High-Sided (Armed & Dangerous #3)(4)

We hung up and Sean squeezed my hand to get my attention. “Kass, what’s wrong?”

I was in shock. “Looks like we found the person who broke into the shop.”

“Who?”

I looked over at him. “Ethan.” By the expression on his face, he couldn’t believe it either.





Kassidy


Sean got us to the shop in record time. There were two police cars parked out front and everyone stood outside. Levi was talking to Miller, who was one of our racers, and also the one who found our stolen equipment in Ethan’s garage. When Levi noticed us pull in, he rushed over and opened my door.

“Where’s my dad?” I asked, getting out of the car.

He nodded toward the shop. “Inside, with Ethan and the cops. He swears he didn’t do it.”

Sean stood beside me and sighed. “Then how did it get in his garage?”

Levi shrugged. “Don’t know. He’s pretty pissed and shocked by the whole thing, not exactly the way I’d imagine a guilty man to act. Not unless he’s that good of an actor.”

“Ethan would never steal from us,” I said. “He’s been a part of our family since I was in diapers. He’s a good man.”

“I know,” Levi agreed, glancing over at Sean. “You’ve worked with him, you know how he is.”

Sean nodded. “Agreed. It makes no sense.”

Tires squealed down the road and Sean’s mother – my stepmother – came to a screeching halt in the parking lot. She ran over to us, eyes wide and wild. Sean looked nothing like her with his brown hair and amber eyes, while she was blonde with blue eyes. He took after his father in that department. “What’s going on? Why are the cops here? Is Richard okay?” Angela gasped.

Sean put his arm around her. “He’s fine, Ma. Apparently, we found out who stole our equipment.”

Levi moved closer so he could whisper in my ear. “I want to get Ethan’s side of the story. Let’s see if we can talk to him before it’s too late.”

The door to the shop opened and Ethan stormed out, with the cops following close behind. My father exited next, and everyone swarmed around him, giving us the time we needed. The cops got into their cars, and Ethan marched over to his and slammed his hands down on the hood.

“Ethan,” I called out.

He jerked around, face red. His breaths came out in deep growls and he shook. “Your father will kill you if he sees you talking to me.”

“He’s going to have to get over it.” Crossing my arms, I stepped forward. “Tell me it’s not true.”

“It’s not,” he answered, looking straight into my eyes. “I didn’t steal anything. I wouldn’t.” Huffing, he glanced behind us toward the shop. “There’s something going on and I don’t know what it is. I’ve felt this way for years, ever since . . .” He stopped and met my gaze, not finishing the sentence.

“Ever since what?” Levi asked.

Ethan sighed and closed his eyes. “Doesn’t matter.”

I grabbed his arm. “Yes, it does. Tell me what you were going to say.”

He opened his eyes and my chest tightened. “Ever since Logan’s crash, things have seemed off.”

The air whooshed out of my lungs and it felt like I’d been stabbed in the chest. After so many years, it still hurt to think about him.

Levi’s brows furrowed. “What does Logan’s accident have to do with this?” It was exactly what I wanted to know.

Ethan threw his hands in the air. “That’s just it. I don’t think it was an accident at all. After what happened to me and to others in the past, everything’s clearer than ever.”

“Kassidy!” my father yelled.

Ethan’s breath caught and he glanced over my shoulder. My father marched toward us with a murderous glare. Ethan grabbed my wrist and my pulse spiked. “Kassidy, listen to me,” he commanded, his emerald gaze boring into mine, “I’m not your father’s enemy, but someone out there is. I know there are others out there who hate him, and I’m not talking about those just in the racing world. People are getting hurt and it needs to stop.” I could hear my father’s steps getting closer, but Ethan never took his eyes off mine. “Ask your father what I’m talking about. Make him tell you the truth.”

“Kassidy!” my father growled again, only this time, he stepped in front of me. He faced off with Ethan, but Ethan backed away, his expression sad. It hurt to see the pain on both of their faces. “Get out of here, Landis. You have no business talking to my daughter.”

Sean pulled me back and put his hands on my shoulders. Ethan opened his car door and shook his head. “I was telling her what I told you years ago. Someone’s after you, and I’m tired of seeing people get hurt because of it.” He threw his hands in the air. “Who’s next Richard? Your wife? Your daughter?”

“That’s enough!” my father shouted.

Ethan glanced at me over my father’s shoulder with a look of concern on his face. “Be safe, peanut.” He got in his car and drove away, my father shaking with rage as he watched him leave.

“What did he say to you?” my father demanded, turning his glare my way.

Angela rushed up and held onto his arm. “There’s no reason to yell at her, Richard. Ethan’s like family to her. He loves her like a daughter and you know it.”