“Then go to a gun range.” He shoved it toward me. “Take it.”

“That gun isn’t in my name. I can’t risk Mason finding it and I don’t want to lie about where I got it. I’ll get my own weapon.”

His gaze found mine. “Get it by tomorrow.”

“Fine.”

He put the gun back in his drawer. “You can tell me that you have it when you call me with your answer.”

I nodded. What had I just agreed to? And more importantly, what was I about to get myself into? There was no easy choice here. No black and white. And as I walked out of the room, I couldn’t help wondering if Dora had found her own slippery slope of right and wrong. And I couldn’t help remembering where it had landed her.

In a grave.

Chapter Fifteen

Jed didn’t look happy when I walked out of Skeeter’s office. He was pacing in the rec room and his head jerked up as soon as he heard my approach.

“Can you take me back to my truck?”

“Sure thing.” He glanced behind me, and I looked back to see Skeeter standing in the doorway.

“Any word from Merv?” Skeeter asked.

“They’re at Pedro’s, but so far nothing.”

Skeeter nodded. “Let me know if it changes.”

“Will do.”

I shivered from the cold as Jed and I crossed the parking lot in silence. If I continued to do this, I was going to have to get Lady a coat. As Jed opened the back door, I asked, “Can you get my clothes? I’ll change in the back. The windows in my truck aren’t tinted.”

He stumbled and circled around to the trunk. His brow was furrowed when he handed me the bag. “Why are you still outside the car?”

“I need you to unzip me.”

“What?”

“The dress is too tight for me to do it on my own.”

I presented my back to him and he unzipped me halfway down before climbing into the driver’s seat.

I waited until he was on county roads outside of town before I reached around and unzipped my dress the rest of the way. When I got it to my waist, I pulled my sweater over my head, then shimmied the rest of the way out of the dress.

Jed had been quiet the whole way. I could tell he was bothered by my time alone with Skeeter, but I wasn’t sure why. Did he not trust Skeeter or did he not trust me?

“Why are you helping Skeeter?” he finally asked while I was trying to tug on my jeans. “The first time you wanted your money. The second you were trying to protect your boyfriend, but why now?”

I wasn’t sure how to answer him. If Skeeter wasn’t willing to tell anyone the truth about our arrangement, I didn’t want to be forthcoming with the information either. “Mason’s still in danger. I’m positive his name is on Gentry’s list along with Skeeter’s. By helping Skeeter, I’m getting information that will benefit Mason.”

“But you can’t tell Deveraux anything about what goes on while you’re Lady.”

“I know, but I can still figure out a way to tip him off to Gentry.”

He looked in the rearview mirror, catching my gaze. “Skeeter isn’t a long-term kind of guy.”

“What’s that mean?” I asked in confusion.

“It means plenty of women have been hurt by Skeeter Malcolm.”

“Oh!” My eyes widened. “You think I want to sleep with him?” I asked in disbelief.

He didn’t answer; he only averted his gaze from the mirror.

“No! God no. I’m with Mason. I wouldn’t dream of cheating on him. And Skeeter’s not interested in me that way.”

He didn’t respond for several seconds. “Just be careful, Rose.”

“What does that mean?”

He pulled into the Sinclair station parking lot. “I’m gonna follow you to your farm.”

I slipped my foot into a boot. “Why?”

“Things are unsettled right now. I don’t think anyone followed me, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.” He paused. “You have my number and Skeeter’s. If you ever feel unsafe, call us.”

Fear prickled the hair on the back of my neck. How had I managed to forget that working with Skeeter was dangerous? But Mason was in more danger than ever, and I’d just found out information that might affect him, not to mention anyone else on Mick Gentry’s list. I needed to get home and find a way to tell Mason about my vision without giving away my extracurricular activities.

I pulled on my other boot and opened the car door.

“Rose.”

I pulled the door shut and waited.

“You did great tonight. I can tell Skeeter’s impressed, and you earned those men’s respect.”

“That’s what Skeeter said.”

“Reconsider doin’ this.” Both hands gripped the steering wheel. “It’s a rush in the beginning, but soon you’ll grow weary of it. Skeeter would skin me alive for tellin’ you so, but you need to get out now, before you get buried too deep. This isn’t your world, Rose.”

He was right, of course, but it wasn’t that simple. “Thanks, Jed. I’ll think about what you said.” I had lots of pondering to do. Especially over the next twenty-four hours.

I grabbed my bag and climbed into my truck. When I took off, Jed followed an inconspicuous distance behind me. I turned into my driveway a few minutes after ten. Jed drove past and I pulled out my phone to text Neely Kate.