“Um, what do you mean?” she hedged.
“Don’t play coy with me. When I was there, the man lorded over you like a hired bodyguard, and you were too drugged up for me to get the story.”
She hadn’t seen Mason since the day she’d been shot. Viola later told her that he’d stayed at the hospital that first week, often sitting by her side when she’d been heavily medicated and sleeping, but once he was convinced she’d make a full recovery, he’d left. He hadn’t tried contacting her either, and she knew better than to reach out to him.
“I’m still on medication.” It was the truth, but she wasn’t on an IV drip anymore. “And you expect me to believe you haven’t already dug into him?”
“Your FBI team didn’t tell me dick. Hid behind red tape.”
“And of course you didn’t try other avenues.”
He sighed. “I spoke to Hunter Anderson, former mafia and current member of a mercenary group the feds had you infiltrate before putting you undercover at a sex club. Jesus Christ, Shelby.”
She winced. “The mercenaries worked for the government. They’re good guys—”
“Oh, I bet. It’s why they hide behind a car shop.”
She wasn’t surprised he got the information from one of the guys from the garage, although why it was Hunter, she didn’t know. She figured Bear would’ve been the one to update him. Not that it mattered. “Axle, I’m not going to dog those men. They’re great guys. Hearts of gold. And loyal to a fault. That’s more than I can say about everyone on my other team.” Because she was part of the Bang Shift now. Maybe not on their payroll, but the bond was there.
“I’m sorry about your friend, Darrell, but if he wasn’t already dead, he would be.”
“I know. But you would’ve had to have gotten in line to take him out.”
“That’s cute you think so.”
She scoffed, but she also knew he’d have done whatever necessary to keep her safe.
“He’s not just an informant,” Axle said, no longer talking about Darrell, and not really asking.
“No,” she answered anyway. “But it’s a mess, and I’m not ready to go into it all.”
“Did he hurt you?” Axle asked in that deadly calm voice of his.
“It’s the other way around. I’m still coming to terms with everything, and that includes what I did to Mason.”
“Mason,” he muttered.
“Yeah, Mason. In fact, he’s the reason I called you last night.”
“Why do I get the feeling I’m not going to like this?”
Instead of answering him, she said, “He has a brother. Name’s Caleb Showalter. When I was, er, working on the case, he said his brother was dead, but our records indicated he’s a POW. Now, we didn’t talk about families back then, and I haven’t talked to him since I was shot. He could’ve just said that so he didn’t have to go into the long explanation. It could be nothing, but I’d like for you to see what you can find out.”
“You’re with the FBI, Shel. You have more clearance than I do.”
“That’s not true. You’re much more important in the military than I am to the government. Besides, the military protects its own. If it’s nothing, you’d be able to find that out much easier than I could. If there’s a cover up or something, I don’t know, more to this…you’d be able to figure that out, too.”
“Why?”
“Because I owe him.”
“You don’t owe him shit. You had a job to do.”
“If I wanted to hear the same thing I’ve heard a hundred times already, I would’ve called my boss, not my brother.”
“Do you think it’ll make a difference? Whatever happened between you two, do you think it’ll change anything?”
“No, and I wouldn’t want it to.” She sighed. “If his brother is still alive, I want him to know, but that doesn’t mean I’d go running to tell him. I don’t care how he learns the truth, just that he knows it. It’s the least I can do.” She took a deep breath to continue, but gasped at the pain.
“Damn it, Shelby.” She wasn’t sure if he was talking about her request or the sound she’d just made.
“Just look into it. That’s all I’m asking.” The doorbell rang then. “I gotta go.”
“I’ll get it,” Viola called out. “Go back to guilt-tripping your brother while secretly mooning over your card.”
She was going to kill her.
“What did she say?” he asked.
“Nothing. Love you, bub.”
“Love you, too, sis.”
Shelby hung up and yelled, “It better not be a kitty delivery. The pet deposit here is outrageous.”
She heard Viola’s giggle, and her heart felt lighter. Partly for Viola, since it seemed her friend may be testing that stage of acceptance already. The other part was probably because of her brother and his willingness to help with Mason. Axle hadn’t said he’d do it, but she knew her brother.
Soft voices filtered into the kitchen, so Shelby got up, put her glass in the sink, and headed to the living room to see who was here.
She didn’t make it past the doorway.
“Mason,” she breathed. His gaze left Viola’s to find hers.
He shoved his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels. “Hi, Shelby.”
“I…” What was he doing here?
“I was just telling Viola to stop trying to find excuses as to why she should pay me back.” He looked at Viola again. “It’s not happening.”
“Oh. You came to talk to her.” Shelby’s already pounding heart seized.
He cocked his head to the side. “No, I came to talk to you. This one here is just using the opportunity to convince me again.”
“It’s not right,” Viola said, fisting her hands.
“No, it’s not,” Mason agreed. “It’s not right what Dave put you through, and I have no intention of making you pay for his mistakes.” He licked his lips and looked at Shelby again. “Can we talk?”
Viola sighed. “I was just going to the grocery store.” She grabbed her purse and car keys and reached for the door.
Shelby couldn’t resist one more barb. “Stay away from the cat food.”
Viola laughed as she left.
“Do I want to know what that’s about?” Mason asked with a crooked smile.
“Just doing my part to keep her from turning into the stereotypical spinster cat lady.
“Ahh.” He nodded.
They stood there, looking at each other, the silence thickening.
Shelby cleared her throat. “Sorry. Would you like something to drink?” She motioned for the couch, feeling like a completely inept hostess, and an emotional hot mess.
“No, but thank you,” he said, sitting on the couch. She still stood in the doorway of the kitchen, knees locked, unsure of what to do. He patted on the spot beside him, making the decision for her. “Come here, Shelby.” The authority in his voice had her moving before he delivered the command to go to him.
Now seated beside him, she couldn’t stop herself from mentally cataloging all his features again, the flecks of gold in his brown eyes, the sexy wave of his hair at his forehead, the intoxicating cologne he sometimes wore. She should ask him the brand, so she could buy a case of the stuff. It would help her remember him when he was gone.