Anchor cuts into the conversation, his eyes locked on the screen in front of him, “From the reports on the case so far, they don’t have any record of her being on the phone. Her phone wasn’t found on the scene and there is a request for the records. They do have a copy of the initial report to the police here, but there’s not a lot of information. The message just indicates there is an emergency and the address. There is a number to call, and a reference number included, but I don’t see anything that tells me they’ve run it down yet.”
Addyson shrugs and I hate the lost look on her face. I love seeing the flashes of her fire, but it’s been dampened by fear. Fuck, my cock started leaking pre-cum when she put me in my place about being harsh toward Sin, even though I could see the jealousy written all over her face.
It was sexy as fuck.
I’m tempted to sit down behind the cover of my desk just to have a chance to adjust the steel rod in my jeans, but I don’t want to put any more distance between us than is required. It’s difficult enough as it is not to touch her.
“I told the cop at the desk I have evidence,” Addyson’s voice is thready and she sways slightly before giving herself a shake. When her brown eyes connect with mine, they flare and she clears her throat. “I didn’t say what and I didn’t say my name. I just kind of word vomited and then sat where he told me to after calling whoever is investigating the case.”
“Yeah, I’m getting the word vomit thing now, babe,” Rampage drawls the words and my body tenses with the need to launch myself at my brother.
Before I can, Addyson is on her feet and spinning toward the man who suddenly looks a little concerned for his balls. As he should be.
“I don’t see how this is funny, chuckles,” she sneers. “I apologize that when I’m put in a situation which most people would find awkward, scary, or embarrassing I have the tendency to overshare. I’m sure you have your flaws too, babe.” She cuts her hand through the air, her words doing the same, “I’m sure I won’t have to be around long before I find one or two.”
My VP falls to his knees and shuffles closer to her, his face awash with something like infatuation. It makes me want to slit his throat. But I tighten my grip on the desk and glare at him. He glances at me, but he doesn’t give a fuck.
Rampage pants his way closer to the woman who is going to be my Old Lady. “Fucking hell,” she sounds horrified and glances over her shoulder at me with wide eyes, “did I just adopt him or something?”
Ripper grunts which has everyone except Rampage and Addyson looking his way. He only rolls his eyes and goes back to his normal silent, and deadly, self. Well, okay then.
“Or something,” Duckie teases while grinning from ear to ear. I’m not sure what is amusing him more at this point—the show Rampage is putting on or the way I’m pulsating with anger. He keeps glancing at me and I can feel it.
“Don’t touch her,” I seethe the words at my VP right before he reaches for her. If Addyson looks at me like I’ve lost the plot, I wouldn’t know because I keep my focus pinned to my brother.
It would be such a shame to be forced to kill him. But I’d get over it.
Rampage must see how serious I am because he simply sits back on his heels next to Addyson’s chair. Like a fucking puppy. When is tongue lolls out of his mouth, I have to bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from barking out a laugh.
“And Scythe sent me here to keep me safe,” Addyson mutters to herself while plopping back down in her chair, exhaustion written all over her.
“We’ll keep you safe, Tempest,” my words are a vow.
When she looks up at me, her eyes soften and she nods. It’s not much, but it’s enough. For now.
Anchor lets out a low whistle and stops whatever he’s doing on his laptop to look up and meet my gaze. He wants to know how much we’re sharing with Addyson still in the room. But this is about her safety and she’s in deeper than she should be already. Hiding shit now will only put her in more danger.
When I incline my head, Anchor looks at Addyson with a gentle smile on his face. What the fuck is going on around here? Are all my men going to go soft for my Old Lady?
While part of me can’t blame them because I’m already a fucking goner for this woman and I haven’t even known her an hour, I don’t fucking like it. But now is not the time to stake my claim.
“Wagner is dirty. I’m not sure how deep it goes, but it’s more than enough. Pay offs. Information exchanges. Fudging of reports. Missing evidence. There’s at least one other cop I can link to him through money exchanging hands. He’s IA which means he is the oversight, but he was dirty before he took thetransfer. It looks like he was also cheating on his wife for over a year before they were separated. Has a whole other pad for the mistress.” Anchor’s attention shifts back to his laptop. “I’ll keep digging and find everything I can.”
“Kendra didn’t know about the cheating,” Addyson muses. “Maybe he killed her because the divorce would have potentially brought his dealings to light? A money trail or a PI looking at the right time in the right place could send the whole house of cards crashing down?”
She looks up at me and blinks, her eyes wide and round with the reality of just how shitty people can be and how selfish their motivations usually are.
And I’m going to bring her into my world? Fuck me.
Then she licks her lips and her eyes flit over my chest. Yeah, I’m going to be the selfish bastard who locks her down. I’ll just make sure the shadows never touch her.
“How do you know she didn’t know about the cheating?” Duckie tilts his head as he asks the question and I’m not sure if he’s testing her because he’s figured out who she is to the club—the queen—or if he’s genuinely curious.
“She said he wasn’t a good man,” Addyson points out with a wave of her hand. “If she knew he was cheating and has his mistress set up in some love shack, she would have called him a piece of shit cheater and mentioned how she hopes his dick falls off,” her words are sickly sweet.
She looks at Duckie and bats her eyelashes before throwing me a look that I’m not entirely sure how to interpret.
A warning?
