Eat Crow (Cheap Thrills 6)

Yet another rat on the ship—our mayor’s son, who was a crooked son of a bitch. “Is Diego back at the property we arrested him in?”

DB smiled smugly at the question. “You mean in the house opposite Jarrod Klein? Yes, he is. Jarrod has also kindly granted us access to his doorbell and security cam footage.”

At least there was that.

Running my hand through my hair, I put the frustration and anger in a box, knowing there’d be a day soon where I’d be dealing with Diego and making sure he wasn’t allowed back out onto the streets.

“What now?”

“Well,” DB clapped his hands together, “seeing as how you’re all fired up and motivated. I need someone to look through all the shit we have on him under Diego Mantoya and his real name, as well as his buds. Find out more about Ashesh’s background and how he fits into it, maybe even speak to the brother, Cullan. Oh, and contact the witnesses from the previous cases again to see if they’ve remembered anymore about their run-ins with the group.”

“That sounds like overtime to me.” And overtime sounded good at this moment in time. I had too many conflicting thoughts and emotions inside me, both with work and Bexley. I needed something to distract me from all of it.

“It does, doesn’t it? And you’re the perfect guy for the job.”

I was just turning to leave and get to it when he called my name. Looking at him over my shoulder, I frowned at the expression on his face.

“Just to let you know, I did Bexley’s background check and sent it to Principal Teller two days ago. Between you and me, it looks like she’s got the job. I just thought you might like to know that.”

Not knowing what to say, I lifted my chin and left the room.

This added to the mess inside me I’d just been talking about, but it also took away one of the things I’d been worried about—the possibility of Bex changing her mind.

My brain was fucking with me, and I didn’t like it.

By tonight all of her shit would be on its way here, and with her house ready to decorate and a job waiting for her, that meant she was staying here for sure. Which meant I’d get to spend time with her, and we could figure out whatever it was that we had going on.

I wasn’t ready to relax altogether, but I also wasn’t in the mood to rip someone’s head off any more now.

Chapter Eight

Bexley

Two days later…

Don’t be a pussy and grow a set of lady balls, Bexley Anne.

When I’d woken up early and decided to come and see Logan, I’d thought it would be much easier than this.

Now that I was standing in front of P.V.P.D., though, all the confidence I’d felt was gone. I was also aware that if I stood here any longer staring at the place, everyone inside—heck, even the ones outside—who saw me would know I was a freaking pathetic pussy.

Taking a deep breath, I started walking to the door, kicking myself in the ass for coming here the whole time.

What was I thinking?

“You thought you’d be an adult and see your friend, dip shit,” I muttered as I got to the door.

Shaking off my stupidity, I plastered a smile on my face and raised a hand at the girl behind the desk. Naomi, wasn’t it? Did that sound right?

“Hey, Bexley,” she called, waving back at me. “It’s great to see you back.”

“Thanks, Naomi.”—please let it be Naomi, please let it be Naomi—“It’s great to be back.

“Bex,” a deeper voice said, and I turned to see DB as he joined us. “How was your trip home?”

Was it my imagination, or were his lips twitching?

“Uh, it was okay?” Until Sakegate, that was.