Page 97 of It Runs in the Family

Where the hell are you, Iris?

I grimaced. I didn’t want him to worry. Plus, I wasn’t sure how he’d react if he saw me at the crime scene. I needed to ease his concerns.

I’m fine, Garrett. I promise. I’m with someone safe. I’ll fill you in later.

I hoped that would appease him, because if I told him the guy who’d crashed Granny’s Sunday dinner—Billy’s tagalong—had been lying in wait for me outside my apartment at seven a.m., he would not be reassured.

You were supposed to spend the day with Trinity.

And she was planning on taking Edward to Waco and leaving her kids with me while she was gone. What was baby Jasper gonna do? Throw his pacifier at the bad guys?

It took him about thirty seconds to respond.

You have a point. Be safe, Irie.

I am

“Everything okay?” Boone asked with a worried expression. “You turned serious.”

“Garrett called, and when I didn’t answer, he texted.”

“He’s worried.”

“Yeah, he’s been my self-appointed protector since my mom came back to Chaffney.”

“When you were five.”

He remembered. “I was fresh meat for Billy. Garrett made sure I was safe.”

“Sounds exactly like a big brother.” He paused. “What did you tell him just now?”

“That I’m with someone, I’m safe, and I’ll tell him more later. Oh. And that Trinity was planning to leave me to babysit while she took Preacher Edward to Waco. So that should appease him.”

“You didn’t tell him you were with me?”

“No. He knows you from yesterday. I don’t think he’d approve since you came with Billy.”

His mouth set into a firm line. “You can’t tell him I’m with the Rangers, Iris. Remember, I’m undercover. I only told you so you’d know you’re safe with me.”

“But he’s—” I cut myself off when I saw flashing lights ahead. “They’ve blocked off the road.”

There were two sheriff’s cars blocking Frontline Road, east of Harker.

Boone’s hand tightened on the wheel. “I’m not surprised, but it sucks that the crime scene’s supposedly a mile down the road.” He shot me a look. “How well do you know the area around here? Is there a farm or a road that could get us closer?”

I thought about what was in the area and then it hit me. “My friend Sarah’s family has a farm that can get us closer.”

He cracked a grin. “You have room in your life for friends?”

“Screw you,” I said with a laugh.

He gave me a wicked look and started to say something, then stopped.

And there went my stomach again, flipping end over end.

I was in trouble, and in this instance, it had nothing to do with Dario Voss.

Chapter Twenty-Five