And while Lemon and Noah were taking a breather, Lemon and I started something up ourselves. It was good. It’s still good. But unfortunately for me, Noah still wants a shot with Lemon.
I know she still cares for the guy.
Hell, I care for the guy.
He was my brother during our short tenure as family. In fact, I still very much consider Noah and his brother, Alex, family.
I sigh over at Fiona. “I expected more out of myself as well. What’s the evidence we’re looking at?”
“You won’t like it.” Her eyes narrow over mine as she slips on a pair of dark-rimmed glasses. “They have your car identified from the security footage from the bank across the street, but you knew that.”
Noah nods. “And what about us walking to the morgue?”
I know what he’s thinking. Lemon was there with us that night, and so was Carlotta. They can easily get sucked right into this nightmare along with us.
Fiona glares at him. “I suggest you edit yourself out of any further conversations. As far as the sheriff’s department goes, they only have evidence of Essex’s presence. There’s no footage of anyone trotting to the morgue. The angle didn’t allow for it.”
“That’s great.” Noah’s eyes widen in my direction. “We can say Everett was there doing something else. It’s just a coincidence his car was there the night Florenza’s body disappeared.”
She looks at him through slotted lids. “He confessed. Not that it matters.” She turns my way. “They have a clear shot of you in the morgue, Essex. The alarm was disabled, but there was a camera inside. The footage is grainy. It only captures a narrow slice of the room that the victim’s body was held in. And at one point you stepped right in front of the frame. We can see you clear as day.”
Noah hardens his stare over at me. “Did you know that camera was there?”
“Don’t make me cross the room and beat you,” I seethe. “No, I didn’t know the camera was there. I’m not all that hot on taking a hit, let alone doing it to save your neck.”
“Don’t do me any favors.”
Fiona’s chest bucks. “You should be kissing his shiny shoes, Noah. Everett is taking one firmly on the chin. He could easily have taken you down with him. I’ll talk to the judge about setting bail for you, Essex.” Her expression sours as she looks at Noah. “I’ll see about getting you released with nothing more than an internal investigation pending. They have nothing on you other than the fact the body was found in your backyard.” Her eyes sharpen over mine. “And seeing that the two of you are feuding over the same woman, it’s easy to pin that on Essex, too. Perhaps you wanted to make Noah look guilty.”
“I didn’t.”
“That’s not the point,” she fires back as she stands and signals for the guard.
“What about my defense?” The question feels like window dressing in an otherwise charred out room.
“I’ll do some digging,” she says as the guard opens the door and she steps on through before looking back over at me. “I won’t be finding any more bodies, will I?”
“No.”
“Good.” She points my way. “Keep it that way. I want to see you back on that bench.” She stalks on out of here, and Noah settles his angry eyes my way.
“So you get to be the hero, huh?” His dimples dig in a moment, and the sight of them only seems to enrage me all the more.
“I’m always the hero, Noah. And don’t worry. I’m not fishing for a thank you.”
He nods. “I know what you’re fishing for. Lottie’s heart.”
“I don’t need to fish for it. I already have it.”
He bows his head a moment, but I’m not dense enough to think he’s admitting defeat.
“Everett.” He sniffs back his emotions. “I love her. You know that. And I know in my heart that baby is mine. I want another chance with her.”
I know that. Lemon knows that. And if that baby is his, and I’m doing time, maybe that’s what should happen. Lemon and I will drift apart. It feels almost inevitable.
I take a seat, lean my head back against the cold concrete wall, and close my eyes.
“No,” I tell him.
“I’m not asking for your permission, Everett. I’m just putting it out there.”
“Look, you’re going to be out of here soon. Don’t embarrass yourself by putting the moves on my wife.” A hard breath blows from my lips. “I want you to watch out for Evie for me.”
He nods. “You know I will.”
Evie is the daughter I share with Cressida Bentley, one of the many women I regrettably tangoed with. Apparently, we had a kid and she felt the need to hide that information until it suited her to present it to me—right before I was about to have her arrested for stalking Lemon.
Cressida has made it no secret she wants me back, and I’ve made it no secret that psychotic relationship isn’t happening. I have full custody of Evie now, my beautiful, sweet, yet feisty, sixteen-year-old daughter, and I have no plans on handing her over to Cressida ever again. Not that Cressida would be gunning for the position. She dropped Evie off at a boarding school when she was a toddler and left her there to rot.
Noah leans heavy over his knees once again. “You know I love Evie as if she were my own. I’ll make sure she has everything she needs, including my time.”
“Good.” My teeth grind for a moment. “Take care of Lemon, too.”
Noah doesn’t say anything, just continues to stare me down.
“Thank you for taking one on the chin for me. You’re the big brother I never had.” His chest expands with his next breath. “I’ll
