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Joey and Max share a fleeting look that makes me feel like they know something I don’t.
“What?” I bark.
“It’s just you, uh…” Joey presses her lips together.
“I what?”
“You don’t usually give a fuck about anyone who’s not one of us, Loz,” Max finishes for her.
Rage bubbles beneath my skin, and I snarl. What the fuck does that mean? “She’s Kat’s cousin, that makes her one of us.”
Max holds his hands up in surrender. “Calm down, compagno. Just nice to know you’re not completely dead inside, that’s all.”
Is he suggesting that Mia and I…? That I’m— “And just what the fuck does that mean?”
My kid sister reads the murderous expression on my face and, shooting a warning look at her husband, wraps an arm around my shoulder. “He only means that it’s nice to see you care about someone, Loz. Nothing more than that. We all care about Mia. You’re right. She’s one of us.”
Glaring at my best friend, I crack my neck. “Hmm.”
Max arches his eyebrows at me, the corner of his mouth tilted up in amusement. I swear, I’d punch the fucker in the face if the cops weren’t still hanging around. “I guess I’ll get to work on finding the link between Mia’s ex-husband and the deputy.”
“Yeah, you do that,” I snap and walk away.
Taking my cell out of my pocket, I dial the number of an old friend.
Lionel Hart answers with his distinctive smooth Southern drawl. “Mr. Moretti. It’s been a long time.” He sucks in a breath, taking a heavy drag on the cigarette I can picture dangling from his lips.
“I need a favor.” I glance at Max and Joey, making sure they didn’t follow me.
“Off the books?”
“I wouldn’t be calling you if it wasn’t.”
He takes another drag of his smoke. “I’m retired, Lorenzo.”
“Yeah, right.” I roll my eyes. “It’s nothing big. Nothing that’ll get your hands dirty.”
“Shame,” he says with a soft chuckle. “So what is it?”
“I need some information on a guy. A cop.”
“Ah.” He laughs again. “I see.”
“No point in knowing a former FBI agent if he’s no use to me occasionally.” Jaded by the whole system, Lionel left the bureau twenty years ago and has worked freelance ever since. He’s sixty-six and swears every year that he’s going to retire, but the hunt is in his blood. “So, can you help me out?”
“Sure. I’m working a case for some oil tycoon right now, but I can do a little digging in my downtime. Send me his details. I’ll see what I can find.”
“Great. Check in when you have something for me.”
I end the call and slip my cell back into my pocket. Catching Max’s eye, I jerk my head at him, letting him know I’m ready to get the fuck out of here.
ChapterNine
MIA
Running my hands self-consciously over my hips in front of the mirror, I study the way the orange material stretches across my frame. “You’re sure this isn’t too tight on me?” I ask Kat.
She places her hand on my upper arm and checks out my reflection. “It looks stunning. Everything looks stunning on you.” She curls a lock of my hair between her fingers before letting it fall over my shoulder. Then she gives me a playful swat on the behind. “You’re a knockout.”
