Page 48 of Playing with Trouble

She responded immediately.Poshmark.Why?

I explained briefly that Violet was in some trouble and her home had been broken into.I knew Violet might not appreciate me sharing that information with my sister, but if I didn’t give Laney an explanation, she’d be suspicious.And I felt this was worth it.Ihopedit would be worth it.

Can you try and find these clothes?I typed back after sending her pictures.I’ll reimburse you for whatever you buy.

On it,Laney replied.

My sister loved shopping, and especially looking for a particular item for a good deal.This would give her purpose, and maybe, just maybe, give Violet back a little piece of what she’d lost.

I took a few extra photos of the artwork.I could find replacements of those easily enough online since they were all well-known reprints.

This person had shaken Violet’s sense of safety, but they didn’t have to take everything from her.I’d make damn sure of that.Someone else was going to take care ofherfor once, and that person would be me.

She turned toward me, arms crossed over her chest, pale and unsteady.“What do we do?”she whispered.“There’s no note, nothing.It’s as though they just…wanted to scare me.”

“I’m sure that was their intent,” I said, my jaw flexing.Maybe their intentions had been even more nefarious, but luckily Violet hadn’t been home.Between the hit-and-run and now this, we were either dealing with someone who wanted to frighten her, or someone escalating toward something worse.Either way, I wasn’t taking any chances with her safety.

“Clearly, you’re not staying here tonight,” I told her.

“I could crash on Christopher’s couch,” Violet said before I could say more.“Or I could ask Andrea and Chase if I could use their spare bedroom.”

She was my responsibility, and I wasn’t about to let her out of my sight until this issue was resolved.“You’re staying at my place.”

She stiffened, and quickly shook her head.“Absolutely not,” she said, as if being at my place was just too personal, which it probably was.“I’ll just ask Andrea.”

“Seriously?”I arched a brow.“The two of them just got engaged and you want to be the third wheel?”

She grimaced at that.

“Violet, I’m your bodyguard,” I said gently, but firmly.“Professionally speaking, it’s safer at my place.My building’s secure, and you’ll have privacy.Otherwise, I’ll have to book a hotel with an adjoining room because I’m not letting you out of my sight and this issue clearly is not over.I guarantee you will be far more comfortable at my place.”And selfishly, I just wanted her close.

She pressed her lips together, my stubborn girl torn between pride and practicality.Then, gradually, the tension in her shoulders eased.“All right,” she said softly.“I’ll stay with you.If it’s really not inconvenient.”

“Thank you,” I said, relieved.“And it’s not inconvenient at all.”

She shot me a helpless, angry look.One that had nothing to do with me and everything to do with what had just happened, and I didn’t take it personally.She needed somewhere to vent her emotions, and I had no issues taking the brunt of her outrage.

Taking her hand, I led her back out to my car and away from the wreckage of her home.On the way to my place, I insisted on stopping at Target so she could pick up a few changes of clothes and toiletries, just enough to get her through the next few days.She didn’t protest, but she didn’t talk either.She moved through the store like she was sleepwalking, pale and subdued.But not defeated.Violet Corbin didn’t break that easily.But she was shaken, and trying hard not to show it.

When we finally reached my place, she blinked up at the building, looking surprised.I parked in my underground spot and we headed up to my floor with her purchases.I made a mental note to call the front desk and make sure I got her a keycard to get into the building.In an emergency situation, I didn’t want her to have to depend on me to get in and out.

We walked inside and she glanced around, taking in the space.“Somehow, I didn’t picture you living in a condo,” she said.

I shrugged.“It’s temporary.”

Violet frowned as she took in the cheerfully painted walls, the art deco furniture I’d bought, and the chandelier that looked like something halfway between a modern sculpture and a medieval weapon.“Yeah, you really haven’t put your personal mark on the place,” she said in a dry tone.

I chuckled.“What I meant by temporary is that I want to own a house someday.I do own this place, but it’s just a step toward that.”

“What’s stopping you?”she asked, following me down the hallway as I carried her bags to the guest room, not wanting to make any assumptions right off the bat of the sleeping arrangements.Laney and Liza had decorated it in blue tones, which were supposed to be soothing.I personally preferred greens, so that was how they’d done my bedroom.

“I wanted to wait and buy a proper house when I was with the person I knew I would marry,” I said, setting the bags down on the bed.“Then we could find a place we both liked.I know my taste is a little eclectic and…all over the place.”

“Alittle?”she said, arching a brow as she headed back to the living room with me trailing behind.“Who did the walls?”she asked, eyeing the yellow paint like it had personally offended her.

“My sisters,” I admitted.

Her lips twitched.“The furniture?”