Fearless (Broken Love, #5)(57)

Dash and I shared another look as she went on about him.

There was something in her eyes when she talked about him. Each time she said his name, her eyes brightened and her voice softened.

“You’re in love with him.”

“I think it’s the worst kept secret, and I fear even Robert knows. He would never chance us being alone together and kept him away from our home whenever he could. Last week was the first time I’d seen him in a while.”

“Is there anything else you’re hiding?”

“Yes… Greg is Maddie’s father.”



*



We took Laurie to the hospital against her protests. I ran over everything in my head during the drive, and while she was admitted, we came up with only one possible conclusion.

“We’re screwed,” Dash stated as soon as they wheeled her back. He had voiced my very thought, but a stronger part of me didn’t want to give up so easily.

“Not necessarily.”

“I don’t need to see the motherfucker to know this Greg is the same private investigator Keiran put in the hospital and who killed John.” Dash didn’t react to the news of John’s killer, so I knew Keiran must have already filled him in. “Then we get her to make a statement.”

“She’s in love with him. He’s the father of her youngest daughter. She’s not testifying against him. If she finds out Keiran was the one to put her precious lover in the hospital and killed his team, she won’t testify for us at all.”

“So what do we do.”

He sighed, leaned his head against the wall, and squeezed his eyes closed. “I don’t know.” Just then, my phone rang with a call from Q. I answered and took a seat next to where Dash was standing.

“I’m guessing I don’t have to ask if Keiran was bonded since I’m calling you,” he griped.

“They said his proven history of violence was too extensive to take the risk.”

“I wanted to let you know I can’t get leave this time.”

“I don’t think there’s much we can do. They think they have a confession from Keiran about Mitch’s murder, and our one chance at getting him out is a hopeless romantic.”

“Wait. What?”

“The PI who killed John is Laurie Finch’s brother-in-law and also her lover.”

“No, I mean why would Keiran have confessed to the murder?”

“She lied. Greg told her what to say.”

I heard him release a deep breath he must have taken and then silence filled the line. “Lake, I have to tell you something, but I need you to remain calm. Is Dash with you?”

“Yes.”

“Is he listening?”

I looked up and found Dash was indeed watching me. I wasn’t sure if he could hear or not so I said, “He’s paying attention.”

“I didn’t kill Mitch,” he blurted.

“What? But I went back—the message—and you said—”

“I only said what I said to protect you. You and I both know how vicious Keiran can get. Mitch was his kill. His sole right to revenge.”

“You didn’t have to say it. I can handle Keiran.”

“I can handle him better.”

“He could have killed you.”

“He could have tried,” he said, and I could swear I heard him snort.

“Do you think he would have wanted to kill me?”

“No, and it only would have pissed him off more. He would have found other ways to punish you. I couldn’t let him destroy the one good thing that made him human.”

If Q had been standing in front of me, and if my life weren’t crumbling around me, I might have kissed his cheek. It seemed that no one was willing to let our relationship fail.

“So if you didn’t kill Mitch, who did?”

I could already feel Dash’s stare, but then he shoved from the wall and snatched the phone from my hand. “What the fuck is she talking about?” I heard Dash demand. He started pacing as Q talked. Dash, Q, the hospital—everything disappeared as the puzzle shattered further, and I began to rearrange the pieces.

Suddenly, Dash cursed, bringing me back to reality on a tidal wave, and he ended the call. His jaw hardened as he said, “We need to go. I need to talk to Keiran.”

He handed me my phone, and we headed for the elevator. Once inside, he stabbed the button for the parking garage a little too hard. I could feel his anger building and filling the space of the elevator. I could only imagine how Keiran would take the news.

The elevator opened, and I ran to keep up with Dash’s strides as his long legs ate up the concrete. I started to call out to him—to tell him to slow down. Neither of us was aware of the danger until it was too late.

When he froze, I slammed into his back and nearly toppled, but placed his hand behind to catch me just in time. He positioned me so his body completely blocked mine, but also prevented me from seeing what made him stop so suddenly.

“The last time we saw each other, it was under different circumstances.”

Oh, fuck. I recognized that voice.

“The last time you were wearing a chair.”

“Don’t get cocky. It’s just you, me… and the pretty blonde behind you. Oh… and this gun I have pointed at your head, I suppose.”