AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter Twenty-Two
Bass
Bass watched the taillights on the police cruiser fade away. What in the hell had just happened? He was speechless for several moments. Lia spoke and pulled him out of his disbelief.
“Bass, you can’t lose it now,” she said, her hand on his arm.
“I don’t understand what’s happening,” he said.
“It appears the boss Ella was speaking about got some revenge,” Lia told him.
“But what about the deposits?” Rafe asked.
Bass’s head whipped around as he glared at his newly returned friend. If looks could kill Rafe would be dead right then and there. Rafe held up his hands.
“It’s worth asking,” Rafe said, but even he didn’t seem sure.
“You know this is a setup,” Bass insisted.
Rafe gazed at him for several heartbeats and Bass held his breath. That moment would define if they could move forward or not. There was no way Rafe could think Ella was guilty, not after working with her for months, not after seeing her true character. If Rafe walked away, Bass couldn’t forgive him . . . not this time.
Finally, Rafe smiled. “I know,” he said. Bass was filled with relief. “I did some research on her boss a couple of weeks ago. He’s a dirtbag.”
“What the hell? You didn’t say anything,” Bass snapped.
Rafe shrugged. “I like to know the people around me. I wanted to blame Ella because I can’t stand her father. It’s difficult for me to believe a kid can fall so far from a parent because I have great parents. It’s been clear for some time, though, that Ella broke the mold. She’s nothing like her mother or father.”
“Her mother?” Bass asked.
“I found her,” Rafe said with a shrug as if it was no big deal.
“Well you’re making me look like a shitty boyfriend. I didn’t think about looking into the people in Ella’s life,” Bass said, shame filling him.
“Boyfriend?” Rafe smirked.
“Well . . . yeah,” he said, with only a second of hesitation. “That’s not the point though. What did you find out?”
“She lives in Southern California. She’s been married and divorced four times and she always manages to walk away with a hell of a lot of money. Ella is much better off without her. She’s a scammer, no better than Ella’s dad.”
“Dang, if it hadn’t been for Nana Bee, Ella might not have had a chance,” Lia said.
“I disagree. I’m glad Ella had Nana Bee, but she has a will to survive. It’s always been within her. Nana Bee helped her find herself, but I’d like to think she would’ve turned into this beautiful woman she is now, no matter what,” Bass said.
“She’s strong. Right now though, she needs help,” Lia said.
“Yes, I’ll call the attorney, but I want to get to the police station, so I’ll do it on the way,” Bass said as he pulled out his phone.
“I’ll come with you,” Rafe said.
Bass stopped. “You won’t make her feel like crap?” It was a question, but Bass realized that wasn’t who Rafe was.
“I know I was a dick when it came to what happened with Sharron. I nearly let my pride cost one of my two best friends. I shut you out. I won’t let something like that ever happen again. I could take offense to that question, but I get it. I’ve earned it. Rumors will never come between our friendship again; I’ll look at the facts before I jump to a conclusion. I won’t be an ass,” he said with a sheepish smile.
Bass had a moment. He couldn’t stop himself as he stepped forward and hugged his best friend for the first time in over six years... hell, it was probably more like ten years. It didn’t last long before he pulled back his hands to his friend’s shoulders.
“Thank you, Rafe. This means the world to me.”
“You’re in love with her,” Rafe told him.
