Page 246 of The Bluffing Game

“Fuck,” I say because I know it’s true.

Jimmy did a lot of bad work for my dad, but he left with me. I know he wants to be a different guy, but just because we chose a different path doesn’t mean that people aren’t still out for him.

“He’s doing it for her,” Brett says. “He said to me that he would be the most dangerous thing in her life, that he doesn’t think he’s a good enough guy, that …” Brett sighs. “Anyway, he thinks it’s better if she doesn’t know, but you and I, we have no secrets.”

“I know. So, he really won’t tell her?”

“I thought when I came in the other day, that would force his hand, that would make him want to tell her, but he didn’t.”

“So, what the fuck am I supposed to do with this information, Brett? I cannot lie to her again. I’ve done it twice already. I don’t …”

“Let’s see what happens in the next couple of days. Maybe he’ll reconsider. Maybe we can force his hand. Maybe. I don’t know, but don’t tell her just yet. Can you keep it a secret?”

I let out a deep sigh. “I guess I can. I’ve done it before.” I look to the bedroom door and think about Sage. I don’t know if she’ll ever get over this if she finds out that I knew. “This is a big thing, Brett. She deserves to know the truth.”

“But don’t you want her safe?” he says. “At the end of the day, isn’t this all about keeping her safe? Sometimes, the truth puts people in danger—you know that.”

“Yeah. Anything else I should know before I get off the phone?”

“Just that I’m sorry. I’m thinking I might go out of town for a couple of months. Things here … well, they’re getting too emotionally complicated and weird, and I don’t know that⁠—”

“What are you talking about, Brett? What is getting emotionally weird and complicated and⁠—”

“Nothing. I just think it might be time for me to work on some other things right now. I’ll be back in a couple of months.”

“Brett, I don’t understand what⁠—”

“Look, I’ve got to go. I’ll speak to you later, Dalton.”

He hangs up before I can continue the conversation.

Fucking Jimmy the Fish. I want to call him, but I know whatever conversation I have with him, it has to be in person. I don’t even know how I’m going to be able to look Sage in the face, knowing what I know, but I’ll have to do it. I’ll protect her heart with my life.

I open the door and head back into the bedroom, a wide smile on my face. I don’t want her to know anything about the conversation that I just had.

She looks up from the bed. “What’s got you so happy?”

Her hair has started to come out of her ponytail and hangs by the side of her face, and I want to reach over and tuck it behind her ear, but I know that’s not my place.

“Nothing,” I say. “I think it’s time for me to go to bed.” I grin at her. “I hope you don’t mind.”

I pull off my shirt and throw it to the ground, and she swallows hard as she shifts over.

“I mean, you can take the floor.” She looks pointedly at the floor, and I laugh.

“I’m a big guy, Sage. I’m not taking the floor.”

“Well, then please make sure you stay on your side. I can build a pillow wall if you’d like, if that would make you feel more comfortable.”

I grin at her. “I know you’ll find it hard keeping your hands off of me.”

“Me find it hard keeping my hands off of you?” She picks up a pillow and throws it at me. “I don’t think so.”

“Well, then we don’t need a pillow wall. I already told you, I’m not going to touch you.”

“Okay then, good.”

“You can do whatever you want to do, and it still won’t make me touch you.”