Mind of Danger (Body of Danger #3) - Sidney Bristol Page 0,39

three.

“Jo?” He tapped on the door. “I’ll go downstairs, okay?”

“Okay,” she squeaked out.

She listened to Elias move around the bedroom, then the final thunk of the door shutting.

The tension coiled inside of her wasn’t budging.

Jo cleaned up a bit more then got dressed, all while her brain kept repeating that one line.

I love you.

She could barely remember her mother ever telling her that.

Jo had been an accidental pregnancy. An unfaithful moment in a turbulent marriage. Her sister’s father had been hostile her entire life. Honestly, it was a relief when Mom divorced him. Too bad that relief had been short lived. Mom and her sister had aimed their resentment at Jo, because someone had to shoulder the blame when it came to being at fault.

All she’d ever wanted was to belong. The only times she’d felt that were when Elias was still part of their unit, and now.

God, she needed out of here.

Jo tip-toed out into the bedroom and found her phone still on the nightstand with her keycard. Elias was going to come back and want to talk. She didn’t think she could talk and be reasonable. Not tonight. Not after he’d said that.

So, she ran right back to her room. Not that it was far away. Elias knew where she was.

Five minutes of pacing and no better answers later her phone buzzed.

It was Elias.

Biting her lip she sat on the edge of the bed and tapped the message.

Back. Sorry that took so long. Coming with you tomorrow. Sleep tight.

She blew out a breath.

No apology or shrugging off his previous words, and for some reason she felt as though that were a win. Now, what the hell was she going to say to him tomorrow?

9.

Friday. Newark, New Jersey.

Elias stared out the passenger window of the cab at the city.

He hadn’t gotten a single moment alone with Jo since last night. She’d texted him back that morning, claiming she’d fallen asleep the instant her head hit the pillow last night.

Bull and shit.

There was no denying that Jo had run from him. That didn’t sit well with him, but he also knew he couldn’t force his feelings on her either. It wasn’t her fault he’d nursed this crush over the years. He just wished there was some time, a moment, anything, amidst all of this where they could talk.

His phone vibrated in his pocket.

Elias pulled the device out, only a little disappointed it wasn’t Jo texting him from the back seat.

It was Merida. Her job title was still evolving. Calling her the Office Manager or Zain’s assistant downplayed the pivotal role she played in things. And then there was last year.

He’d been the guy on-site when the disaster that was last Christmas began. Merida and her now fiancé were the only reason they’d all survived. It had forged a close friendship between them. Hell, he was closer to Merida than he was with his own sisters at this point.

Elias tapped the text, already groaning silently.

Why am I only now hearing you have a girlfriend?????

He breathed a deep breath.

Merida was in sister mode. Great. She got under his skin like no other. They butted heads. And at the end of the day, they would always be friends. There was something about surviving impossible odds together that built a bond that could not easily be broken.

Like what he had with Jo. Or hoped he did.

What if it was all one-sided?

No, he couldn’t go there.

He tapped out a reply.

An old friend.

Elias hit send, then thought better of his three-word reply.

It wasn’t like he could reach out to his sisters. Merida was the closest thing he had to a relationship sounding board. Before he could reword his answer, Merida replied.

Old friend, my ass. Zain said you two looked cozy. Spill!

The taxi eased to a stop at a red light.

They still had a ways to go. Then there was the clothing change and another drive before things went down. He had time.

Jo was in my unit. She’s someone I care about. Helping her out with a thing.

He hit send, then kept typing. Maybe he did need another woman’s opinion?

I don’t know what we are now. Are you going to be an ass if I’m honest?

Elias stared at the screen, willing Merida to reply immediately.

He didn’t have to wait long for her reply.

Sweet Jesus. You like her! Have you always liked her? Is she why you never went on any of those dates I tried to set you up with?

Guilty.

He cringed.

It probably said something about him that