“Why wait, Sharpe?” He winked. “Might as well come at me now, because I’m definitely going to come near her again.”
“Guys, stop.” I shot between them, holding out my arms. “I cannot begin to describe how much I don’t fucking need this right now! I just lost one of the few people left in my life and I came out here to bawl my eyes out in peace. Either you go, or I’ll leave, but it does not get to be about you right now.”
Cairo snagged my wrist, snapping me to his chest. “You heard. Your beating is delayed in honor of mourning. Get going before I remember I’m not this gracious.”
“Fuck—”
“Jeremy,” I sliced in, flashing him a pointed look. “Go. Please.”
He lowered the knife. “I’ll go. Give you a chance to look after this girlfriend better than you did the last one. When he fucks it up, I’ll give you what you need, Rainey.”
I tried to remember Jeremy was smarting from the Bedlam Boys’ latest blow. It stayed me punching him in the face. So much for the both of us helpless in the middle of another’s war. This guy was more than happy to throw me over.
Jeremy strode off.
“Good deal,” Cairo said, “except you’re too busy giving my bitter ex and your brother what they need.”
Roaring, Jeremy charged him.
Cairo jumped out in front of me, squaring up, wicked grin lighting his features. They collided with an audible sound.
“Argh!” Jeremy’s knife flashed.
My wolf blocked the hit—snatching his arm with the other hand and twisting. Jeremy dropped the knife with a cry, then Cairo dropped him, wincing to reveal his shoulder was still a wreck. He bodily lifted him up and slammed Jeremy in the dirt. It was the last thing I saw.
I walked away, leaving them to fight and not sparing a glance back.
Cairo must’ve seen me leave the mansion. He came out to bring me back where I belonged, or to sit with me and share the news I’d been waiting to hear. When he was ready to do either of those things, I’d be waiting.
I passed Legend’s mansion and continued on, leaving Paris’s house behind as well. Paris would let me in and give me all the space I asked for, and the more I learned about Cairo’s relationship with his mother, I was almost certain those gates would stop him coming after me.
But it wasn’t that I wanted away from Cairo or the Bedlam Boys. It wasn’t about getting away at all. There was just somewhere I had to be.
Frankie wasn’t her usual cheery self when I stepped on the bus.
“Oh, Rainey, sweetie.” She squeezed my hand, halting me on the steps. “Don’t bother sitting down. I can’t take you out by the farm today. It’s a crime scene.”
Crime scene.
Sheriff Jack is there. Bella would be laid in peace and the authorities would search for her killer. I doubt the Letter Man was worried about me, but his ass should worry about that. He and his friend before him skulked around my farm for weeks, going on months. If there was a trace to be found, they’d find it. As far as I knew, Sheriff Fucking Jack didn’t have a reason to conceal evidence in this case.
“What happened?”
“The sheriff wouldn’t say. Just told me the stop was closed.”
“I’ll get off at the one before and walk. I have to go,” I said over her coming protest. “It’s my home, Frankie.”
Sighing, she dropped my hand, reaching for the gear. “I understand. I’ll drop you closer. Don’t let anyone know how you got there.”
“I won’t.”
It was a silent ride through town. Frankie’s natural mothering energy broadcasted in the worried looks she sent me in the rearview. She wanted to cheer me up or possibly talk me out of going. She could do neither of those things.
Frankie opened the doors on the side of the road, a short walk from the farm where my approach was shielded by the trees. I think I said goodbye. I wasn’t certain. The next thing I knew, I was skimming past the police car parked in front of my sign, heading into the copse that lined the long driveway.
My home rose on the hill, surrounded by police tape. I rested on the bark, observing Officers Davidson and Andres speaking to two crime scene techs, going by their white jumpsuits. Sheriff Jack stepped out onto the porch, and my jaw clenched as automatic as my grip on Roan’s throat at the suggestion he cheated on me. I’d never be able to stop my reaction at the sight of that man. Forever I’d hear him ordering his officers to bar me from the station, ignoring my pleas to investigate Gran’s death. Always I’d remember his blank, clueless stare as he denied receiving the autopsy report I placed directly in his hands—swearing on his badge he knew nothing of my grandmother’s poisoning.