“Not yet. I just need information. Can’t imagine why that’s any of his concern. He’s got bigger shit to deal with.”
“Alright, then tell mewhy?”
“Because Jax is full of shit! I don’t buy what he said atScarlett. Leilani’s not jumpy because of Carter; she’s scared of Jax. And I don’t get why she’s with him if that’s the case.”
“Maybe she doesn’t have anywhere else to go?” Bianca says. “Maybe she’s uncomfortable with his line of work? I know I was at first.”
My head’s shaking before she’s done talking. “No.” I ran every possibility through my head, like Ryder does with his computers, but nothingclicked. Nothing seems plausible. “I’ve seen enough women in bad situations to know what it looks like. This screams bad, Bianca. She’strapped. I need to know why.”
“She didn’t seem to mind all that much when he stuck his tongue down her throat,” Ryder says.
They’re just words. Words pointing out afact, something I saw, but words, I realize, can cut as sharp as any blade.
“Don’t,” I grit out. “Don’t go there.”
He takes a deep breath, discarding whatever smartass comment he had ready. “You want me to find out why she’s with him?”
“I want everything. How she ended up with him and how long they’ve been a thing, why she stays, where her parents are—everything. Anything you can find.”
“You still haven’t told me why. You were see-through earlier inScarlettwhen you saw her,” he points out, sipping his scotch.
He’s barely made a dent in it while I’mthisclose to finishing my third. How I’m still coherent is anyone’s guess.
“I can’t explain it.” I rub my chest like I can crush this raging anxiety before it crushes me. It doesn’t help. My heart still jackhammers through my ribs. “I don’t know how. I see her...”
Leilani’s wide eyes slam into my mind again. that fragile frame trapped in Jax’s arms.
“...and I want to grab her and fucking run.”
That’s not normal. I should be worried. Iamworried because that urge is bone deep. Every time I picture her, that need consumes me further.
Grab her.
Rip her out of his arms.
Drag her away.
Keep her safe.
“How are you so deep already?” Ryder huffs, cocking an eyebrow. “Did you know her before?”
“No. Never saw her until last week.”
He studies me, eyes jumping between mine, jaw tight. “Okay. I’ll see what I can find. A surname would speed things up. Carter probably knows—”
“Hale,” I cut in, my shoulders slumping. “I asked him about her last week. Leilani Hale.”
“You should’ve asked for approval while you were at it. We might need an informant or two on the case, and for that you’ll need a green light.”
That shouldn’t be an issue. Leilani was Aalyiah’s friend. If I tell my boss I suspect Jax is mistreating her, he’ll authorize it.
“You won’t leave until I’ve found something, right?” Ryder pinches the bridge of his nose. “It’s midnight and you’re a pain in my ass.”
“Yeah, but you love me anyway.”
He fetches his laptop and Bianca bids us goodnight. As soon as the bedroom door closes behind her, I pace.
Back and forth.
