Zach
Zach focused on his food, as much to avoid Colton’s questioning gaze as to satisfy his hunger. He’d seen the disappointment in Colton’s face when he realized he’d been used.
Fuck! If he’d gotten out fifteen seconds sooner… Yeah, and if he could move that fast, he’d be the Flash and wouldn’t have needed to ask Colton to help him.
Every time the door opened, Colton glanced at his cousin. He couldn’t imagine Stephen or his boys figuring out where they were, but clearly Colton didn’t believe in taking chances.
Finally, guilt robbed him of his appetite. He pushed the plate away and glanced up. “I’m sorry.”
“Nothing to be sorry about.” Colton met his gaze and smiled.
Could the guy be any nicer? Zach already thought Colton was one of the hottest guys he’d ever met. This Mr. Nice guy shit was almost too much. “Yes there is.” He drank some coffee for caffeine courage. “You have no reason to believe me, but coming on to you wasn’tjustto have you help me get away. I really did want to get something to eat and….” He shrugged. What he wanted was for Colton to be balls-deep and fucking him into themattress. And despite Zach’s cock twitching, it wasn’t going to happen.
“Maybe if you explained what happened it might convince me.”
Right. Colton wasn’t looking to be convinced, he was trying to figure out what shit Zach had pulled him into. He drained his Coke to clear his dry mouth. “My grandfather ran this show since before I was born. Originally, he played violin, but as the logistics got more complex, he dropped out and just ran the business side.”
“So he… I mean you, own the band?”
“No, he owned the show. The festivals would contract with him for music, and he’d pay the musicians. We got paid per show. Plus tips. After my parents died in a car accident. Grandpa raised me. I was five. He never talked about my grandmother, but I know she died in childbirth when my mother was real little. Stephen joined the act when I was thirteen. Well, not him, but his sons. I don’t know all the details, but Grandpa needed a partner to help run things, and Stephen was looking for a way to cash in on the kids’ musical talents.”
“Are all those other boys brothers?”
Zach smiled. If Stephen thought he was dealing with unsophisticated local police, he was in for a world of trouble. “You’re good. Hesaidthey were his sons, but I don’t believe it. Grandpa didn’t either, but he never told me why he didn’t, or if he ever found out for sure. I think Stephen adopted some or all of them, so they might be legally his sons. Maddie has been with the show as long as I can remember. Most of what I know about my mother and father came from her. Outwardly she’s Stephen’s eyes and ears, but it’s an act. She doesn’t like him or his boys.”
“You sure she isn’t playing you too?”
That thought had tried to take root in the back of his brain, but he’d always dismissed it. “Maddie was my mother’s closestfriend. She’s also a survivor. I’m sure she’s got something going on that I don’t know about, but she’s the one who warned me I needed to get away.”
“You still haven’t said why. What’s going on with this show that Stephen, his sons, and the guy in the fancy suit would attack an armed sheriff’s deputy?”
Some pieces were easy to figure out—others he had no clue. “Attacking you is just them being too stupid to live. What’s going on is complicated. Maddie never gave me much, but from what I could tell, the show’s a front. Grandpa was getting money from somewhere else in exchange for something he did. He never told me what it was, so I guess it could be drugs, but I never saw any. Grandpa did everything by phone or online. Whatever he was doing, Stephen is desperate to get his hands on Grandpa’s bank account.”
“You said you own this account, but are afraid to access it.” Colton picked up his last strip of bacon and took a bite. He chewed it slowly, keeping his eyes on Zach. “Why?”
He saw the suspicion in Colton’s eyes. Didn’t blame him either. This was all so fucked up. “I sort of have access. The lawyer transferred the money to an account he controls. I told him to after Stephen demanded the password within hours of Grandpa’s death.”
“How’d your grandfather die?”
Zach tried to swallow the baseball in his throat. Ever since he saw his grandfather wheeled into the ambulance, he’d been too scared to think. Did he really know what happened? “The EMTs said he’d had a heart attack.”
“Do you believe that?”
Zach wasn’t sure anymore. “I believe the EMTs told me what they thought happened. Could Stephen and the boys have killed him and made it look like a heart attack? I don’t thinkany of them are smart enough for that. Plus Maddie didn’t say anything.”
“You sure you’re not underestimating folks?”
If they’d done it, Maddie would have known. Unless she was part of it. He couldn’t believe that, but she’d told him to leave the night Creepy Suit Guy showed up with Stephen. He closed his eyes and swore he was not going to cry. When he was sure he had it under control he opened them but avoided meeting Colton’s eyes. “No. I’m really sorry I dragged you into this.”
“I already told you it’s okay.”
He pulled out his wallet and tossed two twenties onto the table. “Thank you for getting me out of there. I’ll find a way out of town.”
“I’ll take care of the check.” Colton picked up the money, folded the bills and passed them back. “And I’d appreciate it if you didn’t run off just yet. I like looking at you.” Colton smiled, but it wasn’t like before.
He lowered his eyes to his half-eaten food to avoid how differently Colton looked at him. “Sure you do.”
“Why me?”
