His grin sends a shiver along my spine. “Amy.” He says my name in a way I don’t like at all, and I take an instinctive step back. “I knew you’d do it.”
I fold my arms. I might not have solid proof, but my gut instinct is enough for me. “They don’t run guns. There was nothing for me to find.”Even if I’d looked.
“Bring the Bastards down.” There’s a manic gleam in his eyes. “Fucking shits ruined my life. They deserve everything that’s coming to them.”
He’s completely delusional. It’s scary how much he’s deteriorated over the last few weeks. “I didn’t bring the Bastards down, Rex. I didn’t do anything.”
“Do you have any idea what it’s done to them, finding out who you are? Killed them, that’s what. Destroyed them, finding out a piece of pussy got one over them.”
I take a deep breath, which is a mistake considering the smell, but at least it helps clear my mind.
Rex never had a coherent plan. All I heard wasbring the Bastards downand I was his. How was I stupid enough to believe he was a police informer? I’m going to rip myself a new one for that later, but right now I have another issue with him.
“You always knew it was my dad who killed Reynolds, didn’t you?”
He looks at me, but I don’t think he sees me, he’s so far gone in his own fantasy world. “I knew the shit your mom fed you. You were so easy, Amy. Just waiting for me to give you the chance you always wanted.”
I’d already guessed that’s all there was to it, but having the words flung at me, even by a drug-crazed wreck who probably has no idea what he’s saying anymore, tears me open.
If I hadn’t been desperate for both revenge and a job, if I’d given it all just a second’s thought instead of leaping right in, I would’ve seen the holes in Rex’s so-called plan.
I just want to go home and forget all of this ever happened, but while I might one day forget my total stupidity at believing Rex, I’m never going to forget the way Gage looked at me before he walked away.
And then Rex steps toward me.
…
Gage
I swerve the bike into the curb and watch Amelia disappear into the building where Hawk told me Abbott’s been staying. Denial thuds against my skull, and there’s a hard knot in the center of my chest.
I don’t fucking believe it.
She’s not with Abbott.
The stricken look on her face the last time I saw her haunts me. She wasn’t pissing around. I jumped the gun. Should’ve let her talk. For the last five hours that’s all I’ve thought about, and it doesn’t sit easy with me, knowing I’m in the wrong.
But shit.WasI wrong?
I grip the handlebars tighter, trying to focus and failing. Because if she wasn’t lying, then why the fuck is she here now?
Finally, I get my shit together and dismount. I came here to get the truth from Abbott, and if that means I discover Amelia was everything he said, then that’s too fucking bad.
For a couple of seconds, indecision grips me, a paralyzing sense of futility at the whole damn mess. I don’t want to find out she was lying to me. Christ, I don’t know what I want.
Lies. Of course I know. I want her back.
The admission burns through me. It’s like I don’t care what she’s said or done, that I’ll keep making excuses for her no matter how damning the evidence against her. What the hell’s wrong with me?
I throw back my shoulders and swagger across the street like I own it. She’s just a chick. I can get pussy anywhere, anytime I want. I don’t need her. Get a fucking grip.
As I mount the stairs, I hear muffled voices from above. I slow down, even now not wanting to face the truth, and Abbott’s voice hits me.
“You were so easy, Amy. Just waiting for me to give you the chance you always wanted.”
It’s like my boots are glued to the stairs. I should charge up there, break his fucking neck, but she’s up there, too, and if she’s wrapped her arms around him…
I stamp the image down, but the echo remains. If I saw that, I’d never be able to scrub it from my mind.
