Page 103 of The Rebel Billionaire

I rolled over, punching the flat hotel pillow until it was thick enough to support my neck comfortably. I needed to get a good night’s sleep. I needed my brain sharp to finish upthisjob.

It wasn't dangerous. I was working undercover as a suit in a cubicle, gathering evidence to trap a clever embezzler two cubicles over. I had almost everything I needed for the client to press charges. In another day or two, I couldgohome.

Home was the last place I wanted to be. I'd kept Charlie out of my house for a reason. Now that I'd let her in, I'd see her everywhere. I'd never be able to look at my bed again without remembering Charlie there, the sheet wrapped around her long limbs, her dark hair spilling across thepillow.

I should've taken her up on the suggestion of ahotel.

I had to do something. I couldn't go on like this, obsessed with a woman I couldn't have. A woman who probably hated me after the callous way I'd walked outonher.

I couldn't get her back, but I could make sure she was safe. Before I went in to my last day on the job, I'd call Evers. There was no question the Sinclairs had their eyes on her. I could check in and make sure she was allright.

At exactly 8:30 the next morning, I dialed Evers's number. I'd managed to catch a few hours of sleep after I decided tocallhim.

I was braced for attitude. Charlie was like a little sister to all the Sinclairs and I'd hurt her. She told me the way those guys talked. Given that she'd run straight to her brother, I imagined the assembled Winters and Sinclair crew were out for my blood. It was no less than Ideserved.

Evers picked up on thesecondring.

"Jackson, I was going to call you today," he said, no hint of anger in his voice. He sounded friendlier than I'd everheardhim.

My guardwentup.

"Were you?" I asked evenly. "Whatabout?"

"We'll get to that later. Why did you call me? Something on your mind?" He almost sounded as if he were teasing me. I wasn't goingtobite.

"Everything quiet there?" Iasked.

"So far. What's bothering you?" Evers's voice sharpened on thequestion.

"Nothing specific," I admitted. "I just . . . I'm not solid on Marissa Archer for Charlie's stalker. The evidence linesup,but—"

A short gust of air sounded through the phone, as if Evers let out a heldbreath.

"I'm with you," he said. "We've got eyes on Charlie. Not all the time, but here and there. She still carrying her panic button and being smart about using the system at her house. I want to think all of it was Marissa. Makesiteasy."

"But you're not convinced either,"Isaid.

"No. And she's not talking. She hasn't said a fucking word. The last thing she said was to Charlie. 'He's still out there. And he's not done.' She knows what happened. I believe she delivered those pictures, though I have no fucking clue why. But I just don't see her going after Charlie. The vandalism, that note—those things were personal to Charlie. They had nothing to do with herfamily."

"It doesn't make sense," I finishedforhim.

"No, itdoesn't."

"Doessheknow?"

"Charlie? Does she know we're not solid on Marissa Archer? No. Aiden knows. So doesJacob."

"The rest of them?" I asked. If her family hovered, it would drive Charlie nuts, but she was safer if they all knew she might be indanger.

"We're trying to keep it low-key. We don't have any proof that she's still in danger. Nothing's happened since you've been gone. But if you're convinced her stalker is still out there, then why the hell did you leave?" Evers's voice went hard. "Everyone said you two were good together, then you just walked outonher."

"Is this really your business?" I asked. I'd known this was coming, but I wasn't going to talk about Charlie with Evers. Looked like he wasn't going to give me anotheroption.

"Are you fucking kidding me? If you think Charlie isn't my business, you haven't been paying attention. Or you're not as smart as I think you are. Did you get bored? She wasn't enough for you? Or was she too muchtrouble?"

"You don't know what the hell you're talking about," I said. "It wasn't about Charlie. Charlie is fucking perfect. Anyone who can't see that is anidiot."

"Then what? Seriously, I don't want to do a play-by-play of your whole relationship, but just tell me why you'd walk away from Charlie if you think she's so fuckingperfect."