AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Hopkins!”
We turn at Mark’s voice.
“Oh, fuck. What now?” Miles grumbles.
Peterson approaches. Instead of his usual weekend swagger, his gaze is hard. Sharp. His shoulders are back. Cop mode.
“Got a call from the coroner.” He waggles his cell in the air.
“Now?” Miles says.
Peterson looks up at him, nods. “We put a rush on the autopsy of the body from the creek and the coroner thought this might not want to wait until Monday.”
I frown and glance up at Miles.
Miles sets his hand on my back. “If you’re going to tell me I have something to do with the murder, we’re going to have a problem, Peterson.”
He gives Miles a quick glance and shakes his head. Then he looks at me. “I feel confident you’re off the hook, Bridger. She dates the murder to a couple months ago.”
That doesn’t clear Chance, but I see Miles deflate a little out of relief. It looks like Mark has more to say.
“What else is there?” Miles asks.
I nod. “Yes. What did she find?”
“The body…” He heaves out a sigh and looks at me. “The body has been identified as Joseph Hopkins. DNA matches yours on file.”
My mouth falls open.
My brother. Joey. He’s the dead guy in the creek. On the Bridger property.
“From when he disappeared.” My voice is wooden. Numb. I’m trying to process what the hell that all means.
Peterson nods.
Oh. My. God.
I lean into Miles unintentionally, but I’m thankful for his size and strength. All my hope of ever finding Joey is gone.
“Joseph Hopkins?” A frown mars Miles’s brow. “The body is someone in your family?”
I nod.
I swallow. “My brother. I guess he came back from Canada. Or he never went at all.”
15
MILES
Sadie’s peaches-and-creamcomplexion has gone stark white, and I wrap my arms around her to steady her. “Easy, baby.”
She grips the bar.
I’ve been a fucking idiot. A caveman who dragged his woman back to his cave and took possession. When I saw her come in with that guy… Yeah, I lost my shit.
Sadie is mine.
I don’t have any claim on her. We barely know each other, but whenever we’re together, the chemistry is intense. Being with her settles something inside me. And obviously riles me the fuck up.
