Foul play?My heart picks up at those words. They’re the same ones I read online about the fire that killed his father. But I don’t have time to think about that right now. I’ll circle back. Right now, I need to focus on Lucky’s.
I run a hand through my hair, not understanding. “This has nothing to do with my bar. Who was that guy?” I point at the door. “Why didn’t he tell the police it was arson? And why the fuck did you give him money?” I’m not an idiot. There was cash in that bag. “And why the hell did he strip down.” My mind wonders out loud.
Where does that leave me? Because now I can’t go to the police and file a report. No matter if it’s arson or not, they’ll want a statement, and Cross wouldn’t let me tell them anything. Said he’d take care of it.
“He was the fire marshal. I needed to make sure he wasn’t wearing a wire.” Cross finally speaks, and the answers knock the wind out of me because a part of me already knew who he was. I just didn’t want to admit it to myself. “I paid him off to lie on his report.”
“Why would you do that?” Tears sting my eyes. Lucky’s is my livelihood. I was in the process of remodeling it, and then Jasmine and I were doing Kink. Now what?
“Because if he told the police the truth, then they’d only get in my way,” he answers flatly.
“That is their job, Cross. What could they possibly get in the way of?” I snap at him.
“Making him pay.”
“Who is he?” I ask, hands start to tremble. Everything is falling apart, and nothing makes sense.
“Mitch,” he answers.
I start shaking my head. “He wouldn’t …” I trail off before I can even finish that sentence. Why would Mitch set my bar on fire? I never confirmed I’m with Cross, but I also never told him I wasn’t. He was the one who brought up Cross’s dad, and the news article said that Oak Grove caught fire. But the statement said no foul play or arson.
Swallowing nervously, I plop back down on the couch next to Jasmine. That’s what Bones meant byheis setting Cross up. Whoever it was wanted me to suspect Cross. But I was with him. If it was Mitch, he had to have known I was with Cross at the time, right? It couldn’t have been him.
CROSS
BONES STEPS FORWARDto speak at the same time the door to our suite flies open.
“What in the hell is going on?” Grave demands, entering the room, holding April’s hand.
“Oh, thank God.” She sighs when she spots Alexa sitting on the couch. April lets go of Grave and runs over to Alexa. She pulls her up from the couch and hugs her tightly. “I’ve been worried sick. I was praying you weren’t there.”
“I’m fine.” Alexa pats her back; her eyes meet mine briefly over April’s shoulder. “I wasn’t there.” She pulls away. “How did you—?”
“Someone sent me the news footage of your bar up in flames,” Grave growls, interrupting her. He looks at me. “I’m not asking again. What the hell happened?”
Jasmine stands as well. “Someone caught the bar on fire. We think it was Alexa’s ex.”
“Why would he do that?” Grave digs.
No one answers him, and it just pisses him off even more. “Kings.” He snaps his finger. “Office!” Then he’s storming off out of the living room and down the back hallway.
Letting out a long breath, I follow him with Bones and Titan on my ass. We enter the office, and he’s pacing in front of the desk. The curtains are open, showcasing the Strip lit up at night.
“Grave, it’s okay,” Bones starts. “No one was there. Someone saw it and called it in. It’s not a total loss—”
“We need to call the fire marshal,” Grave interrupts him. “Get him there right now. To find out what happened.” He nods to himself.
“It’s taken care of,” Titan states.
Grave comes to a stop, his head popping up, and he stares at us. “How so?”
“He was already here,” I answer. “He confirmed it was arson.”
He leans back against the desk, crossing his arms over his chest, and bows his head. Silence falls over the office while we let him process this. “Alexa can come stay with us. She’ll be safe—”
“That won’t be happening,” I say, interrupting him.
He slowly lifts his head, and his blue eyes meet mine. Tilting his head to the side, he says. “If her ex is after her, she can’t go home. She needs to be somewhere safe.”
