“We’ve got some things to figure out,” Ash said, finally coming to me. He put his hands on my shoulders, and I tipped my head back to meet his gaze. “I need you to go take a hot shower, get into comfy clothes, and then come back down here. You following me?”
I nodded. There wasn’t any other option.
“When you do, I’ll make you some tea,” he promised, giving me a weak smile. It was devastating.
“You know how to make tea?” I whispered, chewing on the inside of my cheek.
“No, but I want you to teach me so I can make it for you in the future,” he explained as my cell phone started ringing. I knew who it was, but we both ignored the pleasant jingle, not breaking our gaze.
My bottom lip began to wobble. “You’d do that for me?”
He cupped my face in his hands, his touch searing through me. “Starlight, I’d do anything for you.”
“Can you find who murdered my friend?” I rasped quietly, my lip trembling.
His warm eyes took me in, a peaceful silence lingering between us. His eyes focused on mine, then followed my tears as they slid down my face, then stopped at my trembling mouth. I should apologize for not having it all together. If Ash were anyone else, I might have. But this man had saved me from the darkest nightmare of my life. He’d seen me at my worst, and still,he looked at me like I was his everything. And for a long time, I’d denied it—the idea of him and me.
Now? Now, he was the only person I wanted close to me.
When his eyes lifted back up to meet mine, there was a dark glimmer of violence swirling within them. “I’ll find them, baby.” Then he pressed a firm kiss to my forehead and told me to go shower.
It was supposed to be a quick shower.
In and out.
Wash off the sweat and trauma. Move on.
Pull myself together with a low bun and a practiced smile.
That didn’t happen.
The second the water hit my body, I melted to the floor of the bathtub and curled into a ball, letting the water surround me, consume me. Just as it had Felix.
Chapter Thirteen
Ash
The entire Red Snake team, Sheriff Humbly, plus a few of his officers were all in the dining room, standing aroundAngel’s antique table. There was a vase full of daisies in the center, and for some reason, they scared the shit out of me.
“Okay,” Humbly began with a heavy sigh. “The victim is Felix Kolby. Thirty-six years old. Unmarried. No children. He was the sous chef at Margie’s Place. Worked there for years.”
“Has Marg been informed?” Grayson asked, uncrossing his arms.
Humbly shook his head. “Told my people I wanted to do it. I’ve known her since I was a kid, and this is going to tear her apart.”
“Do you suspect foul play?” Dominic asked from his place in the corner.
Everyone looked at him.
“I don’t know,” Humbly answered. “There are lacerations all over the body, but these waters are rough, full of rocks.”
I ran my hand over my mouth. “Possible suicide, then?”
The sheriff’s eyes met mine. “Possible.”
“Where’s Angel?” This came from Jake as he looked up from his laptop.
“Told her to go wash off the day.”
