“Fuck you,” I muttered. No, I wasn’t helping. But it had felt good to say it.
Medina dabbed his mouth with his napkin. “Garrett doesn’t work for me. Woodson brought him in separately.”
“But I saw Garrett wearing a Crosshairs ring. Phelan thought Garrett was part of your company.”
He glanced to the side, toward his guards. “It turns out Woodson and Garrett were plotting something else as well. They wanted to oust me as head of Crosshairs in favor of Garrett. As if he could waltz in and screw me over, and I’d simply sit here and let him do it.”
Damn. So this involved an internal power struggle within Crosshairs too, something that never had anything to do with us.
Keira leaned forward, dropping her voice. “Do you know where Ryan Garrett is?”
“If I did, I wouldn’t tell you.”
“Excuse me?”
“I know you and Mr. Reynolds have been running your own investigation, separate from the sheriff’s office. Your boyfriend probably wants to do to Garrett what he did to Nox Woodson.”
“That was self-defense,” Keira protested.
Medina lifted an eyebrow and glanced at me like he knew the truth. That I could’ve left Woodson alive if I’d wanted to.
“We’re not running any investigation,” I said. Opting for a different lie.
“I’m aware you went to question Donny Phelan without Sheriff Douglas’s knowledge. You didn’t report that Nox Woodson chased after you in an SUV and, I assume, tried to kill you. Nor did you tell the sheriff about Ryan Garrett after Phelan must’ve given you his name.”
Hell. He knew way too much.
Medina placed his elbows on the table, tenting his fingers. “Here’s what’s going to happen. I will see to Ryan Garrett. I’ll make sure he never bothers you again, Deputy Marsh.”
“You’re admitting that in a public place?” she asked.
“I’m admitting nothing. All I’ve said is that I won’t let him get away with what he’s done. Garrett ismine, and I won’t tolerate any interference. As I said before, I don’t like messes. If you or Mr. Reynolds gets involved,especiallyMr. Reynolds, I have no doubt things will get messy.”
I held the man’s gaze. “It sounds like you’re making a threat.”
“On the contrary. It’s an offer of friendship. You would both be wise to accept it.”
A shadow appeared over the table. “They’ve got friends already.”
Medina’s eyes shifted upward. “Trace.”
“Harris.” Trace Novo, the leader of the Protectors, crossedhis arms over his chest. “I hope you’ve enjoyed your lunch. It’s time for you to leave.”
Medina grinned. “I was just about to ask for the bill.”
“It’s on the house.”
After Medina and his goons had left, Trace sat down in the man’s place. “Keira, Dean,” he said softly. “Good to see you both. I was sorry to hear about what went down yesterday. You’re mixed up with Crosshairs Security, somehow?”
Keira looked deep in thought. I had no clue what was going through that beautiful head of hers. “What do you know about them?” she asked.
River had already told us the Protectors had a file on Crosshairs, but neither of us were going to mention that to Trace.
“Enough to urge caution. This world is rarely black and white, but Medina dabbles in darker shades of gray than I’m comfortable with.” Trace looked from me to Keira. “Do you need us to get involved?”
Us, meaning the Protectors. Which only emphasized that she wasn’t one of them.
“No,” Keira snapped, getting up. “I don’t need anything from you, Novo. I’m going to say thanks again to Jessi before we leave. Dean, I’ll meet you in the lobby.”
