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Mason approved of the cop’s tactic and climbed out of his truck, his gun in easy reach, his senses heightened for any danger around him. He walked to the club door, turned to Bowers, gave him a nod, and held up five fingers, letting the cop know the time started now.
The door opened then with one of the club members waving him inside, a look of surprise in his eyes at Mason’s new look. The door closed at his back. Mason shifted so the guy behind him and the other twoin front of him couldn’t pull any moves without him seeing it.
“Relax,” Lobo said from the table near the bar. He sat with cool casualness. “I just want to talk.”
“You have less than five minutes. If I’m not out that door by then, the cop calls in backup and things get sketchy.”
“Not only do you sound like a cop now, you look it.” Lobo shook his head and dove right in. “How long did you know about Maria?”
“I didn’t know who was running the murder-for-hire business until a week ago.”
Lobo remained cautious but relaxed. “You thought it was me.”
“I never assume anything, but yes, you were a suspect.”
Lobo leaned forward in his seat, hands on the table in front of him. He obviously didn’t want Mason to get any ideas that he was a threat or had a weapon. “Why wasn’t I arrested for anything?”
“While you run the club, your boys have their side hustles. Some of the money funnels into the club. They pay their dues. I wasn’t here for misdemeanors. That’s for the local cops to investigate, though my report is focused on Maria and her guys. They’ve racked up a lot of charges. I’m satisfied the people who needed to be arrested and charged have been, and so is the FBI. So why am I here?”
Lobo gave him a firm nod. “You did your job.”
“Yes.” Without regret or guilt. He took down the bad guys.
Lobo pressed for more information. “Are we on some watch list now?”
“Should you be?”
Lobo frowned. “Just give it to me straight.”
He did. “Local cops will be watching you. They have been for some time. But the feds have the guilty in custody. The case is closed. I will be staying in town for personal reasons.”
“Lyric.” Lobo narrowed his gaze.
He was at the table in seconds, his fists planted, his face in Lobo’s. “I’d be very careful about saying her name and looking at me like that. I might take it as a threat. And anyone who threatens her had better watch their back.”
Lobo fell back in his chair, all at ease and looking disgruntled that Mason had gotten in his face. “I like her. She’s kind. She helps the people of this town. She’s helped people I care about. That thing with Mindy and her kids... Mindy was my high-school girlfriend. I hate what’s happened to her. I don’t like what that asshole did to her, or the way he attacked Lyric.”
Mason read in Lobo’s eyes that he wanted to make sure it never happened again. The man obviously respected Lyric and the help she provided to others.
“Violence against women is the worst kind of thing a man can do, especially to someone they supposedly love. So before my five minutes is up, I’ll tell you why I asked you here.”
Mason backed off and stood, holding Lobo’s steady gaze. “What is it?”
“Maria was spending time with that new guy in town. She wanted him to keep Lyric away from you.”
Mason went on alert. “I know.” And he hated that he’d put Lyric in danger.
Lobo didn’t break eye contact. “My sister ruined this place. She seduced men into doing things they’d havenever done if not for her promises. She helped that asshole get close to a good woman. I don’t know what he did to Lyric, but I don’t want him to do anything else, because then who will look out for the lost and broken in this town? He’s squatting in an abandoned property out on Sycamore Road, number 327. You can’t miss it. White house, boarded-up windows, trees all along the back side.”
“Did your sister try to kill Lyric with that hit-and-run at the bar?”
Lobo’s eyes filled with weariness. “Until the FBI arrested her and the others, I didn’t think her capable of something so deadly, but look how wrong and blind I’ve been.”
“Did she do it?” He needed to know.
“I don’t know.” The sadness and uncertainty in his eyes said he wasn’t lying.
“Thank you for the information. Am I going to have a problem with you or anyone else from the club if I stay in town?”
