“Zoom in on her, Bogs,” he demanded.
Bogs punched a few keys and Sadie’s face took up the whole screen. He looked at her tear-filled eyes. Her face became sadder as he watched her scroll down the screen. She was reading the news articles, he bet. She was reading about Macey. Tears fell from her eyes. Then, her sad eyes suddenly changed to surprise.
“This is when Ethan messaged. He thought you guys were back,” Bogs stated.
Sadie looked shocked and surprised and if he wasn’t mistaken, guilty. She jumped back from the screen and looked around the room. When she turned back to the screen, she looked scared. Then the screen went black.
“I shut it down when I thought the line was compromised,” Bogs explained.
Stone stood silent with the others waiting on him. He was conflicted. He trusted Sadie and she betrayed him by sneaking around digging through their stuff.
“What ya wanna do, man?” T asked.
Stone kept his eyes on the dark screen. He didn’t know what he wanted to do. How much did she piece together? Would the information she got be enough or would she continue to dig?
Bogs shook his head and sighed. “I like her bro, ya know I do but…how much do we really know about Sadie besides what’s in her file?
As much as it angered him to hear it, Bogs was right. He didn’t know her all that well, did he?
T spoke again in a low voice. “Look, she didn’t know this was my room; that was obvious tonight, right? Give her a chance to explain.”
Stone nodded. Bogs as stood up and slapped Stone on the back as he passed by. He was sure they all had the same thought. They were all hoping she had a good reason for being in T’s room.
Stone followed Bogs out of the room with T at his back. Once in the kitchen, he saw her drying her hands. She looked over her shoulder and smiled at him.
“See you tomorrow! Sadie, sweetheart, have a good night and please don’t trash any more furniture!” Bogs walked out as he waved to Sadie.
“Good night.” Stone watched her face flush with embarrassment. Bogs would never let her live this down.
Stone came over to her and touched her hand. Sadie grabbed his and followed him back down the hall. T was behind her. Sadie turned around as she pulled Stone’s hand back to get his attention. They were at T’s bedroom door. T walked in and turned around to look at them. He raised his brows, waiting on Sadie to say something.
“Babe, what’s up?” Stone asked her. She seemed nervous the way her eyes darted between him and T. Sadie inhaled a deep breath and gripped his hand. She looked at Stone.
“Last night, after everybody left, I was heading down to your room when I heard a beeping sound. It was coming from this room. T’s room,” Sadie pointed into the room and directed her words to T, “but I had no idea this was your room, I swear. Stone didn’t mention you guys shared. I swear, T, I didn’t know and if I did there’s no way, I would have gone in.” She finished with a gulp.
T’s eyes shot to Stone. He kept his stare hard but Stone knew what he was thinking. Give her a chance to explain.
“You came in my room?” His face showed definite signs of anger but Stone knew he was doing it for show.
“I did. The computer was beeping and blinking and I know I shouldn’t have done it, I opened up the laptop. I’m sorry. I saw the information on the job you guys were doing. I closed it when I realized what it was.” The last part was a lie, Stone thought. But the rest was the truth.
Sadie looked to Stone. She was sorry, he could read it in her eyes. She squeezed his hand and he squeezed. T walked over to the door and looked back at Sadie.
“Okay. Don’t do it again,” he calmly stated.
“I promise I won’t.”
He nodded, glanced at Stone, and shut the door. Stone walked backward pulling Sadie’s hand leading her into his room. Sadie stared at him and mouthed, “I’m sorry.” Stone held her stare and lifted his chin in acknowledgement.
Stone’s phone chimed. A text. He grabbed it from his pocket and looked over to Sadie.
“Go ahead, get in bed.” Stone gestured to the bed.
She nodded and walked over to the bed. Stone touched his phone and read the text.
Bogs: Plane ticket? Only one left, you want me to get it?
Stone looked over to Sadie as she stripped down to her bra and panties and slid into bed. She must have felt his eyes on her because she looked over at him. Her gaze was unsure, she seemed to not know if he was mad at her or not.
Stone typed into his phone.
Stone: Get it
He tossed the phone on his night stand and climbed into bed with Sadie.
Chapter Fifteen
The heart wants what it wants. That phrase never made much sense to her. To Sadie, it had always been an excuse others used to make reckless and careless choices. It was one of her mom’s favorite phrases. She dated married men—the heart wants what it wants, Sadie—or she moved her young daughter miles away from the only family they had to chase after a man. “The heart wants what it wants.” All those poor decisions blamed on a heart. Her phrase should have been the heart wants what it wants even though the mind knows better, but that was her mom.
Sadie was lying awake on her side drawing circles on Stone’s chest as he slept. She had her head propped up on her hand as she watched him. He looked so peaceful and vulnerable. She’d never watched anyone sleep. It was soothing. He was completely still under her hand as his heartbeat. Sadie watched his face. You could really observe someone while they were sleeping. No fear
