Page 26 of Everything We Found

“Listen to me. My house is in pieces. Bullet holes everywhere. If Ruiz finds you?—”

Thomas spared her a cursory glance and turned away from the window to pace the room. He was agitated. “I know you’reangry but think about your family. Please, just let the security stay… James? Jim! For god’s sake.”

Thomas tossed his burner onto a low table and dropped unceremoniously onto the couch. With a groan, his head lolled back. He stared at the ceiling, his fingers tapping a rhythm on his thigh.

Nadia sat in the armchair opposite him. “I take it the call didn’t go well.”

“About as well as it seemed. On the bright side”—he lifted his head and looked at her—“that was the most words he’s spoken to me in four years.”

Nadia cringed. She suspected they were estranged but hadn’t realized the extent that they’d drifted apart. James had once been Thomas’s world. The two had been inseparable when they were kids. When James wasn’t with Aimee, he was tagging after Thomas. Thomas’s methods to save James had been unorthodox, and she’d probably feel the same as James had it been her the Hidalgos tried to murder. It could be said that Thomas had stolen his life. But their estrangement hadn’t been easy on him. She could see it in his slumped posture and distant gaze. His hands were restless, fingers tapping, scratching at the fabric of his jeans.

“Want to talk about it?”

“Not really.” He sighed and leaned forward on his elbows, hands hanging between his thighs. “There were a couple of patrol cars waiting when he got home. The cops won’t leave.”

“Isn’t it a good thing they’re there? I thought you wanted the extra protection on him given what happened to you.”

“Yeah, but the boys are spun out because they’re old enough to understand the threat they’re under.”

“It’s safe to say we’re all a bit shaken. I’m sure he’s just scared.” She certainly was.

“It still doesn’t change the fact that he blames me for this. He has every right to.”

“He forgets you’re the reason he’s alive.”

“Says the woman who told me this afternoon that she hated me.”

“Still do.” She winked. “But we’re not talking about me. If anyone’s to blame for all this, it’s Phil.”

Thomas huffed a dry laugh. “I think that’s the nicest thing you’ve said to me.”

Nadia tucked her legs under her. “Are you seriously joking right now?”

“I’m being dead serious.” His eyes met hers along with a slight smile that lingered a beat too long before dipping to his phone. He flipped the device screen up.

“Have you heard from your mom?”

He shook his head. “No. Phil either.”

“Do we care about him?”

“Now who’s joking?”

“I wasn’t joking.”

He rubbed his jaw. “No, we don’t care about him. But if something does happen to him, it means Kane is right.”

An icy thread of fear snaked through her. “About what?”

“He suspects they’re cleaning house.”

His announcement landed like a stone in her stomach. Her fingers trembled in her lap and she found it hard to draw in a full breath. Thomas watched her with what she interpreted as worry deepening the lines between his brows.

“Sorry if I woke you.”

“I was already up.” She stretched out her legs, shaking off some of the oppressive fear.

“Trouble sleeping?”