***
Mitch is already at the bank by the time I’ve found a place to park and we’ve walked around the front. He gives me a wave and I note his gaze flitting over Jess with interest.
“Jess, I’m Mitch.” He offers her a hand and takes a far too long shake. “I’ll watch over you today. Make sure nothing happens.”
I crunch my hands into fists as she flusters slightly under his disarming grin. “I appreciate it, Mitch, but I’m sure nothing will happen.”
A brow archs. “Gunshots aren’t nothing. Hunter is right to take your safety seriously.” He faces me. “Did you give her my number?”
I nod, arms folded to resist the temptation to step in and stop Mitch from charming the panties off her. This is how Mitch works. It makes him really good at his job. People instantly trust him—men and woman alike—and he can get around anyone when needs be. It doesn’t mean I like him flirting with Jess though. “It’s in your phone,” I tell her. “Put it in earlier.”
“You were looking at my phone?”
“Just to put the number in.” She doesn’t need to know I was checking out her messages and contacts too. Not that I found anything. The girl has no friends and there’s no way she’s dumb enough to leave evidence of criminal activity on her phone. “If you need anything, just give Mitch a call.”
She swings her gaze between us. “Not you?”
“I need to check out your apartment,” I remind her, “and I’m meant to be working.”
“Oh, I see. Sorry, of course.” Her forlorn look makes me groan inside.
“I wouldn’t leave you with Mitch if I didn’t think he could keep you safe.”
Mitch nods. “This is what I do, Jess. You’ll be perfectly safe with me around.”
White teeth come out to nibble on her lip. “I know. Thank you, I appreciate it. I’m sure this will all just blow over soon enough.”
“Let’s hope.” I glance at my watch. “You’d better get going.”
“Okay, see you later.”
“Have a good day.” I eye her ass in those tight suit trousers as she goes and sigh.
“So, this is the girl, huh?” Mitch nudges me.
“Yeah.”
“Doesn’t look like a hardened criminal to me.”
“Yeah, well you haven’t seen her in leather.”
Mitch’s lips twitch. “I can imagine. But still there’s something about her. She’s scared, Hunter.”
“So would I be if I stole fifty k,” I snap. I don’t need Mitch questioning me.
He holds up his hands. “Hey, I’m just saying what I see. It’s your job, man. I just hope you know what you’re getting yourself into.”
“Mitch, if I’d have realized what I was getting myself into, I’d never have accepted this job.”
“Then quit.”
“It’s not that simple.” I don’t elaborate. Mitch doesn’t need to hear about my money problems. Last thing I want is pity.
He shrugs. “Well, it’s your career.”
“It is,” I say firmly. “Just keep an eye on her. She’s not convinced but I think we’ve got someone gunning for her. Whether it’s to do with her activities or what I don’t know. Anything unusual—anything—tell me. I’m picking at straws here. If this is because of something she’s done, I’m better off finding out sooner, not just because of the job but we can’t protect her if we have no idea what’s going on.”
“And if it turns out she has taken that money? What then? Do we still protect her?”
I clench my jaw and mull his words. That occurred to me too. Do I just leave her to suffer the consequences of her actions? “I don’t know. Let me do my job first, then we’ll figure out what to do next.”
Mitch sighs. “Man, when did you got so jaded?”
Jaded? Am I that bad? Sure Richie screwing me over tarnished my opinion of people a little but I didn’t think I was jaded. I thought I wasn’t seeing things clearly because of the effect Jess has on me but maybe Richie has clouded my judgment. Either way, the only thing that will solve my dilemma is finding out what Jess is hiding. It’s something—maybe the money, maybe not. But until I know everything about that woman, I can’t make any firm decisions. And I sure as hell can’t begin to trust her yet.
“I’ll see you later,” I tell Mitch, ignoring his statement, because, hell, he’s probably right. “I’m going to pick her up so you can head home then.”
“Sure thing. See you later.”
“Call me if you need anything.”
Mitch grins. “Why would I need anything?”
I roll my eyes. “And don’t let her come to harm.”