“We all are,” I muttered, jerking my wrist out of Cruz’s grip. I didn’t have time to deal with him right now. What I needed to focus on was stepping up, being the leader I was always expected to be.
“We need to consider the possibility that there might be more than one person involved.”
The silence turned suffocating.
Ava eventually broke it, her voice a little unsteady. “What makes you say that?”
“It’s just a theory, but I’m thinking about the photos. This envelope. The texts we’ve already received. It’s a lot for one person to put together, especially based on the timings.” Sweeping out my hand to encompass the photos and envelope, I shook my head. “I dunno. Maybe I’m wrong, but it would make sense if more than one individual was responsible for all of this.I have a…a gut feeling. It’s the same one I get on the ice, and I know to trust it.”
“Meaning what?”
I met Micah’s gaze. “Meaning… It’s time to turn the game in our favor.”
“Here’s what we’re gonna do.” Pacing up and down in front of my noticeboard, aka evidence board, I looked at each of them in turn. Micah was stretched out on my bed, propped up against the headboard, with Ava settled between his outstretched legs, her back pressed against Micah’s chest. Despite the seriousness of the situation, my heart skipped a beat at seeing them there, so comfortable on my bed. Two fucking gorgeous, different people, who I’d somehow come to care for equally. They looked as if they belonged there.
Then there was Cruz, sprawled out on my love seat with his arms outstretched across the backrest, all fucking nonchalant and…hot.
No way. I did not just fucking think that Cruz Martinez looks hot.
The pressure was obviously getting to me.
Clearing my throat, I resumed my pacing. “What we need to do is smoke them out. If my theory about there being more than one person is right, it should mean we have more of a chance to catch at least one of these assholes.”
“It could be more difficult, too,” Micah pointed out, and I nodded.
“Yeah. More area to cover, I know.” Cracking my knuckles, I glanced over at Cruz, who gave me a tight nod. “But if we get one, we can make them talk.”
“How do we get one?” Ava murmured.
“We smoke them out. Unfortunately, that’s gonna involve some of us being used as bait.”
Ava seemed to instantly understand where I was going with this. Shooting upright, she slid off the bed and came to stand next to me. There was no trace of the fear she’d shown at the rink. No, my girl was showing her spine of steel, and now was not the time for my dick to be taking an interest, but it was really fucking hot.
“Cruz and I will be bait. That’ll be our angle. You and Micah set the trap.”
“The fuck?” Cruz flew out of his chair, his eyes darkening with rage. “No. I’m not letting you use yourself as bait. I’m not being used as bait. I’m getting this asshole.”
“Cruz. It makes sense.” Ava gently rubbed his arm, instantly managing to dial his anger down to a simmer. “Think about it.” She curled into him, staring up at him from beneath her lashes, and he licked his lips. Her fingers trailed from his arm to his chest, her nails dragging over the fabric of his T-shirt. “What could be more enticing than the sight of the golden sorority girl and Blackwell U’s bad boy getting down and dirty?”
“Fuck,” he groaned. “That’s unfair.”
She pulled him into a filthy kiss that my dick stood no chance of resisting, blatantly tenting my sweatpants. Over on the bed, Micah was in the same predicament, trying to subtly adjust himself as he watched them with blown pupils and parted lips.
When they broke apart, Cruz looked dazed, and I couldn’t help smirking. He caught my eye, and his brows rose in a challenge.
“Wouldn’t the better story be hockey’s super straight golden boy getting hot and heavy with Blackwell U’s bad boy?”
I gritted my teeth, raising my middle finger. “You wish.”
“Maybe I do.”
“There’s no fucking chance, so forget it. I’m not leaving Ava and Micah the job of catching our rat.”
Micah made a noise of protest. “I’m trained in several martial arts disciplines. I’m capable of putting a grown man on his back.”
“Are you, now?” Cruz purred, and I rolled my eyes. Crossing my room to the bed, I dipped down to brush a kiss over Micah’s lips.
“Yeah, that’s why you’re with me, baby.”
