I scan the document futilely. I never even cleaned the truck. It didn’t cross my mind considering I wasn’t able to drive it. Jesus, what the fuck are they going to find?
“You know,” Layton finally looks at me. “I was a day too late to serve you a search warrant at your house, but I think this will suffice just fine, don’t you think?”
He’s positively chipper, as if he looks forward to putting me behind bars. And for what? To get justice for a fucking would-be rapist? I can’t help narrowing my eyes.
“That’s what I thought,” he says. “If I were you, Ms. Noland, I would get a lawyer.”
“She already has one,” Jax practically growls.
Layton blinks, then laughs under his breath, a humorless sound. “Of course she does,counselor.” He gives the house a once over, not bothering to hide his displeasure, and then turns on his heel. “I’ll be in touch.”
Chapter Forty-Nine
Jax
Ihold back Kira’s hair as she dry heaves into the toilet, Nix and Caleb behind me. The bathroom is the size of a two-car garage, but they’re right on my back, huddled against me as they fire off questions.
Apparently, they could see the shit show from the window. I can only thank fuck that James is out the door at five a.m. every morning for his commute to the city. I thought that the brick wall of ashes I left on Kira’s property would halt Layton’s pathetic little investigation, but it seems he’s found one last tree to bark up, as futile as it may be.
“You did so good, baby. This is just a last-ditch effort on his part.” I try to soothe her even as my chest constricts. Watching her fall apart like this, while all I can do is hold her hair, makes fire burn through my veins. I want to tear Layton apart with my bare hands, feel the satisfaction of making him pay for even daring to come here. But I don’t have that option right now. All I have are words, and I find myself stupidly babbling, not too dissimilar from my brother.
“I mean, they’ll probably rip apart your truck,” I wince at my admission and quickly try to salvage it. “But I’ll buy you a new one. Unless—”Shit.Does she have an attachment to the truck like she did the house? “Unless you want me to get it rebuilt?”
The part of me that’s weak and pathetic for Kira is showing, but I don’t give a fuck. I’d do anything to make her feel better.
“They have the truck?” Nix’s voice is tight, almost a whisper, and I feel Kira jerk out of my grasp, springing to her feet.
Tears streak down her cheeks as she spins on me. “What good will a truck do me from jail?!”
I frown, confused. “He’s just digging. He doesn’t have anything—”
“He has my truck!” she shrieks, clawing at her hair, panic radiating off her in waves.
Caleb mutters a curse under his breath. I glance at him and then at Nix, just now seeing how pale they’ve turned, and something clicks.
“What’s in the truck?” I ask, my jaw already working.
No one answers as Kira sinks down onto the tile. Nix drops to her knees beside her and wraps her arms around her, pressing her forehead into Kira’s hair.
“I’m so sorry,” Nix whispers.
I’ve never seen the younger Noland look so concerned before, and my blood runs cold at the display.
“What’s. In. The. Truck?” I roar, turning to Caleb.
He avoids my eyes, wincing. “DNA? Maybe?”
“DNA?” I scoff, searching all three of their faces. “Why would there be DNA?”
Something doesn’t make sense. I torchedCaleb’scar for DNA. There shouldn’t be anything in that piece of shit at Marley’s. It didn’t even run. And both Nix and Caleb said Marshal died in Nix’s room. There’s no fucking way I just handed Layton everything he needs to put Kira Noland in prison.
“I may… have forgotten that we… uh…” Caleb stutters, his shoulders hunching in on him.
“Forgot what?” I snap, my patience nonexistent. “You don’tforgetanything when you’re dealing with a murder.”
“Marshal… We moved him. From the bed of their truck to my car. But, I mean, he wasn’t even in there that long. I don’t remember seeing blood but… but that doesn’t mean…”
“It doesn’t mean that there isn’t DNA,” I finish for him. “FUCK.” The walls shake with my outburst.
