A few seconds later, my own phone buzzed. My stylist, Cheree. No doubt returning my call about an appointment.

I didn’t answer.

I already had an appointment.

And truth be told, I was looking forward to it.

Reid returned fifteen minutes later, and our food arrived. We didn’t talk a lot as we ate. Reid seemed preoccupied.

“Is everything okay?” I finally asked.

He swallowed his bite of food. “Nothing for you to worry about.”

“I’m not worried. I mean…you just seem a little different. Was that phone call bad news?”

“Not really.”

He didn’t sound convinced, though, and I didn’t believe him. “Can I help?”

He regarded me, his gaze serious. “Maybe.”

Uh-oh. I’d walked right into that one. He was going to ask again that I tell my story. I felt like I was going to puke all over my yogurt.

But I’d offered. “How?” I asked.

“Looks like I have to get back to New York earlier than expected. Can you come with me?”

Say what?

“No. Why would you need me to?”

“Zee,” he said, “you’re the only one who knows about my father’s extracurricular hunting activities.”

I gulped. “Yeah…but you said…”

“That I wouldn’t push. And I won’t. Neither will my brothers and sister. But something has come up in the case, and we need you now more than ever.”

“Reid, I—”

“I’m leaving this evening. I want you to come with me.”

“My show…”

“Do you have any PTO?”

“Paid time off? Yeah, but they like a little more than an hour’s notice.”

“I can take care of it for you.”

“You don’t know my director.”

He smiled. “Your director doesn’t know me.”

I had no answer for that. He was no doubt right. The Wolfes made things happen on a daily basis. He might pay off my director. We had subs who were available at a moment’s notice. This could definitely happen.

Still, I had a work ethic. This wasn’t me.

“I’m not asking you to take time off for a luxury cruise or something,” Reid continued. “This is important. My family is at stake here. One of us could go down for something we didn’t do.”

“I don’t know, Reid.”

“If you say no, I’ll let it drop,” he said. “But please, Zee. Please.”

20

Reid

“It means a flight in our private jet,” I prodded.

Then I wanted to punch myself. Money and luxury didn’t matter to Zee. A simple life where she was safe and comfortable did.

That was the weapon I needed to use.

“Look,” I said. “If you come, and we can get the other guy who hurt you behind bars, you won’t have to be afraid anymore.”

She still didn’t look up at me.

Time to give up. I cared for her, and I’d promised I wouldn’t push.