Page 91 of Smitty

“Well, he had his reasons for that… They believe somebody’s been trying to hurt people they care about.” I pointed my hand at him as I explained, “They know they got the wrong guy now, but…”

“They thought my ol’ man was behind it?”

“I guess they thought it was a possibility. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be sitting here right now.”

Benson studied me for a moment, like he was trying to decide if I was on the up and up or if I was just feeding him bullshit. He must’ve thought he could trust me to some extent, because he said, “They ain’t gonna let me go.”

“Maybe. Maybe not… That depends on you.”

“What do you mean?”

“They gotta know without a doubt that you aren’t a threat to them or the club.” I let that sit a second before I added, “They gotta have a reason to trust you.”

“How am I gonna convince them? I don’t know shit.”

“You might know more than you think.” I reached into my back pocket and pulled out the photograph Shep had given me. “Maybe you know somebody who does.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Let’s see if you do.” I held up the picture and watched as his eyes grew wide as I asked, “Do you know this guy?”

18

BROOKE

“Ryan?”

I thought I was dreaming, but the second I saw the pained look in his eyes, I knew this was no dream. He was here, and he seemed just as surprised to see me as I was him. I eased up on the sofa, trying to shake off the cobwebs of my nap. It didn’t help matters that my heart was hammering against my chest so hard I could barely make a complete thought.

I blinked, trying to clear the fog from my head as I asked, “What time is it?”

“Just after three.”

“Really? I can’t believe I slept that long.”

“Why aren’t you at work? Are you sick or is Anslee…”

“Anslee’s fine. I am, too. I just haven’t been sleeping well, so I took the day off.”

“Oh, okay. I’m sorry. I thought you wouldn’t be here.” His eyes searched mine. “I just came by to grab some clothes and stuff.”

“It’s fine, Ryan. This is your house. You can come by any time.”

My words settled like a weight on my chest. I had no idea how we’d gotten here, and I hated it. All of it. It hurt to even look at the man I’d always considered my best friend, so I looked toward the window, sighing as I looked at the afternoon sun stretch across the living room floor.

“You okay?”

I opened my mouth to answer, but nothing came out.

For the past two years, Ryan had been my person. I talked to him about everything from issues with my parents to crazy stuff that had gone on at work. I trusted him to be honest and forthright, and I did the same for him. We relied on each other, we were always there for each other, and we’d built a special relationship that I’d come to treasure.

I thought it was enough. But that was before.

Before that night at the fair.

Before I knew my heart still belonged to Brayden.

Before he packed up everything and moved out. Things were different between us now, and justifiably so. I’d hurt him. I didn’t deserve his friendship, his thoughtfulness, but that didn’t mean I didn’t want it.