“Both are a possibility,” Streak adds. “But if it’s a set-up, it's one of the best damn ones I’ve ever seen.”
“So what are you saying?”
He shakes his head, letting out a breath. “Nothing. Just that if someone did set him up and that’s a big if, they’d have to have an intimate knowledge of not only Rodriguez but the way the police work. All the clues pointed to Owen - not in an obvious way but he wasn’t exactly hiding his tracks either. It’s just believable enough that most people wouldn’t dig further.”
“Someone needs to talk to Rodriguez. Ask him if he’s had issues with anyone lately,” Blaze instructs and Storm nods.
“I’ll handle it.”
“Good,” he answers before turning to me. “What do we have going on with the P.I. business this week?”
I shake my head. “Oh, you know, just the usual.”
“Cheating husband?” Chance asks, his lip curling in disgust. Chance has made it perfectly clear in the past how much he despises working on the P.I. side of things because it seems like all we do is break up marriages but he is not exactly all that skilled with a wrench either, which eliminates the possibility of him working at the shop. I nod my head.
“Yep. I have to meet up with Tate in a few minutes for one of our cases.”
Blaze nods thoughtfully. “How’s she working out?”
“Good,” I answer as I glance over at Kodiak. Tate first came into all our lives a few months ago when Blaze ordered Kodiak to watch her and it didn’t take long for things to get a little out of control. There’s still a little tension between Tate and Blaze after everything that went down but I have faith that they’ll both come around. This is a family, after all. Blaze nods again before grabbing the gavel and banging it on the table.
“That’s all I’ve got for y’all today. Get out of here.”
I check my phone, hoping for a text from Quinn, as I step out into the bar but there’s nothing and I shake my head. There was no way I was leaving her after everything she told me last night but I spent the whole night staring up at the ceiling in her bedroom as she slept cuddled up against my side. For hours, I imagined finding the monster who thought he had a right to put his hands on her and making him wish that he’d never been born. Even now, I want to go out and hunt him down despite the fact that she seemed happier, lighter this morning.
“You ready to go?”
I glance up and Tate arches a brow in my direction as Kodiak pulls her into his arms.
“Uh, yeah…”
“Everything okay?” Kodiak asks, his back straightening as he studies me and I nod, shaking off my thoughts.
“Yeah, it’s all good. Now, release your woman so we can get to work.”
He growls and pulls her closer. “Hold your fucking horses. I haven’t seen her all damn day.”
“I’m just going to wait out in the truck then,” I grumble and roll my eyes as they start kissing. They don’t even acknowledge me so I duck outside and climb into the truck before dialing Quinn’s number.
“Hey, handsome,” she answers and I grin.
“Hey, baby. What are you up to?”
She sighs and the image of her perfect pouty lips flash through my mind as my cock stirs. Fuck, it’s been so hard to hold back with her when all I want to do is bury myself inside her.
“Just working.”
“Yeah? How’s the gala coming?”
“Well, I think everything will be ready by Saturday as long as I don’t forget to pick up my dress with everything else I’ve got going on.”
“Dress, huh? I can’t wait to see you in it.”
Her husky laugh goes straight to my cock. “Why does that sound dirty when you say it?”
“Maybe because I was imagining taking the dress off you at the end of the night.”
“Lucas,” she gasps, her voice a husky whisper and I bite back a groan.
“Baby, you can’t say my name like that.”
She giggles and the sound fills me with pride. I love making her laugh. “Why not?”
“Because I promised to take things slow and I don’t want to be an ass, especially after what you shared with me last night.”
“Forget the rules and taking things slow, Lucas. I told you last night that I’m all in.”
“Quinn Dawson,” I drawl. “Are you asking me to go steady?”
She laughs and I can just imagine the way her eyes sparkle when she smiles. “Yeah, I guess I am. What do you say?”
“I suppose we could give it a shot.”
“I’m overjoyed by your enthusiastic response,” she answers and I laugh as Tate walks out of the clubhouse.
“Truthfully, Darlin’, I knew you were different right from the moment you looked at me. I’ve just been waitin’ on you.”
“You really mean that, don’t you?”
I nod as Tate opens the passenger door to the truck. “Yeah, I do. Told ya, I don’t say things I don’t mean.”
“One of these days, that might just sink in. You want to come over for dinner tonight?”
“Yeah, I can do that,” I reply as I feel Tate’s gaze burrowing into the side of my face. Her brow quirks in question when I glance in her direction but I ignore it and turn back to the steering wheel.
“Perfect. I get off at five and I can pick something up on my way home.”
Something about the way she says home does something to me and I can’t help but picture truly having a home with her and Brooklyn someday. Damn, that’s a pretty picture even if it’s only in my imagination.
“Don’t worry about it, babe. I’ll grab something before I come over. What are you in the mood for?”
Tate sighs from the other side of the cab and I shoot a glare in her direction. The woman has no patience whatsoever..
“Surprise me,” Quinn answers and I nod.
“Okay. See you tonight.”
We say good-bye and I hang up before tossing my phone in the cup holder and reversing out of the parking spot.
“Who was that?”
I glance over at Tate and shake my head. “None of your business.”
“Oh, Lukie,” she teases, grinning. “Have you forgotten that I could just make you tell me?”
“Do you remember the conversation we had about not causing bodily harm to the people you care about?” I say, narrowing my eyes at her and she laughs. I’ve never met anyone quite like Tate and she’s quickly become one of my best friends, especially after Kodiak suggested that she try working for the P.I. side of the club. It’s honestly been a perfect fit with her skill set but she’s still a little too hot-headed to be out on her own. Tate has more of an act first, ask questions later attitude that can get her into trouble but that’s the reason that Kodiak fell in love with her.
“Of course I do. Now, tell me who that was.”
I sigh. “Quinn.”
“Ohh, the girl from the car accident,” she teases with a giggle. “Ali was telling me all about her. I take it from the part of the conversation I heard things are going well?”
“Yeah.”
She leans across the cab, inspecting my face. “What’s wrong? Is it not going well?”