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Bennett: RIGHT NOW
Bennett: YOU PROMISED
“Look up there.” Noah was pointing to an open safe. “There were probably more photos in there.”
Bennett peered inside. The safe was empty.
“What do we do now?” McPherson asked. “We call the GM or Coach, right?”
“No fucking way,” Noah said. “We call the police.”
“Agreed. I’ll call the police,” Bennett said. “The two of you should go. There’s no reason for either of you to get mixed up in this.”
“Good idea.” McPherson raised his palms and took a step backward. “You won’t tell them what I did, about the car, will you?”
“I’ll try not to, okay? Just get going.”
“Benny,” Noah said softly. “You don’t need to take this on alone. I’ll help you.”
Bennett was already shaking his head. “You have a kid coming. A wife. You don’t need this publicity right now. It’s okay. I’ll do it.”
“It’s going to be a shitshow,” he warned.
“I know,” Bennett replied. “That’s why I’m telling you both to leave.”
“I’m staying,” Noah announced. “Mac, get out of here before we change our minds.”
“Okay, thank you!” Mac disappeared from the closet, rapid footsteps carrying him out of the apartment.
“Don’t touch anything,” Bennett called to the rookie. Then to Noah, he said, “Really, you should go. I can handle this.”
“I’m your AC, always. I’m not going anywhere, Benny.”
Bennett was grateful, even if he wished Noah had an ounce of self-preservation. “Okay, I won’t fight you on it.”
“Do you think Sewell went on the run? Like maybe he cleared out the safe in a hurry and skipped town because he knew he was close to being caught.”
“No, I don’t.”
“Oh, shit. You think maybe your mob boss boyfriend caught him.”
It was what made the most sense, the most likely scenario, but Bennett really hoped it wasn’t true. “Not a word about Nico or the mob to the police, okay? All we know is that Alex was missing from practice and we came here to do a check. We keep it simple, and maybe they won’t involve you.”
Noah nodded. “Okay.”
And that was when Bennett’s phone rang.
CHAPTER 26
They drove far out into the Toronto suburbs. The Marzanos had warehouses for this sort of thing, places that were isolated, where no neighbors or passing cars would hear the noise. Nico was looking forward to it. Anticipation crawled through his veins, the end finally in sight. Justice finally served. Balance restored.
Then he could move on. He could concentrate only on business and a sexy hockey player with broad shoulders and a dimpled chin. A sexy hockey player who had texted him a minute ago with a demand to talk.
Sewell’s absence had likely been noticed the morning at practice and Bennett, ever the dutiful captain, had gone to Sewell’s place to check up on him. Now, Bennett correctly assumed the worst and was demanding to speak with Nico.
I just need time before the shit hits the fan.
The promise Nico had made—a promise given in a post-orgasmic haze—now sat heavily in his gut. It wasn’t his nature to explain or give warning. He preferred to act swiftly, decisively. And he knew Bennett would try to talk him out of doing this.
