Page 44 of Hidden With You

Her voice was hard. Angry. And he let his own fury subside. She was pissed off enough for the both of them.

“Who the hell are they?” he asked.

He knew Leah well enough to know that she wouldn’t have left Zelda alone with a threat. Still, he didn’t like the fact that there wasn’t someone from the SSA team right at her side.

“Her parents.”

“And you left her alone with them?”

Her brow rose. “Do you really think they’re going to blow her away? Poison her?”

He didn’t. But he also hated them on principle. “I wouldn’t put anything past them.”

Leah stared him down. “Can’t argue with that. But I doubt they’ll drown her in the swimming pool.”

“No,” he conceded. “Christ, but she can’t stand them.”

“I didn’t realize you knew how fraught their relationship is.” She gave him a hard look as if she’d seen more on his face than he wanted her to.

“Of course, I know. I’ve been staying with her. Guarding her. We talk. Conversation is a thing. And she told me a bit about the way she grew up. It sucked.”

“Yeah. I know. I’ve known her since she was a kid. My niece was her best friend until my aunt and uncle packed up and moved the family to Ohio.”

“So is her relationship with Mommy and Daddy dearest as bad as I get the impression it is?”

“From what I’ve seen, yeah. But then again, a lot of kids have terrible relationships with their parents.”

He glanced back over to where she sat stiff in the chair across from her mother and Carter Malloy. “She should have someone with her.”

“She told me it was fine. They wanted to talk to her alone, and she said it was okay.”

“For you maybe. Not for me. Do they know why you’re here?”

“You mean the threat? No. They don’t know a thing about that. They think I was just visiting.”

“All right. I’m going to go over there. She can get pissed at me if she wants to, but I’m staying by her side. What?” he asked when he saw Leah’s mouth curve up.

“Nothing,” she said a bit too innocently. “Nothing at all.”

He shot her a frown, then walked the stone pathway to the pool. He crossed the decking, ignoring the glare from Carter Malloy as he moved to stand behind her. He put his hands on her shoulders and bent over to kiss her hair. It felt right. It felt natural. But the truth was, it was all an act.

“Who the hell are you?” Carter asked.

Jasper caught the scent of cigars. There was no ashtray on the table, but he saw Tricia coming from the house holding one. Apparently, she had just changed it out. He wondered how long they’d been there that the ashtray needed to be removed and cleaned.

“Sorry I was late, baby,” he said, then looked at her parents. “I’m Jasper. Her boyfriend.”

Carter snorted. “Looking for a sugar daddy to keep you?” His tone was joking. Except that it wasn’t. “You already have all the money that should be mine—and your mother’s. I would’ve thought that would be enough.”

Beneath his hands, she felt him stiffen. “You live in the house. I live in the cottage. Other than that, we really don’t need to talk to each other.”

“Do not talk to your father that way,” her mother snapped.

“He’s not my—”

“What do you want?” Jasper asked, the question directed at Carter.

The older man eyed him. “And what is it that you do, Jasper?”