Since yesterday’s big family reveal, and after hours of not being able to get any response from Kennedy except a terse “she’s fine” text from Liam, Gabby was out of patience. She didn’t have much in the way of understanding or mercy either. The man in front of her had screwed with her family, she was certain about that, and he was going to stop, or she was going to cause a scene that would make everyone forget about his invented news sources.

“Whatever happened is a message for you. Subtle but firm. They want you to know they can find out about the secrets you thought you had buried. That they can get to you and the people you care about.” Rob took out a lined yellow legal pad, as if he was going to take notes on this mess.

They, they, they. She wasn’t buying the idea of some secret cabal turning her life upside down. “You did this.”

Some of the feral excitement that had flowed around him at the mention of a possible conspiracy faded. Now he looked concerned. “What exactly happened?”

He dared to sound confused, which cleared the haze off her growing rage. “Pretend ignorance doesn’t suit you. I’m talking about the note you sent to my daughter.”

“Please sit down.” He used his foot to push out the chair across from him.

The few people in the place, including the innocent barista, started looking a little twitchy about her hovering over the table, so she sat. “Fine.”

“I didn’t send anything to your daughter. I don’t even know your daughter.” He leaned in. “Think about it. There’s no reason for me to sneak around and threaten your kid. I came straight to you, just as I’ve gone to others, trying to warn you before it was too late.”

“Other what?” Every word he said dragged her in deeper, but she had to know the endgame here. That was the only way to stop him.

“We shouldn’t discuss this out in the open.”

As if she’d never taken a self-protection class and would just invite some disgraced guy to join her in private. “This is your only choice. Say what you have to say to me here, or I’m leaving.”

“You don’t understand what—”

“You have exactly one shot to convince me what everyone is saying about you is wrong. Choose your conversation topic with care.” That was a lie, which she’d apparently gotten very good at over the years. She needed fodder, evidence to discredit him and protect Kennedy. She needed him to talk and keep talking.