Arlene's POV
Warner's voice drifts through his bedroom door, and while he sounds calmer than before, there's an edge that makes me pause in the hallway.
"We need to meet," I catch fragments of his conversation. "Because of Linton. I never saw this coming and I need your backup. You and Jami are the only ones I can count on right now. I need you to dig deeper into her background." A lengthy silence follows. "It's not that I question what's happening between us."
"I've walked this path before. My brother paid the price for my mistakes and now there's even more on the line. I don't do helpless women. You know that better than anyone. I've got enough chaos in my life right now. The last thing I need is someone who's blind to the danger staring them in the face."
His words hit like a physical blow. I stumble backward, then spin around and retreat toward my room.
"Arlene," Mylo's voice stops me. He's juggling several wrapped packages in his arms.
"Hey," I manage, forcing a smile.
