Chapter 9

Trevor’s mindraced as he watched the interaction.

He didn’t like any of this.

Had Sadie been cheating on Guy?

Had she been dating Guy for three months, and then started to see Trevor?

She hadn’t struck him as a cheater.

Then again, nothing Larchmont had told him had struck Trevor as the truth.

But what if it was?

Or what if . . . this guy was a fake? After all, if someone was trying to kill Sadie, there was no better way to do so than by pretending to be someone she could trust.

Trevor sucked in a breath as he realized he was essentially doing the same thing. He was purposefully deceiving Sadie. Could he really live with himself for doing this?

Right now, he didn’t have much choice.

The best thing he could do was to find answers—about her secrets, her identity.

He couldn’t back out now. The stakes were too high.

He would have to let this play out.

Either way, he had some research to do.

Right now, Sadie gazed at him, her eyes pleading with him to help.

He stepped closer to Guy. “She asked you for some time.”

Guy stepped back, his eyes narrowed. “I’m sorry, who are you? I don’t think you ever said.”

The question wasn’t one of confusion or desperation. Instead, Guy barked the words as if he demanded an answer.

“He saved me,” Sadie said before Trevor could respond. “Now I’ve hired him.”

“Hired him?” Guy’s voice rose. “A stranger?” Then Guy turned back to Trevor. “You are officially relieved of your duties. I’m here now, and I can take care of her. She’s my girlfriend.”

Trevor’s jaw hardened. “You’re not the one who hired me. I’ll go when Sadie tells me to go.”

Guy’s eyes narrowed, and he let out a condescending chuckle. “Sadie isn’t in her right mind. She doesn’t know what she’s saying or what she wants.”

Trevor resisted the growl that wanted to emerge. This guy rubbed him the wrong way—on more than one level. “She knows enough to know she would like me to protect her.”

“I should be the one protecting her.” Guy pointed at himself, his eyes bulging.

“Enough!”

Both men turned toward Sadie. The confusion had slipped from her gaze, and in its place was white-hot irritation.

Maybe Trevor shouldn’t have argued with Guy so much. After all, Sadie did have a head injury also. Their voices had risen right along with their testosterone. It couldn’t be good for her recovery.

Trevor waited to hear what she had to say. Waited to see if he’d be fired.

If so, how would he stay close to her?

How would he find answers and keep her safe?

* * *

Sadie’s head pounded.

Thankfully, both men had shut up. Now they stared at her, waiting for her to make a decision.

Only she didn’t know what the right decision was. She only knew what she wanted.

And that was for Guy to leave.

Maybe the choice defied logic. Maybe it didn’t make sense. Maybe she’d even regret it. She had no idea.

She swallowed hard and licked her lips before looking at Guy. “Do I have any pets?”

“What?”

“Do I need to send someone to take care of a dog or cat? I can’t remember, so . . .”

Guy stared at her a moment before shaking his head. “No dogs or cats.”

“Fish or birds?”

His gaze narrowed. “No.”

“What about my parents? Should I call them? Will they be worried?”

He hesitated again before saying, “They passed away when you were young.”

Sadie stared at him another moment before shrugging and letting out a sigh. “I don’t know what to say. I just need some time. I’m not ready to make any big decisions or leave.”

“So you want to stay here with this stranger?” Guy pointed his thumb toward Trevor as if the man were a lunatic.

“He’s here because I asked him to be here not because he insisted on it. Besides, right now, everyone is a stranger.”

Guy threw his hands up. “What if he can’t be trusted?”

“I’m sorry, but right now I don’t know if I can trust you either.” She swallowed hard again as she saw the hurt wash through Guy’s gaze.

He ran a hand over his face. “Don’t do this, Sadie.”

“I’m sorry. I truly do need time. I’m so . . . overwhelmed. I know you want to help me navigate this, but I’m not ready yet.”

Guy slowly nodded before taking a reluctant step back. “You and all your boundaries . . . I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.”

With one last scathing glare at Trevor, Guy stepped out of the room and shut the door behind him.

Then Sadie turned to Trevor as he stood on the other side of her bed. His entire body appeared taut and defensive, as if he’d been ready to pounce on Guy if it had become necessary.

Guy’s protectiveness had bothered her. Trevor’s did not.

Why was that?

“Did I do the right thing?” A touch of doubt filled her voice.

“Guy needs to respect your boundaries. If what you need is for him not to pressure you right now, then you absolutely did the right thing.”

Trevor’s words filled her with a surprising measure of comfort and reassurance.

Having someone here who understood her did wonders for her mental well-being.

But she still had so much she needed to figure out.

“Trevor . . . I saw a man out the window.” She rubbed her throat. “I don’t know why, but he made me uneasy.”

Trevor’s muscles tightened. “When?”

“Maybe thirty or forty minutes ago. I don’t know where he went.”

“Can you describe him?”

She shook her head. “He was wearing all black.”

“You didn’t recognize him?”

She licked her lips. “No, it was just a feeling.”

A strange emotion crossed Trevor’s face. But as quickly as it appeared, it was gone.

Did he know something she didn’t?

Or was her mind just playing tricks on her?