“Okay, then.” Ian edged backward, increasing the space between them. “Have at it, pal. All yours.” He nodded, walked over to his truck, and in moments was gone, leaving behind a trail of dust that swirled in the air before drifting back down to earth.

I crab-walked a bit closer.

Now that Ian was gone, what was Ryan going to do? None of this had been part of the plan we’d gone over ad infinitum the night before. What happened to the Watch Only part, which as far as I was concerned had been pretty much the most important part if we wanted to get out of this alive and unhurt?

And then I realized. It was different for Ryan. His stakes were much higher. Though I truly and deeply wanted to find the murderer and prove Ryan innocent, if we didn’t, if we couldn’t, I’d go home to my own house, to my own bed.

I was so stupid.

How could I not have thought about it from Ryan’s point of view? Why hadn’t I anticipated that Ryan would be willing to take huge risks to find Pug’s killer? And now, with him facing Skyler, had my mistakes set up a situation where—

No.

It would be fine. Nothing would happen to Ryan. It couldn’t. I wouldn’t let it.

Still crouching, I very slowly and carefully inched forward. There were trees enough that I was mostly hidden from view, so unless Skyler turned completely around, I’d stay hidden. Unless, of course, my movements happened to catch Ryan’s eye and his change in attention made Skyler turn and—

“Stop it,” I told myself. “Stop it. You can do this.”

And, just like the magazine articles said, saying it out loud gave me a confidence boost. After all, nothing horrible had happened yet. Not even a hint of anything horrible. It really would be fine.

Skyler, who’d been watching Ian’s dust settle, turned back to Ryan. “Don’t think he’s coming back, do you?”

“Doesn’t look like it.”

Ryan had said the words. I’d seen his lips move. But his voice hadn’t sounded like anything I’d ever heard him say before. This was a Ryan I’d never met. This was a man who had nothing to lose.

This was seriously not good.

“Where’s the Conti?” Skyler looked around. “One of the small ones, is it? From his bronze period?” When Ryan didn’t say anything, Skyler snorted. “Don’t worry, dude. I don’t care if it’s legit or if it’s stolen. Won’t pay as much for stolen, though, so don’t even try going there.”

Ryan still didn’t say a word.