Page 63 of Nothing At All

Chase rolled his eyes, but pulled up the pic and deleted it in front of me. I knew – and he did, too – that the GBI lab would be able to pull it forensically, but I felt better having it off his screen.

I held his gaze a moment, then fixed Allison with a steady look. Her smirk morphed to a full-on gleeful grin.

Yeah. Just wait, girl.

If I had my way, she wouldn’t be grinning long. Keeping Chase and Krista in sight, I pulled out my phone and texted Billy, who I knew was on shift and liked to run radar just up the highway. Within seconds, his be right there appeared.

Satisfaction settled in my chest, and I lifted my gaze to Allison’s and grinned. She faltered, expression shifting before she lifted her chin, like her posturing meant anything. We’d handle this little felony of hers legally, and I bet the hospital would frown on it, too.

Maybe the state nursing board.

Krista tracked my gaze, furious disgust settling over her features. She’d always been smart, despite her shit luck with men.

She turned on Chase. “Her?”

Boots thumping on the wood floor, she stalked toward Allison. Chase groaned and jogged after her with a muttered fuck.

I shifted to face Lila, keeping half my attention on the yelling shitshow now unfolding across the bar. Billy might need backup, and Dix was going to be pissed that one of our dispatchers seemed intent on beating Allison’s ass. With a longsuffering expression, Chase put himself between Krista and Allison. Face pale, Nicole had scrambled to stand on the seat on her side of the booth.

Phone at his ear, Josh strode toward the chaos.

“You okay?” I wrapped gentle hands around Lila’s shoulders. Fine tremors vibrated into my palms. That was a stupid question, and I was a damn dumbass. Of course she wasn’t okay. I flexed my fingers in a soft squeeze. “I’ll make this right.”

Blinking back tears, she pressed her lips together.

Good hot damn, I was going to fuck up Allison Barnett’s life every legal way possible.

Billy jogged in through the entrance, gear jingling. His gaze slid over me to the brewing cluster fuck and changed directions to help Josh. I glanced over my shoulder at Vic and gave Lila’s arms another squeeze.

“Listen, I need to take care of this, but I won’t be long.” I jerked my chin at Vic. “Stay here with Vic and Lacey, and I’ll be right back.”

Fingers twisted together, she nodded on a sniff. This time, I let the sigh out. Yeah, she wasn’t touching me, so I was getting dumped for real.

I’d take care of her first, though.

Vic stepped forward and wrapped a protective arm around Lila’s shoulders. “Girl, I don’t know about you, but I need a fresh beer. Come on.”

Lila let herself be led to the high-top, with a shocked, miserable glance back at me. Holding her gaze, I nodded, then spun and strode to Allison and Nicole’s booth.

Josh stood with Krista a few feet away, head bent and talking in a low voice. Chase folded his arms over his chest, chin lifted and his face bored, while Allison poked a finger at Billy. “I want to press charges against that bitch. She threatened me, and I know that’s a crime.”

I halted at his side, shoulder to shoulder, ignoring Allison’s rant.

“Have reason to believe she accessed my phone without permission while I was at the ER.” I pointed at her, then flicked a finger at Chase. “And he had possession of at least one photo from my device without the party’s consent.”

Billy lifted a brow. “Yeah?”

Chase froze, a sick realization replacing his boredom. I jerked my chin at him.

Yep, not so much easier now is it, buddy?

Allison glared, eyes narrowed so only a little of her blue eyes showed. “He’s fucking lying.”

Billy looked between them, unimpressed. “I need your devices.”

“I’m not giving you anything.” Allison folded her arms. “He’s lying, and I don’t have to–”

I tagged Billy’s chest with the back of my hand. “You need me?”