Simon Says Die

still don’t see how he’d think he could get my money, not after faking his death. He obviously . . .” She swallowed. “He obviously killed someone, put his wallet, jewelry, clothes, on some other man and staged the accident. He’d be arrested for murder if he turned up to claim my estate, wouldn’t he?”
    In a perfect world, yes. But Pierce had seen far stranger things happen. Justice didn’t always work the way it should.
    â€œFaking your death isn’t strictly illegal. There’d be questions, lots of questions. He’d have to come up with an incredibly plausible explanation for how another man died in his car, and why he didn’t come forward at that time. But if there’s no physical evidence, and he can explain his actions away somehow—he could still inherit. Can you think of any reason he’d want to pretend he was dead? Was there some reason he needed to disappear?”
    Her eyes widened as she looked down at her feet.
    Pierce sighed. Once again, she knew something, or at least suspected something, and wasn’t telling him. “You can afford to live wherever you want. Why not just move back to New York until all of this blows over?”
    Her head jerked up. “I just moved here. I’m in the middle of renovations. And I love this city. I don’t want to leave.”
    â€œEven if it means you could be killed?”
    She waved her hand in the air. “I’d be just as much a target if I went back to New York. He found me here. He’d just find me again there.” She shook her head violently, her dark hair flying around her shoulders. “I will not let Damon control me or dictate where I live. And I’m not going to spend my life running away. This ends now, here, whatever it takes.”
    The stubborn set of her shoulders told him arguing that point wasn’t going to make a difference. Truth be told, he’d rather she stayed here anyway—because that way he could help her.
    If she’d stop being stubborn long enough to realize she needed his help.
    â€œHow certain are you that the shooter was really Damon?”
    Her shoulders visibly relaxed, as if she were relieved that he wasn’t going to press her further about moving away. “As sure as I can be without getting a closer look at him, or seeing his face.” Her brow scrunched together as if she were concentrating, trying to remember the face of the man she’d seen. “I guess I could be mistaken. But I was so sure it was him.”
    â€œLet’s assume the shooter wasn’t Damon. Is there anyone else who might have a reason to hate you?”
    She shook her head, looking completely miserable. “Only you.”
    His stomach lurched at the vulnerability on her face. He had to curl his hands around the bench to keep from reaching for her and pulling her into his arms.
    â€œI don’t hate you,” he said.
    Her gaze searched his as if she were trying to see if he were telling the truth. He knew she wanted more . . . a touch, a look, some kind of reassurance. But that was more than he was willing to give.
    She dropped her gaze to her lap.
    He suddenly felt like a jerk for not giving in to the urge to hold her. Too late now. The moment was gone. “Someone tried to shoot you yesterday,” he reminded her. “Whether he’s Damon or not remains to be seen. I think it’s entirely likely the shooter won’t strike again, that he’s moved on to find another victim. But until we know for sure that you’re safe, you need someone to watch your back. I propose a truce.”
    â€œA truce?”
    â€œAn agreement. You stop trying to investigate on your own, and I promise I’ll do everything in my power to figure out who the shooter is. I’ll keep you safe.”
    She seemed to consider that, and cocked her head to the side. “Why do you want to help me? After the way I ended things between us, I wouldn’t expect you to care.”
    â€œI didn’t say I cared.” He immediately regretted his harsh words when her eyes widened and she turned away. What was it about her that brought out the worst in him? He let out a long sigh. “I made a promise to Logan to keep you safe. I always keep my promises. So, how about it? Truce?”
    She chewed her bottom lip and stared off in the distance, over his shoulder. “Did you really mean what you said? That even if Damon