Pieces of Us (Confessions of the Heart 3)

Had half an inclination to reach through the window and take him by the collar. Let him know exactly what the problem was. But I played by the books as best as I could, and this punk wasn’t even close to being worth my ass getting dragged into the sergeant’s office.

“Considering you were doing sixty in a thirty and blew through a stop sign, I’d say there is.”

He scoffed out a laugh. “Sixty? I think your radar must be off. Wasn’t doin’ more than . . . thirty. Max. You can ask my friends.” He almost laughed when he said it, glancing in the rear-view mirror at the two guys in the back, sketch written all over them, carload of twitchy motherfuckers with their knees bouncing a million miles a minute.

“Yeah, no chance were we going any faster than that,” one of the guys in the back spouted, head bobbing so fast I wasn’t sure how it didn’t snap off.

“That so?” I returned, wondering if they actually thought that was reason enough for me to let them go.

“That’s so.” It was nothing but a sneer from the driver.

“Not what my radar said.”

My head swiveled as I leaned closer, taking in the interior of the car, hunting for anything that might give me a reason to search it.

Gut telling me they were dirty.

Interior was clean, no bags or paraphernalia sitting out. Nothing that should raise any suspicion that this was anything more than a normal traffic stop.

“Where you coming from?” I asked, voice low and controlled, hinting at a growl.

“Pretty sure that’s none of your damned business.” This from the driver. I kinda wanted to pop him in the mouth.

A rough chuckle left me. “You been drinking? Doing drugs?”

“Do I look like I’ve been drinking?” Instantly, this kid was combative. Hated to say that I’d expected it, but I had, not surprised at all to find that feeling creeping up and taking hold.

“License and registration,” I grated low.

A disgruntled sigh left him. “That really necessary?”

“Wasn’t asking so I could find out the color of your eyes. Think you could do as you were asked, or do you need to step out of the car?”

Defiance blazed from his expression, but he finally reached across the console when he saw the cruiser marked with Police roll up behind my truck.

I kept my eyes focused as he opened the glovebox, watching for anything it might expose.

Nothing stuck out in there, either.

“Be right back. Don’t go anywhere, yeah?” I warned.

I went back to my SUV to do a search after he handed both over.

Zachary Keeton.

My computer screen populated with a slew of driving-related tickets, mostly speeding and two for reckless driving.

Shocker.

Only thing even remotely criminal was an arrest for misdemeanor theft.

No outstanding warrants.

Even though my gut was telling me these four were involved in something bigger, I was left with no option other than to write him a ticket. I moved back to his window and handed it to him.

“Drive safe.”

He snatched it out of my hand, a smirk taking over his face. “I’ll do my best.”

I stood there and watched him pull back onto the street, fighting the sick feeling in my gut. Shouting that I should do something more. That these guys were vile and corrupt. But sometimes I had to let things go. Accept I couldn’t fix everything. It just sucked when you knew something seedy was right under your nose.

* * *

“Where have you been my whole life, handsome?”

I grinned, happy to hear the familiar voice. I needed a distraction for the uncontrolled energy, my emotions in shambles. Too excited for my own damn good, and that old worry trying to steal itself a winning spot after it was supposed to be long dethroned.

I tossed my attention over to Mirena who stood at the head of the table where I was sitting in my regular booth at Monty’s.

It was the same question she asked me every single time I came in, which was more often than was probably prudent to admit.

“Lookin’ for you, gorgeous. What else would I be doing here?” I said, giving her my same response as well.

Nothing sexual about it.

Hell, Ian had hit that up before he’d settled down with Grace, so I sure as hell wouldn’t have gone there even if I wanted to, anyway.

I didn’t. Never had.

She was just . . . cool and sweet and playful, so I always played right back.

Made our favorite bar feel a little bit more like home.

Of course, my little excursion tonight was sans Jace and Ian. Assholes had better places to be. Like actually at home. Couldn’t exactly fault them for that.

Didn’t mean that it didn’t bother me just a bit that I was sitting there alone. It was moments like these that made me wish that maybe I had more.