Nodding, I step outside just as my phone rings. “Pacino?”
“Finally got what you were looking for.”
“Ben?”
“Yeah. Last name is Samson. He’s pretty unremarkable, but he does have a few things on his record.”
I move around the building to avoid potentially having Misty step outside and overhear me. She might actually kill me for looking into Bernie’s dad.
“Like what?”
“Two domestic violence charges. No convictions, though. But there’s a third one pending.”
“DV? Against who?”
“Looks like all are ex-girlfriends.”
My chest tightens. Misty wouldn’t have let him get away with hitting her, would she? Did she downplay why she didn’t want to go after Ben for financial support? Is she scared of Bernie’s dad?
“Thanks, man. Anything I should know?”
“He’s come into a decent amount of money lately. The problem is, he doesn’t have a job. Hasn’t had one for quite some time, but he’s flush. Paid cash for cars he shouldn’t be able to afford. Big house. Things like that.”
“You think it’s illegal shit?”
He snorts. “Unless he’s a gigolo.”
“Can you look into it further?”
“Thought you’d never ask. Didn’t want to go too far unless you wanted me to.”
“Appreciate it, brother. Keep me updated.”
“Of course.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Zeppelin
Ican’t stop thinking about Misty’s ex having domestic violence charges. She’d have told me, wouldn’t she? Then again, she never really told me why they’re not together anymore, either.
No, she’s too feisty to put up with shit from anyone. One mistake, and she’d have walked.
It still bothers me until I head down Main Street and something else takes that spot in my brain. Sitting on the front curb of Mama’s salon is Bernie. And she’s hugging her knees rather than sitting inside like she’s supposed to.
Pulling over, I hop off my bike and walk over to her. “Bernie?”
“Hi, Zep,” Bernie says, wiping her eyes clumsily before looking up at me. “I didn’t hear your bike.”
“Why are you out here?” And why the fuck are you crying?
I can’t ask the bigger question without her mama throwing a fit, but I have never felt an instant anger like I do right this moment. Seeing Bernie crying breaks my fucking heart.
“I got tricked.”
“What do you mean?”
Wiping her nose with the back of her hand, she stares at her shoes. “The girls invited me to come with them to get our hair done. I thought they were my friends, but it was just a joke.”
