He whirled away from her and paced. Not his usual smooth stride but in fits and starts as if he were at a loss for words. “When were you going to tell me?”
“I don’t know. When we had time to talk?”
“You had enough time to tell me about Ian and Redden staying, and we had an entire discussion on why, but you didn’t tell me this?”
She stretched so her muscles wouldn’t cramp after their workout and to have something to do to burn off her nerves as well as her own anger. “Because ever since you were kidnapped and Rian watched it happen, you’ve been overprotective. Hell, I’ve been waiting for you to quit your residency and volunteer at GlenCare just to keep an eye on your brother. Even though that place has more security than a bank.”
“I’m not giving up my dream again, but you also can’t fault me for wanting my family safe.” Rhys’s gaze pierced her. “It’s just this list though. No more.”
“No more.” The unsaid yet hovered on the tip of her tongue, but she bit it back.
“How deep is Rian involved?”
Jo took a breath and straightened from her stretch. “Of the twelve victims, eight are tied to Rian’s clan which is how he discovered the case in the first place.”
“Eight?!” Rhys’s face reddened, and his finger jabbed accusingly at her. “That’s not a coincidence, Jo. Do you think Rian’s in danger?”
Jo placed her hands on Rhys’s chest his muscles became rigid under her palms. She’d mistaken how angry he was. Yanking her hands away, she smoothed them across her shorts. He was not ready to be soothed yet. “I don’t think so. The victims all left the clan and Rian’s still in it. Not only in it, but he also runs it so he shouldn’t be a target.”
“But you don’t know.”
“No.” She moved closer again, and he all but jumped to the other side of the room. Bile rose to the back of her throat.
“I can’t think about this right now. Give me some time to process you bringing my brother into this even if it was an accident. You promised to keep that door locked so he couldn’t pop in.”
Jo nodded numbly. It was true, but with all of them in that one room, it’d been stifling with it shut. The second she heard Rian she should have closed and locked it. But hindsight was always twenty-twenty.
Rhys stopped at the base of the stairs and turned back to her. “Were any of the victims kids?”
“Two. One was seventeen, and one was fifteen—”
“Jesus.” He raked a hand through his hair and left her.
Chapter 7
The third bridal shop felt like more Jo’s speed. Not filled with frills and spindly parlor chairs that looked as if they’d buckle if Jo sat in one. No fussy teacups or tall flutes of champagne. This shop had couches that customers could fall into if it took the bride longer than a few minutes to change. Bottles of water and cola mixed among teacups and flutes. It felt more down to earth, which was exactly what Jo appreciated. Now if she could just find her dream gown without dwelling on yesterday’s argument. Or the anger at Rhys calling the hospital so he could work the second shift and leaving her alone on what had been their first day off together in almost a week.
She flicked another dress away, lost in thought. Rhys hadn’t been that angry with her in a while. Not since they’d first got together, when she’d been hurt on the Gravedigger case. Another dress followed the former to the left side of the rack.
“I heard you and Rhys had an argument.” Maddy interrupted Jo’s circling thoughts.
“Yes.” It was so much more. He hadn’t let her sooth him, instead he’d walked away and then fled the house. It was as if he couldn’t be anywhere near her and he hadn’t been in the bed when she woke this morning either. Second shift usually ended a little after midnight, but at four he still hadn’t made it home. She knew because she’d checked every bedroom and couch in the house. Unable to sleep, Jo had finally made coffee and called her mother to see about moving their time up at the first dress shop.
“I heard it was because you involved Rian in your latest case.”
Frustrated, Jo swung around to her mother, who was at another rack tucked in the corner. “You hear an awful lot. Do you have a spy now?”
Maddy laughed. “Not likely. Joseph called Carl to come help tighten security around your home.”
Joining her mother, Jo leaned against Maddy’s side. “Rhys hasn’t been this mad at me in a long time. I forgot what it was like.”
“What did you expect, Jo?” Maddy stopped on a tulle dress that looked too girly for Jo’s taste.
“I don’t know. That we could talk about it? Work it out like we’ve been doing.” She took the dress from her mother and slapped it back on the rack.
“Except this hits closer to home.” Maddy nudged Jo back a step. “You’ve pulled his little brother into another case.”
“And he’s not worried about me?”
“No, because you can take care of yourself and Rhys knows this. You choose to be out there hunting criminals.” Maddy gripped Jo’s upper arms. “And you’re good at it. Rian is innocent. Yes, he’s a big strapping man on the outside, but inside he’s still a twelve-year-old that believes you and Rhys can keep him safe.”
“I’m not putting him in danger, Mom. We only got a list from him.”
“And you got nothing from either Rhys or Rian the last time a violent case touched your family. They
