I shake my head. “You own a night club.” I give a hard laugh. “One that I see drugs in on a daily basis,” I add seriously.
“Brecken and I do own a club.” He nods once. “But it’s a cover.”
I turn to look over my shoulder at Brecken. “Come on. Tell him to stop,” I ask him, but he just stares at me with those scary dark eyes.
“This isn’t happening,” I mumble to myself and look back to Case. “I went to that club with you. The club …”
“The club that was raided the week after we went?” He arches a brow. “Brecken and I went there for recon. We busted them a week later. How do you think I kept the tapes from leaking?”
I take a step back as I shake my head. “No!” I say firmly. This can’t be true. “I don’t believe you.”
“It’s true.”
I look at my brother when he speaks. He takes a step toward me. “They are cops, and I’ve been working for them.”
What? This isn’t possible. “Why?” I ask as tears start to sting my eyes.
He sighs heavily. “Remember when Dad called you in the middle of the night? When he got arrested?” I nod my head slowly. “I went to bail him out. But they wouldn’t let me. I spoke to an officer who gave me Case’s number. I called and made a deal with him. I was to buy and sell drugs in order to catch a guy in exchange for Dad’s release.”
“No.” I place a hand over my mouth. “Dad …?” A sob comes out. “You did this for Dad?” I ask angrily. “You placed your life in danger for a man who doesn’t give two shits about us?” I snap.
“Taylor, he …”
“No!” I shout pointing a finger at him. Then turn to face Case. His eyes follow the tears that roll down my face before he looks me in the eyes. “So it’s all been a lie?” My voice shakes. “You made me believe that you were really a drug dealer all because you wanted my brother to catch someone you’re after?” My voice rises, and I fist my hands down by my side.
“Yes.”
That one little word takes my breath away. It’s all been a lie. Every single little bit of it. “How could you?” I whisper. It took all the air I had just to mutter that one question.
“It’s my job,” he replies simply.
“Your job?” I gasp.
“I had to protect you. In order to do that, I had to get close to you.”
His words are like a slap to my face. “So I was just some fuck?” He doesn’t answer that. He doesn’t need to. “It must have been hard to take one for the team,” I spit out.
“Taylor.”
My brother speaks my name, and I look over at him. The tears are coming faster now. “You knew this whole time. How could you not tell me?” I ask in disbelief. “When I begged you not to be like Dad. When I begged you to get help. Wouldn’t it have just been easier to tell me the truth?”
“I was given orders. And I had to follow them,” he growls through gritted teeth.
“Orders?” I shout, and I watch Case flinch. “That must have been so hard for you,” I snap. “All of you!” I call out as I spin around to make sure to face each and every one of them. “You can all go to hell!” I yell.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
CASE
I stand in my office as I watch her cry. And I feel like the biggest ass in the world. Well, I am. The truth is I don’t know what’s a lie and what’s the truth. All I know is I can’t stop staring at her. She is so beautiful, even with tears running down her face. She may be crying, but her eyes are hard and she’s staring at me as if she wants to shoot me. Thankfully, my gun is locked in my desk.
“Taylor.” Just saying her name has my heart beating faster.
“Don’t,” she demands. “Don’t say my name like that. Like it means something to you.” Her bottom lip trembles, and my chest aches.
“I’m sorry,” I say softly.
“I don’t believe you,” she screams.
