Forgotten Sins (Sin Brothers, #1)(30)

“Keep your voice down.” He rubbed his chin. “I can’t explain the pictures right now. There’s no logical reason for me to have stalked you, and you know it. I had you.” His eyes warmed. “I’ll have you again.”

Heat filled her body while confusion filled her mind. He was playing her, damn it. And like any victim, she was letting him. “Then where did the pictures come from?”

“I’ll find out, though my best guess is that I was watching you to keep you safe if somebody is after you.” He leaned forward, the rough stubble on his jaw making him look more than ever like a pirate searching for loot. “Now you need to trust yourself, Josie. Believe in your instincts, in whatever made you trust me in the first place. Give me a chance to figure this out, angel.” His eyes softened with the entreaty.

“Not a chance in hell.” The words came out weaker than she’d intended. Was Tom correct? Was she caught in some abusive vortex where she continued to trust when she should just flee?

“We’re family, angel. Have been since we said our vows.” Shane glanced at her ringless hand.

“Straight for the jugular, huh?” Typical of Shane to slice right to her heart. To the heart of a kid raised in foster care who’d prayed for a family. But she’d developed excellent instincts in that system, and she’d married the man with her eyes wide open. So that could only mean he was better than most predators—much better. She’d never even seen him coming until it was too late. Now was the time to be smart. “I’m not leaving with you.”

“I know.”

His easy acceptance bothered her more than it should. She bit her lip. “Why are you here?”

“There were seven bugs planted in your house, angel.”

What a complete jerk. “You planted seven bugs?”

“No. Three matched my equipment in the bungalow.” His gaze stayed steady and watchful on hers.

She frowned. “I don’t understand.”

“Someone else planted the other four—which makes my theory that I was watching you more credible. Maybe I was trying to figure out who had bugged your house.”

Panic had her mind fuzzing. “Who the hell is after you?” She hadn’t seen the man in two years. Who would go to the trouble to bug her house on the off chance he showed up after so much time? Or was she in some sort of trouble? Nobody would be after her, though. She was an accountant, for goodness’ sake. “Well, at least we know how those men knew where to throw the grenade.” She bit her lip, squirming on the chair. “Were there any bugs in the bathroom?”

Shane barked out a laugh. “No. None in the bathroom.” He stretched his neck. “While I think these guys were after me, we need to make sure they weren’t after you. Is there anyone who would want to hurt you?”

“Besides you?” she whispered.

His eyes darkened. “I’m an *, I know. But I’d rip off my own arm before hurting you.”

He just didn’t get it. She shook her head. “Nobody wants to hurt me.”

“Everything’s okay at work?”

“Yes.” She leaned back, picking at a string on her skirt. “I do have some accounts that aren’t adding up, but they were a drug addict’s files, and he’s in rehab right now.”

Shane leaned forward. “What kind of accounts? Anything people would want to hide?”

“No.” She pursed her lips in thought. “Nothing illegal or dangerous. If anything, they’d all have a good claim against the firm for money. Most people just want money.” She’d figure out where Billy screwed up, and maybe when he returned from rehab, she could help him get back on his feet.

Shane nodded. “Who’s the addict?”

“Bill Johnson—he’s been an accountant for about twenty years. Seemed like a decent guy.”

“So you didn’t know him well?”

Josie rolled her eyes. “No, I only know him professionally. I didn’t even know he had a drug problem until he was admitted to the hospital, and I was assigned his files.”

Shane nodded slowly. “We should check him out just in case. For now, I spoke to the man who survived the raid on your house. Someone named Denny hired him, but he didn’t know why. They were supposed to kill us.”

Dread slammed into her stomach. Kill? She narrowed her gaze. “The police let you talk to the guy in the hospital?”

“Not exactly.”

Fear. It thrummed through her head until her ears rang. “Did you kill him?”

“Nope.” Shane looked her right in the eye.

Was he lying? She had no clue.

Her mind flashed back to her wedding day, and how he’d looked her right in the eye as he’d said his vows. The moment had been the happiest in her entire life. How could she be in love with a man she couldn’t read? He was an accomplished liar… and yet she wanted to trust him. But she didn’t, and the desire to do so ticked her off. Her head began to ache. She glanced at her watch. “Well, thanks for the update.” “I said I wouldn’t force you to leave with me today, but I’d like you to come with me voluntarily. Somewhere safe until I can figure out what’s going on here. Until I can remember.”

“No.” Curiosity had her tilting her head. Had he spoken the truth? Would he try to force her? Did she want him to?