Gone Too Deep by Katie Ruggle Page B

kill Willard.”
    As they walked toward an unassuming building that the critical part of Ellie would have called a shack, she stared at Lou with wide eyes. “He tried to kill you both? Is he in jail now?”
    â€œDead.” Lou’s face was grim until Callum curled an arm around her, giving her a squeeze before releasing her to reach for the door to Levi’s.
    â€œOh.” Not sure how to respond to that—should she say she was sorry? Or perhaps offer congratulations?—Ellie let it drop. “Things are very…uh, interesting here.”
    â€œNot usually,” Lou said as she ducked under Callum’s arm. “Just in the past couple of months. Otherwise, the big news around town is who is dating whom. This murder stuff is new.”
    â€œOh.” Her voice was faint as she followed Lou into the restaurant. What was she getting herself into?
    â€œEllie!” Joseph slid out of a booth and intercepted them. Ellie flinched and slipped behind Callum so she could use him as a shield. The eight or so people remaining at Joseph’s table looked over curiously. “Hey, Callum. Good to see you again. Lou, glad you brought your hot friend.”
    â€œHi, Joseph,” Lou greeted, waving to the people he’d abandoned at his booth. “George isn’t here with you guys, is he?”
    He snorted. “Holloway? The day he comes to a social event is the day we’ll all be ice skating in hell. The only reason he shows up for training is because it’s required.”
    â€œOh. That’s okay. We’ll just meet up with him at Station One. Thanks.” Lou took a step toward an empty table, but Joseph shifted to block her way.
    â€œWhy do you need to talk to Holloway?” he asked.
    â€œNone of your business, you nosy Nellie.” Lou shouldered past him. “I’m not fueling the gossip train tonight.”
    â€œCome on, Lou!” Joseph called after her, smiling but with an edge to his words. “Don’t leave me in suspense!”
    Ellie slipped past him while he was occupied with teasing Lou, hoping to sneak by unnoticed, but he caught her wrist, pulling her to a halt. Ellie’s stomach twisted with nerves. Callum stopped, too, his eyes watchful.
    â€œWant to sit with us?” Joseph asked, tipping his head to indicate the booth he’d just left. “We can be a wild bunch, but I promise you’ll be entertained.”
    â€œThank you, but no.” She tried to keep her smile polite but dismissive while attempting to tug her hand free.
    His grip wasn’t painful, but it was unyielding. “How long will you be in town? I have training tonight, but I’d love to take you out another time.”
    â€œSorry.” She pulled harder against his hold, and her smile was turning into more of a grimace. Usually she was smoother about deflecting unwanted male attention, but Joseph frankly terrified her. “I’m leaving tomorrow.” She wasn’t sure what he’d thought was going to happen when he’d let himself into her motel room, or when he’d followed her into the bathroom, or when he’d grabbed her like he somehow had the right. Whether or not he intended anything darker by his aggressive display, he was dangerous . Even if he never moved beyond being creepy and pushy, she planned to stay well away from him.
    â€œTonight after training, then?”
    â€œAcconcio.” Callum’s voice was quiet, but it caught both Joseph and Ellie’s attention. “Enough.”
    After a long moment—during which Ellie was afraid Callum’s order had backfired and Joseph would cling to her more firmly in a macho hissy fit—the fingers around her wrist tightened slightly and then finally released. With a silent sigh of relief, Ellie hurried to join Lou where she was standing next to a table. As Ellie passed him, Callum fell in behind her.
    â€œWhat was that?” Lou asked when they