“We needed to know if the Iron Circle Crew—the men from last night—were in town. When you mentioned the body you were working on… It sounded like something they’d be involved in so we checked.”
“You…checked.” My eyes widened. “You broke into my business.” I was proud that my voice remained steady. I didn’t need him to confirm it. The truth was right there in those beautiful blue eyes of his. “You broke in,” I repeated, “and read my report.”
I took a step back from him. “Do you have any idea what this could do to my reputation? I could be let go as the town’s medical examiner.”
“They wouldn’t do that, Rae,” Cypher said, his voice firm. “They need you too much to even consider it.”
I was still staring at Pyre, nearly begging him with my gaze to tell me it wasn’t true. “W-why would you do this?” So much for my steady calm. “Is that why-”
Huffing out a breath, I tried to keep the tears at bay. “That’s why you began dating me. To find out information.”
“No. That’s not why. I-”
“I don’t want to hear it, Pyre,” I said, backing up further. Suddenly, I didn’t want to hear what he had to say. “I need some space.”
Turning, I ran out of the clubhouse. I made it almost across the parking lot, heading for the road when someone grabbed myarm. There was no need for me to look to see who it was. Balling my hand into a fist, I turned and punched Pyre square in that pretty face of his.
“Shit!” He didn’t let go of me, but he used his free hand to wiggle his nose. “That’s a great right hook you have there, Little Reaper.”
“Let me go,” I said, jerking my arm out of his hold.
His hands fell to his sides. “Just let me explain.”
“I don’t want to hear it right now,” I told him. “Would you have even told me? If Rotor hadn’t let your little secret slip, would you have told me the truth?”
He opened his mouth, then shut it and began grinding his teeth. I could tell because the muscles in his jaw were flexing.
“No, of course not,” I said with a humorless laugh. “What else haven’t you told me?”
“That’s it.”
“That and why you started dating me to begin with.”
“I told you, you’re wrong about that.”
“You lied about breaking into my business,” I countered. “Why should I believe you about this?”
“Raeleen-”
“Leave me alone, Pyre,” I told him, lifting my hand and pointing my finger at him.
He looked like he wanted to murder someone. I really didn’t envy Rotor. He was probably going to be on Pyre’s bad side for a while. Though at some point I should probably thank him. But not now.
Right now, if I didn’t see any of these bikers for the rest of my life it’d still be too soon. Yes, they’d saved my life. But right now that wasn’t enough to earn my forgiveness. They had used me. I couldn’t just forgive that.
I stomped down the road, holding onto my anger because it was the only thing holding the tears at bay. My phone rang, soI pulled it out of my pocket and saw it was Ainsley. My purse was still in Pyre’s room at the clubhouse—one of the men had grabbed it out of my car at the bridge. “Hey, Ains.”
“Thank God you’re okay! I’m sorry I wasn’t there to see you last night, or this morning. We’ve been with Owen here at the hospital.”
“How is he?” I asked, desperately needing the distraction. Pyre had said he was going to be okay last night, but he wasn’t exactly excitable about things, so he could have been downplaying Owen’s condition.
“He’s okay. I mean, he got shot, so he needs to rest and heal, but otherwise he’s okay. He said to tell you thank you for saving his life. He’s determined to send you flowers for the rest of your life.” She laughed.
My lips twitched up in a small smile. “That’s not necessary.”
There was a slight pause. “Are you okay, Rae? Pyre told Warrant you only had a couple scrapes and bruises, but-”
“I’m not hurt…physically.”
