“Hmm, guys? I don’t mean to be a party pooper, but is it just me or is there a dude with a black coat following us?” Sailor raised an eyebrow.
“Where?” Aisling looked left and right, confused.
“Three o’clock.”
Aisling and Persephone immediately froze, subtly trying to sneak a few glances. I had less finesse than that. I turned my head sharply, narrowing my eyes at a man who was tucked behind a tree a few dozen feet from us. He was tall and broad. He wore a hat and was clad in all black from head to toe, so I couldn’t see what he looked like.
“Is this something you should tell Sam about?” Persy asked Aisling.
Aisling frowned, her eyebrows drawing together. “I don’t think so. He has no open beefs with anyone right now. Ever since he dismantled the Russians, things have been quiet. Maybe even too quiet for his taste. If he thought I was in any kind of danger, he wouldn’t let me out the door without at least two of his soldiers.”
It was true. Sam would recruit an entire army to keep Aisling safe. If she didn’t have bodyguards, that meant Sam was having a peaceful year.
“What about you?” Sailor spun to Persephone. Even though my sister’s husband was clean as a whistle in his business, there was no denying kidnapping his family was a lucrative idea.
Persy shook her head. “The Fitzpatrick clan works with a security company. All former secret service agents. We always know what level of threat we’re facing for every scenario, including kidnapping. Right now it’s low because Royal Pipeline’s stock is tanking on Wall Street.”
“Poor you,” I purred. “However will you pay your next month’s mortgage?”
All eyes drifted toward me. I looked over my shoulder again. The man was gone now, but I bet he just found another tree to hide behind.
“What?” I huffed. “Who could be going after me?”
There was one person I could think of, actually, but they were very dead.
“Maybe one of the nutcases who writes you letters?” Sailor suggested. “You’re one of the most notorious women in Boston, Belle.”
“No freaking way. Those guys can barely operate a landline, let alone plot a well-executed murder.” But I tugged redheaded Rooney closer to me, just in case. “I bet it’s just a creep who’s going to rub one off after we’re gone.”
“Mommy, what’s to rub one off?” Rooney clucked at Sailor, who shot me an are-you-happy-now look. My expression told her, yes, very.
“Well … I can see him again now, and he is looking at you, Belle.” Persephone’s voice was a sharp blade rolling against my skin.
The small hairs on the back of my neck pricked. My palms became sweaty. Mentally, I sifted through all the issues I had with people throughout the years, but nothing seemed big enough to warrant … this.
Logic dictated that Aisling, with her mafia prince husband, and Persy, who was married to one of the richest （and cruelest） men on planet Earth, were the prime targets. But they were both right—precisely because their husbands knew their situations, they made security arrangements to make it impossible for them to get hurt.
“Is there anything you’re not telling us?” Aisling crooned, using her best peacemaker tone. “You can tell us. You know we’re on your side. Always.”
But I couldn’t.
Because there was nothing to tell.
“Everything’s fine.” I tried to catch another glimpse behind my back.
A trail of a black peacoat disappeared behind a statue.
Oh fuck that.
“Hold this please.” I gave Sailor Rooney’s leash and started after the man. I ran toward the statue, fury burning like acid in my bloodstream. No matter who this man was after, he had a lot to answer for.
I bolted behind the statue to find him leaning against it, scrolling through pictures on his phone. Pictures of my back, I realized, when I caught a glimpse of my red peacoat on his screen.
“Cute number, huh? You should see the front.” I swung my fist backward, about to punch him square in the face. His eyes snapped up. He let out a groan, and took off. My fist slung across the air, hitting nothing.
I began chasing him. Persy was at my feet.
“Belle!” she exclaimed, frantic and breathless. “Come back. You can’t do this!”
Of course I could do this.
It was my duty to do this.
I vowed long ago to never let men hurt women just because they could. Because they were physically stronger.
I picked up my pace while my sister ran behind me. The man was gaining speed. Meanwhile, Persy had decided to show her athletic side for the first time since she was born and managed to catch up with me, tugging me back to the others by my coat collar.