“It’s all good, Lyric. I can take you home.”
“I can’t get on a bike with this boot, Doom.”
“I can borrow Alamo’s truck,” he countered, grabbing his discarded clothing from the floor.
“Don’t go to the trouble,” I said, and started to get dressed. “Seriously. I’ll grab an Uber. It’s all good. You looked like you were about to have some fun, so do that.”
I smiled and gathered my things, sliding my foot into my single flip flop.
* * *
Doom
“Text me when you get home,” I said.
“I will,” she promised. “Thanks for the stress relief. I needed it.”
“Me too, Angel.” I helped Lyric into the Uber, kissed her one more time, then headed back into the compound.
“What the fuck is this?” Alamo growled, holding the manila envelope Lyric brought with her in the air. I forgot I left it in his office. Not surprising. I was a little distracted.
“Don’t know,” I admitted. “I haven’t looked at it.”
“Well, let me enlighten you. It’s your life. The whole fuckin’ shebang,” he said. “Shit I’m pretty sure only Doc and I know.”
I dragged my hands down my face. Shit.
“What I want to know is why is it in a sealed envelope in my office?” Alamo continued.
“Lyric did a background check.”
His mouth dropped open. “And she’s still alive?” he asked somewhat sarcastically.
“She didn’t look at it.”
“She had you investigated, but didn’t look at the information?”
I nodded, crossing my arms. “That’s what she said.”
Alamo sighed. “Brother, are you sure this is a good idea?”
“No clue.”
He shook his head and handed me the envelope. “Just go easy, okay? I swear to Christ, if I have to turn Willow on to you, it’s not gonna be pretty.”
“Jesus, why do y’all threaten to sic her on me?”
“Because she’s the only one who can get through to you when you go dark.”
I flipped him off and headed to the kitchen for coffee, my mind turning to Lyric. Fuck, she was incredible. I had to force myself not to rage at the sight of the scars across her abdomen. Nine of them. They were faint and by no means took away from the beauty of her body, but they were there and they were the evidence of the trauma that took away her ability to have children.
Jesus Christ, what kind of monster could do that?
This was exactly what I intended to find out.
* * *
Lyric
