Galilee Rising(70)

"What? No. Who told you that?"

"Dr. Ambrose. He's been waiting in the living room for almost an hour."

"What? He's here? Why didn't you call me?"

"He told me he had."

What the hell? "Um, thank you, Dobbs. That'll be all."

As I walk toward the living room, I check both my phones. No calls. What--

Oh, fuck.

The moment I see the man on the couch, I know I'm as good as dead. It's Jem from tips to toes. Same exact haircut, glasses, face, posture, even crumpled clothes and aftershave. But it's not Jem. My eyes say yes, but something deep inside knows there is no way in hell that's him. Which can only mean I have a mass murderer in my living room watching the news as if it was the most natural thing in the world? I manage to keep my face neutral as his eyes move to me a second after I step in. Even the nervous smile he shoots me is pure Jem. It sends a chill down my spine.

"Hi," the doppelganger says with his voice.

A million different scenarios flash through my mind. Excuse myself and call the guys? Suspicious. Scream for Dobbs? He'll kill us both. Attack him? Um, no. He can snap my neck with two fingers. Play along wins by a landslide. "Hey," I say with a grin. "This is a surprise."

"I, uh, know," he says nervously. Jordan shuts off the TV and rises. "A pleasant one, I hope."

"Always." Oh, shit I think I just entered a mental chess game with Bobby Fucking Fisher. What does he know? What does he suspect? Why the fuck is he here? Attacking him now seems like the smarter option. Damn, my purse with all my weapons is by the front door. To buy time, I move to the bar with my eyes averted. "Though, if you're here to discuss an investment in Ambrose Pharmaceuticals, I am in no mood."

"That's not why I'm here, and we both know it."

Shit. My heart starts pounding in my ears. "I figured." I pour myself water, using sheer willpower to stop my hands from trembling. Keep it together. I spin around with annoyance on my face. "So say your peace."

"You have to stop investigating Cain. I know you haven't, even though I begged you to."

"And how exactly do you know that?"

He scoffs. "Please. I know you." He leaves it at that. Clever. "This isn't your fight."

I scoff this time. "Please. The second that cowardly, psycho fuck set foot in my town, it became my fight."

If I've offended him, it doesn't show. "You don't have to do this. You can sit this one out. Leave town for awhile."

Okay, now I'm really confused. What the hell is he playing at? He moves toward me. Lord even his walk is all Jem. Jordan stops two feet in front of me, too damn close for comfort. Now I notice the subtle differences. The faint smile lines around the eyes and mouth. He smiles more than Jem. Not surprising. Villains always seem to be having more fun than heroes. Really, it's the eyes. Same color, same shape, but there's nothing in there. No sparkle. No light. No soul. He's doing a better than average job of hiding this fact, seeming sympathetic and concerned as he stares. Fuck, this is creepy.

"Please. You cannot fathom what you are up against in that man. Please. If you care about me, you'll just leave. I can't keep going with you here. I worry all the time. Where you are, what you're doing. I can't concentrate. You're in my every thought every minute. He can get to you anytime. Anywhere. I…the mere thought paralyzes me. Please, just go."

Oh. I get it now. My eyes narrow in confusion. Two can play this game. "Look…um, your concern is sweet and all, but uh, you're kind of making me uncomfortable here. Like, a lot. This is sort of coming out of left field here," I say with a nervous chuckle.

"It is?" he asks, sounding hurt. Nice touch.

"Uh, yeah. I never knew you felt this way. I mean, you're a nice guy and all, but I don't…consider you in that way. At all. I mean, I like working with you and teaching you to sail and whatnot, but that's it. I just think of you as a friend." I gaze down at the floor. "And I'm, uh, actually, um, seeing someone. He's stopping by soon." And he can't get here fucking fast enough.

"I-I had no idea. Why didn't you tell me?"

I narrow my eyes. "We're not exactly close, Jem. I don't know who you're seeing, if anyone. Come on," I say, placing my hands on my hips. "Where the hell is this coming from? Really? You've barely said twenty non-work related words to me since we've met. The only time I ever came close to flirting with you, you were horrified. You're obviously not thinking straight. All this bullshit with your brother is doing your head in. Get out of town for a few days, get some perspective. Jesus." I sip my water. "Now, I'm exhausted and I gotta get ready for Brendan."