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He rolled his eyes. “Why are you such a pain in the ass?”
I smirked and began walking backwards, hitting accept on my phone. “We already went over this. Catch up. Because you’re a cop, and I come from criminals. And also, because you have a boner for my woman, which really pisses me off.” Then I pivoted, the detective forgotten and I raised the phone to my ear. “What’s up?”
“Who was that?” my brother asked, sounding amused.
“Nice to know you’ll always be a dick,” Travis called from behind me. “At least you’re consistent. Wait for your police escort too.” He motioned toward the squad car parked in the lot.
I gave him the middle finger before unlocking my truck and getting in. As soon as I turned on the engine, I put my phone aside and waited for the escort Dickhead mentioned. They pulled into position and I eased ahead of them as the call switched so it was coming from my dashboard.
I replied to my brother, “Just some local pests. What’s going on?”
Will was quiet. We’d had enough conversations over the last month for me to know he was going to bring up something I wouldn’t want to discuss. “Listen, you’ve not said shit about what’s going on with your woman, but brother, we get the news too. You’ve been great about helping with this fight against Shannon, but if you need something from us—”
“I’m good.”
“I know Budd’s dead to you, and believe me, I’m learning how Shannon is the fucking reaper. You kill her and she keeps coming back to wreak vengeance. But you’re not all alone. You and me, we aren’t close, but I’m still family. Say the word and I’m there.”
“You’re helping Stevie, Georgie, and Sammy. You’re already helping,” I told him. “Can you imagine the alternative? Me having them here in all this?”
He sighed. “Yeah. I get it.”
“What’s the real reason you called?”
He bit out a harsh laugh. “There was something, but we can talk after your game.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah. Stay safe out there.”
I grew grim but bit out, “That’s the plan.”
46
BILLIE
The knocking started at four the next morning.
Brett and I were in my bed at the farm. It was warm, cozy, and small. I didn’t want to move, but Brett was the one who got up and went to the door. There was muffled conversation, and I snuggled into his pillow, breathing the smell of him in deep. It was almost ridiculous how much just the smell eased any little anxiety twisters inside of me.
His voice rose, saying, “Are you kidding?”
Annnnnd there went my momentary peace. It was time to get up.
My hair was a mess, and I was yawning as I made my way to the front area. Brett and whoever was at the door were outside, so I took a second to find my sandals. I’d pulled on one of Brett’s Kings T-shirts and went back to trade my sleeping shorts for his giant Kings sweats. They barely stayed up, but I loved them. The waistband rolled over a few times, hitching them at just the right place before I slipped out the door.
Travis and Brett were on the patio of the guesthouse.
Brett looked over at me, a slight grin tugging at his lips, his eyes trailing over my outfit. He liked when I wore his clothes, and he really liked when I wore them to bed. There was an extra thrill in his eyes every time he stripped them off me.
This morning, right now, I focused on Travis.
He looked as if he hadn’t gone to bed the night before. He wore a police-issued jacket with a bulletproof vest underneath. Wrinkled jeans. His hair stuck up in all directions, but his eyes sparkled with bags under them.
He was holding back a smile.
I stopped in my tracks. “What?”
“We got him.”
