The Protector (Barrett Boys #3) - Jordan Ford Page 0,86
for the subtle move… if I knew it wouldn’t make things worse.
I wink at her, then turn my attention back to Burk, who looks on the verge of breaking.
His gaze shifts from the floor, bypassing Castle and landing straight on Ruby.
I frown and glance at the door.
She’s shaking her head—just a quick jerky movement that we’re obviously not supposed to notice.
But Azim does. His eyebrows dip together, and he moves toward her.
“What’s going on?” he asks.
She raises her right eyebrow, her haughty expression twisting my guts. “That’s what I’m waiting to find out,” she clips, her eyes narrowing on Burk. “I have no idea what he’s been up to, but I’d truly love to know why he’s put Indigo at risk. Think very carefully about your answer, Burk. This family won’t tolerate any more of your lies.”
Burk’s face goes even paler than it was before. The look of hurt flashing on his face actually makes me pity him for a moment. His forehead dents into a confused, wounded frown.
“Lies?” he rasps. “I did this for you. To make you happy!”
She balks, her mouth dropping open on a gasp. “What are you talking about? I had no idea what you were up to!”
His pain is being overridden by anger. It’s a sharp contrast, so swift it’s like whiplash.
“Save the bullshit for someone else!” Burk tries to stand but is shoved back down in his chair. “You wanted her gone, but college wasn’t enough. You told me permanent! The letter was your idea!”
Ruby’s eyes bulge, and she shakes her head.
“Stop it!” Burk shouts. “Stop lying to everyone! We had a plan. I was gonna go as her guard. Tell them!”
“I don’t know what you’re saying.” Ruby’s voice pitches. “Why are you doing this?” Her eyes dart to Indy before she flashes an angry glare at Burk.
“You told me you loved me,” he whispers, and I’m starting to wonder if Ruby is Burk’s booty call. The one Wren spoke about on the phone. “I did this for you. I would have done anything for you.”
“Oh my gosh,” Indy whispers looking, from Burk to Ruby and back again. “Are they a couple?”
The shock in the room is vibrating as we all scramble to make sense of this.
Indy points at her sister. “You wrote that note knowing Daddy wouldn’t let me go to college, but then planted the idea in my head that I should take a guard with me.”
Ruby sniffs and crosses her arms. “You’re crazy. You’re both crazy. I was only joking when I said that.”
“She did.” Burk huffs and shakes his head. “I was gonna go with you. I was gonna…”
“Make it look like an accident,” I grit out.
Burk closes his eyes. “But then Azim chose you, and I had to call on a little help from my cousin. Ruby was offering to pay him, but… that guy doesn’t need much incentive.”
“Stop bringing me into this!” Ruby scoffs, waving her arm in the air. “Why are you turning on me!”
“You wrote the second note too.” Indy looks at Ruby. Her voice is cool and detached. I wonder what she’s feeling—anger, rage, pity, pain. It’s impossible to tell. “Wren couldn’t get me alone because Brody was there.” She looks up at me, her eyes smiling a little. “You did such a good job of protecting me.”
“Until I was sent back here.” I aim a glare at Burk.
He sighs, his defeated posture telling me he can’t be bothered with lies anymore. What’s the point?
“Wren was trying to figure out how to get you away from her. We had to get you fired, but you were so freaking perfect all the time. Then Wren found out you had a twin brother at Stanford. We started digging. Made calls. Hunted him down and found out that your real name was Brody Adams and you worked for Alpha Security. Before we knew it, we had you.”
Azim sighs. “I didn’t even question it when you brought me that information. I was too angry.”
I wince, trying to apologize with a look. Azim shakes his head.
Burk keeps talking. “You got sent back, and Wren got his window. I didn’t give specifics of how to do it, just that it needed to look like an accident.” He lets out a cold, hard snigger. “But Wren never plays by the rules. And now I’m gonna go down with him.” His eyes go dark with rage, tracking over to Ruby as he spits the words, “All for love.”