Page 23 of My Cruel Salvation

“So that means Joseph could be the one who outed you. And White would have had reason to as well. You left and screwed him out of what he believed was his. If he somehow learned the truth…”

Devlin nods. “I don’t know how he could have, but as you once mentioned, no secret is completely in the vault. I trust the brass who helped me, but there were others down the ladder who would have had access.”

“If they were bribed, might be a good place to start asking questions.”

He nods. “Ronan’s already got some of the team on that.”

I’m not surprised. Devlin and his people are nothing if not thorough.

“My money’s still on Blackstone,” I tell him. “The timing is too coincidental. And surely Anna told him who you really are.”

He nods. “It’s a concern, but Christopher swears she didn’t.”

I scowl at the name. “Assuming she would have told him. For that matter, assuming he’s telling the truth.”

“You’re still concerned about him.”

I start to deny it, then shrug. A thriller writer, Christopher Doyle came to Laguna Cortez ostensibly to use the foundation’s library to research a new novel with a human trafficking element. All of which is true. It’s the part he didn’t share that worries me.

“He’s dating Brandy,” I say, stating the obvious. “And he’s Joseph Blackstone’s half-brother, and he was Anna’s close friend. We know that Blackstone’s either causing the leaks in your operation or he’s benefitting from them. And, oh yeah, Anna tried to kill me. Several times. On the one hand I hate the idea of guilt by association. On the other…”

I trail off. Because, honestly, it really is all guilt by association. And isn’t that what the press is doing to Devlin right this very minute?

I gather my thoughts as I watch a couple stroll on a nearby path. A jogger overtakes them, his head turning to stare in our direction. I frown, because I’m pretty sure he’s the same jogger in red I noticed a few moments ago. I almost say something to Devlin, but the guy shifts his attention back to the path and continues on.

“Did I lose you?”

“Sorry. Distracted.” I draw a breath. “I guess I’m not being fair to Christopher. He’s been good to Brandy. Good for her, too. And, yes, I understand why he didn’t want to have his name associated with Blackstone. Who would?”

“Agree,” Devlin said. “Add to that the fact that the investigation after Anna’s death turned up nothing to suggest he was involved. To the contrary, Christopher testified against Joseph, remember?”

I nod. After Anna’s death, the investigation had revealed that Christopher had turned snitch against his half-brother on some drug-related charges years before. “I know. I just—”

“You don’t want to see Brandy hurt.” He puts down his coffee and takes my hand as an energetic Labrador that reminds me of Jake bounds by, chasing a frisbee. “Believe me, I don’t either. But Christopher was completely cooperative. Lamar said he passed the polygraph with flying colors.”

“I know.” I shrug, remembering when Lamar had confirmed that piece of information. “He’s just a guy from a bad family who came to the foundation to research a thriller and got sucked into the quagmire. Hell, it could be the plot for his next book.”

He shares my smile. “It really could.” He finishes his bagel, then tosses the wrapping into the can next to our bench. “How’s Brandy doing?”

“She’s good. Like you said, he’s never been anything but awesome to her. I think she was a little pissed that he didn’t tell her he was connected to Joseph Blackstone, but why would he? Blackstone was part of The Wolf’s world, and Christopher didn’t know that was a world you were part of.”

He frowns. “Did she tell him?”

I shake my head. “No. But I guess he knows now. The whole world does. Including Joseph Blackstone.” I suck in a deep breath. “Which means that he’s not the only threat.”

“No,” Devlin agrees. “Just the most identifiable one.”

I sigh and crumple the paper my bagel had been wrapped in. “Mr. Saint, you do lead a complicated life.”

“Fortunately, I have a very uncomplicated woman at my side.”

I almost spit the sip of coffee I’d just taken in an effort not to laugh. “You better not.”

“Fair enough. I have a complicated woman who I dearly love. And,” he adds, his eyes darkening, “about whom I worry.”

“I get that,” I say. “Honestly, I worry about both of us. But I still say that maybe this is a positive thing. No more hiding, right?”

He chuckles. “Baby, I was hiding for a reason. And, well, it wasn’t even really hiding, was it? I’m not Alex. I’m not Alejandro. I’m Devlin Saint, and he’s always been very much in the open.”