why I need to know exactly whatyou’vedone to get help.”
She blinks. “I told you… I went to the police.”
“When? Where?”
“Boca Raton. That’s where I lived with my aunt. After a handful of text messages, I thought I should get help.”
“And what did you show them?”
