In the six months I’d been at the law firm, I’d gone on two vacations with Ricky. Gabriel rarely took a day off, and I suspect he’s never actually been on a holiday. I know he doesn’t own a passport. Maybe now, seeing me take vacations, he thought, You know, I could do with some of that. But one of the reasons I suspect he’d never done it before was that he had no one to travel with. So now, having decided he’d like a weekend trip, he framed it as a surprise getaway for me. This wasn’t Gabriel fleeing Seanna—it was Gabriel safeguarding his weekend away.

“You’re right,” I said. “I could use a break. Rest and refocus.”

“Exactly.”

He drove another couple of miles in silence and then said, “That shot to the leg doesn’t seem to have slowed Seanna down.”

“So should I aim higher next time?”

He chuckled and relaxed his grip on the wheel. “No. I was only raising the subject to say that, while I’m not averse to the thought of her being shot, I’d rather you didn’t do it again. She’ll be quick to press charges next time, and I don’t want you dealing with that.”

“I won’t. She just pissed me off.”

“Something she said?”

I made a noise in my throat.

“She insulted you?”

“Not—” I stopped myself, but it was too late. He’d laid the trap and I’d fallen straight into it.

“She insulted me,” he said.

“She pissed me off.”

“I won’t pretend that I don’t find that more gratifying than I should, but I will ask you not to let her get to you. I’m quite accustomed to her insults.” He handed me my mocha. “Drink up. We’ll be there soon.”

—

When we arrived at our destination, I was out of the car before it even stopped, Lloergan shoving through the seat gap to follow me, alarmed by my haste. I gave her a quick pat and then dashed up the steps and around to the back porch, and when Gabriel found me, I was leaning on the railing, gazing out at the lake.

I grinned over at him. “Does it only get cell phone reception on Tuesdays, if I hold my phone just right?”

“With any luck, it doesn’t get cell phone reception at all.”

“I can make sure of that.” I took mine out, shut it off, and then raced down the back steps and started crossing the rocks.

“Careful, Olivia. It’s slippery.”

“Then you’ll have to come and keep me safe,” I called back. “After you change into those jeans you claim to have bought. Come on, Lloe. Time to explore.”

CHAPTER NINE