Early on one of the reasons that Devlin had stayed so far away from me was fear of retribution by the men his father moved with.
“If not them, then who?” Lamar asks.
“Someone close to Joseph,” I say. We’ve already been over some of this with Tamra, though the circumstances were significantly less dire.
“Christopher,” Devlin’s voice is cold and hard and level. I turn to look at him.
“You really think—”
“He had the code,” he interrupts me. “Christopher is the one who gave my keypad code to Anna. We gave him the code.”
I feel sick all over again. “You’re right. That was part of the sting.”
“And I didn’t change it. Fuck me, I can’t believe I didn’t change it. I was in the wrong headspace after everything that went down. I let that personal assault get to me and I missed that detail. I didn’t change my goddamn code back.”
I reach for his hand. “It wasn’t your fault.”
He looks at me, his eyes suggesting that I’m wrong. That it was.
“You didn’t get a notification on your phone that someone was on your porch? Messing with your lock?”
“No,” Devlin says. “I didn’t.” He looks irritated at not having realized that earlier. He takes off his glasses—one lens is cracked—and rubs the bridge of his nose. “So someone with tech skills. Possibly Christopher, assuming he’s been keeping them hidden. Or he had help.”
“It may not have been him,” Lamar says. “A man like you has other enemies.”
He says it, but it’s clear that Christopher is the best bet. Considering all his secrets, I wouldn’t be surprised to learn he’s tech savvy. Plus, he disappeared with such convenient timing. That coupled with his relationship with Blackstone and Anna make him very much at the top of the list in big bold letters. None of us would be hesitating, either, if it weren’t for the fact that his guilt will cause more pain to Brandy, who we all three love.
The chime from my phone startles us all, and I look down, not surprised when I see that it’s her. I look up and meet both their eyes, seeing their realization that it’s her as well. “Should I take it?”
“Answer,” Lamar says. “This must be all over the news. She’s probably worried sick.”
I almost kick myself. Of course it’s all over the news. This is Devlin Saint’s house, and this is the world of social media. I answer before it rings a third time.
“Oh my God, oh my God. Are you okay?” The words spill out before I even have a chance to say hello. “The news is saying that Devlin’s house exploded —”
“Brandy, we’re fine! Brandy!” She doesn’t answer, and I’m starting to get really worried. Then her voice comes back on the line. “Oh, fuck.”
Now I really am worried. I know she’s scared, but Brandy’s not a curser. “What? What is it? Are you okay?”
“I just got a text. It’s from Christopher. He says that he didn’t do it. That he’s sorry about everything. But he wants me to know that he didn’t do this.”
I look up and see Devlin’s brow furrowed in curiosity. Clearly he can’t parse out what I’m saying from one side of the conversation. “Christopher texted you?” I say, both so Devlin and Lamar can hear, but also so that I’m absolutely sure I’m understanding this.
“Yes, yes!”
“And he says that he didn’t do this. Just out of the blue like that?”
“Yes.”
“Do you believe him?” I don’t actually mean the question for Brandy. It’s Devlin’s opinion I want. But she answers in my ear.
“I don’t know. I don’t know what to think.”
“Brandy. I have to go. The police are here. Lamar’s here too. He’s going to get a black and white to take me and Devlin to you. We’ll be there soon. Okay? I don’t think you’re in any danger but keep the door locked and the alarm set. Promise?”
She promises, and as soon as I hang up the phone, I look between Devlin and Lamar. “Well? What do you guys believe?”
“About Christopher?” Devlin says. “I don’t know either. To be honest right now I don’t even care. The only thing that I have in my mind is keeping you safe.”
“I’m doing what you said,” Lamar says. He signals for a uniformed officer to come over then gives them Brandy’s address. “No argument. Go to her place, stay there, don’t leave until I get there. I’ll be there as soon as I can, and I’ll update you both.”
He looks at both of