Page 64 of Holden’s Resurrection

He really didn’t want that fucking box, but he had to admit he was intrigued. Rhode knew who Leigh-Leigh was and understood what she meant to him. There was no way he’d purposefully bring trouble, but there was no guarantee how Charleigh would react to any information about Paul.

Christ.

The punches just kept coming.

“Sorry to interrupt,” Charleigh said as she stood in the doorway of the conference room. “It’s almost time to go pick up Faith. I don’t have my car keys—would it be all right if I borrowed a vehicle?”

Holden looked down at his watch. Damn, where had the time gone?

“She’s out at two-thirty, right?”

“Yeah.”

“We’re almost done.”

Across from him, Weston leaned back in his chair and stretched, reminding Holden they’d been sitting around the table for hours going over the reports Jonny had left. Vaughn had interviewed Cory Saddler’s ex-wife, the do-gooder who’d called in Elliana and Ayla walking down a dark, country road in the wee hours of the morning. His story had partially checked out. According to the very happily ex-Mrs. Saddler, Cory did leave for work very early. Though by her account it wasn’t to beat the traffic, it was so he could fuck his side piece before work. The other catch was he didn’t work on Sundays. Jonny was working on getting his schedule. The sheriff was doing his best to get the information he needed without alerting Cory he was asking for it. Jonny was also adamant about treading on the side of caution so small-town gossip didn’t flare up and ruin a man’s reputation if it wasn’t warranted.

Holden, however, had a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach and wanted to go at Cory full-force. With just under two months until a sick pervert struck again, every instinct was screaming to go hard, push Cory until they were either satisfied he was telling the truth or they caught him in another lie.

None of the men were pleased with the reasons why the ex-Mrs. Saddler was so immensely thrilled she was free of her husband. Not only had he been a cheat but he’d also been an asshole. She’d shared voice mails she’d saved from Cory. Some of the calls had been direct to her cell, some to their daughter, Miranda’s, and a few were left on the home answering machine. When Jonny had played them earlier that day, Holden watched as Jonny clenched his jaw while they’d listened to a husband and father verbally abuse his wife and daughter. Cory Saddler was a mean son-of-a-bitch.

So, yeah, every part of Holden was raring to teach this dick a lesson in manners.

“I can go by myself,” Charleigh protested.

“I can take her.” A new voice entered the conversation and Charleigh paled.

“Hey, baby, what are you doing here?” Chasin asked and rose from his seat. Holden followed suit.

“I was in the neighborhood and wanted to check on Holly. McKenna told me they had a rough night,” Evie said.

It was then it hit Holden just how tight the women were. Evie and Bobby were the latest additions but they’d been brought into the fold and fit right in. It was almost as if Holden couldn’t remember a time when all six women weren’t close.

Fucking hell. Now he got it—why Charleigh had been so uncomfortable. She was the outsider and he played a large part in why that was. She’d formed a friendship with Kennedy and he’d heard that McKenna had gone to Charleigh and Faith’s apartment to bake cookies. He couldn’t remember the details about how that came to be, because he’d been studiously avoiding all talk of mother and daughter. Rory and Faith were friends, they went to the same school, though Faith was in a grade above Rory, and he only knew that because Rory had told him all about it. Holden also knew Evie liked Faith and had given her a few guitar lessons. That knowledge came direct from Evie when she’d warned him so he wouldn’t be on the property when the duo showed up. At the time, he’d appreciated the warning. His Airstream was only a few yards away from Evie’s music studio.

Why hadn’t he kept his mouth shut?

“’Preciate the offer, but I’m done for the day,” Holden said.

Evie’s mouth twisted in indecision before she stood tall, and Holden held his breath, not liking the look on his friend’s face.

“Okay, I’m just gonna address the elephant in the room—”

“Genevieve,” Chasin warned.

“Please, none of you men give Charleigh enough credit. She’s not some wilting flower with no backbone.”

Fuck.

Charlotte Axelson was the exact opposite of a wilting flower. That was the problem. When Charleigh got mad, the shit that flew out of her mouth was enough to cut a man down at his knees. Holden didn’t want to witness two women he cared about—one he loved more than anything—go toe-to-toe, and by the expression on Charleigh’s face, she was ready for battle.

“Leigh-Leigh, baby—”

“What?” she snapped. “She’s right. If she’s got something to say, I’m all for it.”

“Fuck,” Jameson muttered, knowing exactly what Charleigh’s tone meant.

Genevieve sighed and looked at Charleigh.