For the next hour, we hashed out where everyone was during the time in question. Everyone had a rock-solid alibi except Dice and Vinny. Theirs were questionable for part of the time but likely not long enough to allow them to look guilty. Then again, it seemed like the cops were trying to set us up for the shit, so who knew what the fuckers would do.
“Ryland will work out Two-Speed’s whereabouts. No one goes anywhere alone. Make sure you can always verify who you were with and where. I’m not sure why they’re trying to pin this shit on us, but we’re gonna find out. We’re also gonna step up our game on finding out what happened with Danielle.” Every brother steadily held my gaze.
“Also, there was another overdose last week. It was down near Graettinger, but that’s still in our radius. Look into the details for me,” I instructed Hacker.
“Roger that,” he replied.
After I banged the gavel, the chairs scraped the floor as everyone stood. They quietly left the room, but I stayed seated. Lost in thought, I didn’t realize anyone was in the room until someone cleared their throat. Pulled out of my head, my gaze darted to where Reaper stood waiting.
“You need something?”
He glanced over his shoulder to ensure we were alone. When he was satisfied we were, he spoke quietly. “I’m not tryin’ to tell you your business, boss, but with all this going on, you might need to give Miss Monroe a heads-up. Before she hears this bullshit from somewhere else.”
“Why would you say that?”
“Well, you’ve been working with her on the fundraiser, and, well, you know… people talk.” He shuffled from one foot to the other.
“About?” I knew, but I wasn’t going to admit it.
“You and her,” he hemmed.
“There is no me and her,” I insisted. Because I knew I’d have to step back until we figured this shit out. There was no way I was dragging her into this mess. She had enough to worry about.
The idea didn’t sit well with my cock, but I needed to think with the right damn head.
He thinned his lips and raised his brows like he didn’t believe me. Then he told me he was out and left.
Nervously tapping my fingers on the dark wood, I procrastinated composing the message I knew I needed to send. The thought of not feeling the silky glide of her skin against mine sucked. Though I knew it was the right thing to do, actually making that move made my chest cramp. Absently, I rubbed it with my knuckles.
Then I got up, grabbed my phone from the basket outside the chapel door, and sat back down. I needed to see her one last time.
11
Hailey
“Prayed For You”—Matt Stell
“Mr. Matthews is here,” Alba announced over my intercom.
“Thank you, Alba. Send him back. If you have everything caught up, feel free to head home. I’ll lock up.” My cheeks heated when I thought I heard her chuckle before she ended the connection.
It had been over three months since Luke had walked into my office and blown my life to smithereens. Three months since we decided to have a no-strings-attached casual sex relationship.
A perfect friends-with-benefits situation.
He was an incredible lover, but I appreciated that he respected my need for space. I was busy, and at twenty-nine, I was proud of what I’d accomplished.
I’d worked hard, sacrificing a lot over the years to get to where I was. While most of my childhood friends had husbands and families, I’d worked sometimes seven days a week. Sure, there were times I had that pang in my chest for something I couldn’t put a name to, but I was essentially happy.
My parents had come for a visit, and I’d had to sneak out in the night to meet up with him in my backyard. Going without him for a week was a hard pass. Not that my parents were prudes, but I wasn’t ready to discuss my sex life with them. Luke and I had christened my gazebo like rock stars.
A smile curled my lips at the memory.
“Must be a pretty good thought.” His voice rumbled from the door.
“Very,” I replied with a saucy grin.
He came in and closed the door. Then he leaned over my desk to kiss me. It was sultry and full of promise. When the thought that it was very couple-ish hit me, I broke away, licked my lips, and cleared my throat.
“The guys have almost everything assembled for tomorrow.” We had decided to advertise not only on social media but in a larger radius to maximize attendance. Luke’s club donated all the labor for setup and the funds for the prizes. We were doing a carnival theme this year. The club had also footed the bill for a few carnival rides.
“Thank you. I still can’t get over how much you guys donate to keeping this tradition in place. It’s pretty impressive.”
“We love doing it,” he said with a smile, but the mischievous light in his eyes dimmed a little, stoking my curiosity.
“Everything okay?” I asked, suddenly sobered.
“Yeah. It’s just rough sometimes.”
“Because of your brother?” I questioned.
“Yeah.”
“I get it,” I offered.
“Is that why you got into adolescent drug rehab?” he asked as he sat on the edge of my desk and rested his hands on his thigh.
My heart clenched a little, and I sighed. “Yes. It is.”
Sensing my need to gather my feelings, he didn’t ask anything further. Then again, maybe he was dealing with corralling his own demons about his brother. It was hell losing someone close to you to drugs or the life path it leads you down.
“Not only the awful situation with Danielle; did you hear there was another overdose from that crazy-ass drug?” I asked him in an attempt
