Page 108

“Excuse me?”

Hunter exhaled. “The occupant is probably a very ambitious reporter named Shamus Quint. I don’t want him ambushing us in the parking lot. He’s not to get near Shelby.”

“Oh, I can assure you, he won’t.” Casual confidence from John Henry. “Have fun with your death row visit.”

“I’m sure it will be a blast.” Hunter disconnected the call. His gaze cut to the rearview mirror again. A black Jeep suddenly lunged from behind the van. It sped up, then cut in front of the news vehicle.

John Henry…following through on his vow.

Hunter turned his attention to the upcoming interrogation. “When you’ve had enough and want to leave, say the word. We will get the hell out of there. Nate will be cuffed at all times. He will never be a physical threat to you.”

“And you’ll be there.”

“At all times,” Hunter vowed.

“Good.” Just that.

His shoulders began to relax…

“Because I always feel better when you’re close. I feel safe with you.”

“You almost got fucking blown up right in front of me.” His shoulders had gone back to being tense. His whole body—tense. “I didn’t keep you safe then. I screwed up.”

Her hand reached out and touched his as he gripped the steering wheel. A much tighter grip now. Her touch burned through him. The way it always did.

“You feel that, too, don’t you?” she asked. “The heat? The need? It’s right beneath the surface, but there is more.”

Yes, he felt it. And he knew there was more.

“The bombing was not your fault. Who could predict that?”

Who, indeed? But he had already asked Declan to do a deep dive into the backgrounds of his main suspects. Yeah, he had a suspect list. How could he not? And he needed to discuss that list with Shelby.

Declan’s tech was second to none. He could do a search on a person and pull up every detail of their lives in record time. Secrets had always been his business.

Her fingers slid away from Hunter’s. “Who do you think set the bomb?”

Ah, time for his suspect list. “My top choices?”

“Uh, yes. Sure.”

“Why don’t you go first, sweetheart?” Because he was curious about her list, and he knew she had one. “Ladies first.”

Her fingers pressed to the tops of her thighs. He caught the small movement from the corner of his eyes. “Gabriel Parker.”

“The not-so-good professor who we believe screws his students.” Hunter nodded. “Definitely on my list, too.”

She hesitated, then, admitted, “Jonah Campbell.”

“Ding, ding. At the top of my suspects.” Maybe it was partially due to jealousy, but…nah, everything about Jonah was suspicious as fuck.

“I’d also like to find that Mika guy—the waiter that Nate fought so long ago. I’d love to ask him some questions. Rochelle didn’t mention what had happened to him, but I am curious.”

Declan’s tech had already turned up this answer. Something Hunter hadn’t been able to share with her yet. “Mika committed suicide three years ago.”

“What?”

“And, according to his obituary, he was mourned by his loving aunt, Rochelle Kaper.”