Page 47 of What Burns Between

“Damn.” He glances back to where she was standing moments ago. “Woman’s got a fine ass on her.”

“You got somewhere you need to be?”

He chuckles, tossing the keys in his hand. “I’ll call back in another week. Let you know what else I’ve heard.”

“Appreciate it, brother.” I slap the tall fucker on the shoulder. “You ever get tired of chasin’ your tail, you know you’ve got a place here.”

“Yeah, I know.” He glances across at Rigs as the cocky asshole struts across the yard. “Less complicated staying on the blacktop.”

Neither of the fuckers let anything on, but the two haven’t spoken a single word to each other after one particularly drunk and hellish night near on three years ago. Bets are on between the other brothers as to what went down.

My money’s on Graves’ bisexuality getting the better of Rigs’ vanity.

Odds are seventy to one that I’m right.

The money’s not the only reason I picked that option.

“Ride safe, brother.” I wave Graves off and head indoors, noting the way the men manage to avoid leaving through the gate at the same time.

Maddie leaps off the stairs, pissed off scowl square on me when I walk through the door as though she’s spent the last fifteen minutes hunting me down. The look on her face reminds me far too much of her momma, so I lift my chin like the avoidant shithead I am and stare at the far wall above her head. What little patience I had left has dwindled overnight to a delicate little pile of kindling just begging for a light.

And here comes the goddamn flame.

“You seen Rae?”

“She’s with your uncle.” I frown down at my best and worst mistake. “Where she’s supposed to be as his woman.”

“How realistic you two gonna make this?” Maddie stamps a hand to her waist and lifts both eyebrows in challenge.

“As real as it needs to be to keep her outta trouble.” I sigh, tucking my thumbs in my pockets. "You know best as I do that this is the safest space for her. At least until I get a handle on what her testimony means for Terry."

"It means jail time, Daddy." Maddie switches to arms folded across her chest. "It means he loses his grip on their business, doesn't it."

“Terry's not the type to be afraid of jail." I nod toward my office and set my hand on her lower back to steer her there. "He's got to be worried about somethin' else. Something more." Plenty of curious ears out here and not all of them need to be privy to what I have to say.

My girl drops her ass into the seat before my desk, legs crossed and a huff big enough to rival the big bad wolf. She slings her arms wide over the rests as I round the end of my desk, hanging her head back onto the cushion. "I want you to promise me you boys won't hurt her." She jerks her chin down, squaring me with a steely look. "She's had enough heartache for a lifetime already. She doesn't need you lot adding to that."

"Can't promise a thing, baby girl." I drop into my worn desk chair, the frame protesting under my bulk. "I've got no intention of causing unnecessary harm, but fate could very well have other ideas." Stick around a little while in this life, and you soon learn that you aren’t the one in control.

"What will you do with her?"

"Not much." I kick my boots over the corner of the desk, stretching my legs out. "Best-laid plans would mean her name is enough of a deterrent for Terry."

"A deterrent for what?" Her hands swing idly on either side of the chair.

“Nothing you need to concern yourself with, baby girl.” I jerk my chin, studying her over the rise of my cheekbones. “What else your little friend been sayin’?”

“Why?” She narrows her gaze, arms slowing to a stop.

“One thing bothers me about this whole fuckin’ thing.” I tap my fingers on the desk and focus on the pattern. “Terry ain’t the kind to do stupid shit that leaves him vulnerable. Killin’ Tom in front of Rae? That just don’t make much sense now, do it?”

Maddie snorts. "Why the hell would he murder the governor's brother in the first place?Thatmakes no sense."

“No. It doesn’t,” I agree. “That’s why I don't think he meant to kill Tom. Tell me, baby girl. Why would he invite your friend to his fuckin' house if he knew he were gonna do something like that?"

She settles back into the seat, cogs turning behind her amber eyes. “So, you think the whole thing was a mistake?”

“Not entirely.” I drop my feet to the floor and turn to face the desk properly, elbows resting on the surface. "He had to have another reason for wanting both Tom and Rae there on the same night. She had to have been a pawn. A piece for him to play to get what he needed out of Tom.”