“I don’t understand… where are these from?”
“Your texts. They were read, and then deleted. The first one came in weeks ago.”
No. There was no way he’d get something like that and not immediately go to his team. “I can’t remember anything…”
“We know.” Gunner grumbled. “Doesn’t mean we’re not all pissed at you for deleting threatening messages and not telling us about them.”
“I don’t know what I was thinking.” Stone shrugged. “Ifeel like I would always come to you guys. I wouldn’t try to handle something like this on my own.”
“So, reading them… it doesn’t bring up anything for you?” Nash asked.
“Nothing. I feel sick. I don’t like whoever the hell this is bringing Mae into it. But it’s not bringing back any memories.”
“Fuck.” Hawk’s sentiment rang around the room, echoing exactly how Stone was feeling.
“How many of these messages are there? How many did I delete?”
“There are twenty of them. The last one you deleted was the morning you were shot.”
“Which one is it?” Stone asked, looking at the screen.
“Doesn’t matter.” Gage reached for the remote.
“Show me.”
“It honestly doesn’t matter. We’ve got this weird information and no lead. For now, it’s a dead end anyway, until I do some more digging.”
“Show. Me.” The more Gage pushed back, the more Stone knew he had to see it.
“Just let him see it. The threat they made already happened.” Gunner huffed, picking his coffee cup up and taking a sip, all while his eyes stayed on Stone.
Unknown:
Time to pay the devil.
He was about to respond when Gage stood up. A flashing white light in the corner made Stone’s blood run cold. Mae had pressed the silent alarm at her desk.
The guys all moved as one, but Stone ran to get there first. If she needed to be protected, he was going to be the one doing it.
“Get the fuck out of here.”Mae’s vicious growl tore through the space.
Stone took in the scene at the front of Montgomery Defense for half a second before moving into action. Because Beau Ford had his arms wrapped around Mae’s waist, holding her back from lunging at Laurel, who was being restrained by Beau’s brother Hayes.
“I’m going to rip that smug smile right off your face, you fucking bitch,” Mae growled as Stone stepped in front of her.
“Hey, beautiful.”
“Sully, I swear to God! I’ve had it! She’s not going to walk in here like she owns this goddamn place, like she isn’t trying to take everything from you guys?—”
Stone’s eyes lifted off Mae’s flushed face, over her shoulder to where the team was standing, glaring at Laurel. Sebastian’s eyes landed on Stone.
“What did I say, Cap? Pool Comp,” he shrugged. “It’s Pool Comp all over again.”
Laurel’s hands flew up by her face. “There’s no need to be so hostile, Mae. I was doing my job, just like I told you I would be. The guys had the opportunity to go on the record and give their side of the story.”
“Unless you’d like to reveal your source to us so we can speak directly to them, you aren’t welcome here.” Hawk growled. Guess he decided against the fun and flirty approach.
“I know, I know, the devil’s in the details. Unfortunately, that’s not how source protection works.” Laurel winked.
