“So he deliberately steered you toward criminals who could give a mediocre performance back when you were both still partners?” Chris says. “That seems odd.”
I shrug helplessly. “It feels strange because we were still on good terms when I booked them. We hadn’t had our falling out yet. But…” I trail off, a horrible thought occurring to me. “What if he was setting me up to fail for weeks or even months? But I don’t get it. He never showed signs of that.”
Chris shakes his head, his jaw tight with anger. “I’d bet my left nut that Scot is involved in some shady shit way beyond just being a dick to his business partner. The question is, what’s his endgame here?”
“Problem is those dancers aren’t getting out anytime soon,” Noel adds. “They’ll be held at least until their court date, maybe longer depending on their bail situation and the severity of their charges. So we can’t exactly track them.”
My mind is spiraling, thinking about Scot and everything that’s at stake.
“Only one solution,” Kane says firmly. “We start tracking Scot’s movements around town. See exactly what he’s up to and who he’s meeting with.”
I nod automatically, but the thought of Scot possibly orchestrating something from weeks ago has completely deflated me. I feel tired suddenly, a bone-deep exhaustion.
I sigh heavily. “I think I’m going to head to my room. Process all of this.” I get to my feet and start heading to the stairs.
“Absolutely not,” Noel says immediately, and there’s steel in his voice.
I turn to find both him and Kane moving toward me. “After that news, we’re all watching a movie together,” Noel continues, and it’s not a suggestion. “Something to get your mind out of that spiral I can already see happening behind your eyes. You’re not going to let that asshole get into your head and ruin what was a perfectly good evening.”
“But—” I start to protest.
“No buts,” Kane interrupts, and they’re literally each taking one of my arms and guiding me back to the couch. “You’re staying down here with us.”
I notice the candy canes still sitting on the side table, sticky and slightly melted now.
“Let me get changed into something more comfortable,” Chris says, already heading for the stairs. “I’ll be right back.”
I glance over at Corn Dog, who’s still snoozing peacefully by the fire, completely oblivious to the craziness around him. He opens one eye as if sensing my attention, and I swear there’s something knowing in that look.
Like even he understands that these three Alphas won’t let me withdraw into my worry and anxiety. That they’re going to surround me with their presence until I have no choice but to relax.
And despite the troubling news about Scot, and everything hanging over my head, I sink back into the couch cushions between Kane and Noel.
Their body heat surrounds me immediately, and their scents wrap around me like a security blanket.
For tonight, at least, I’m exactly where I need to be.
Safe. Protected. Cared for.
Even if I’m still figuring out how to accept it.
16
KANE
I’ve been sitting in this truck since dawn, and my ass is completely numb.
Chris is behind the wheel, both of us bundled in jackets because it’s freezing out here and we can’t run the heat constantly without drawing attention. We’re parked down the street from Confetti & Meatballs, tucked between two other vehicles where we’ve got a clear view of the building’s entrance but aren’t obvious about surveillance, if there is any.
The sun has been up for three hours now, weak winter light doing absolutely nothing to warm the frigid air, and that asshole still hasn’t shown his face.
Not once. Of course, we’re grasping at straws that he’s moved into this building, but we were hoping at the most that he’d show up for work here. Except, he’s been a no-show all morning.
No lights coming on in the building. No car pulling up. No sign of life whatsoever.
“That fucker,” Chris mutters, taking another sip from his travel mug of coffee that’s definitely cold by now. “I know he’s upto something big. I’d love to take him down. Squish his fucking arrogant head between my hands until his eyes pop out like grapes.”
“Jesus Christ, dude. Chill.” I shift in my seat, trying to get blood flow back to my legs. My knees are stiff from being bent too long. “If he’s doing shady shit, we’ll catch him eventually. We always do.”
