Page 29 of Newton

"That's surprising," she whispers.

"Drake works at the local bar," I explain. "According to Boomer, he's the Cerberus member, he's the best thing that’s ever happened to him."

There's a warning in my tone, and I know Brielle has had enough life experience to understand the meaning. Any opinions she might have against a same-sex relationship won't be tolerated.

"I guess I didn't realize how progressive the club is," she says, looking at me. " I can tell by that tone in your voice that you think I might have an issue. Let me be clear that I don't."

"I know Nathan was an evil man," I explain.

She freezes beside me. I haven't mentioned his name once since she got to the clubhouse, but I'm not foolish enough to think she’s forgotten the man. There's no level of safety that would ever be capable of making that happen.

"He was," she quickly agrees. "But even as heinous as he was, he didn't have an issue with same-sex relationships either."

I know it must hurt her to admit that although the man had flaws, there was at least an ounce of decency in him.

I look over when the front door opens again, knowing we aren't going to get a simple nod this time.

I give Kincaid a light smile as he approaches. Instead of standing over us, he takes a seat on the coffee table in front of us.

"It's good to see you out here, Brielle," he says to her.

She's stiff beside me as she nods.

"I wanted to talk to you about Nathan."

Just when I didn't think her body could grow any stiffer, she freezes completely. No doubt hearing his name twice in a few minutes is threatening to shut her systems down completely.

"The judge with the district court has set his bond very high, making his attorney fight for a bond hearing that they'll have next week," Kincaid explains.

"H-he can bond out?" Brielle stammers, and I hate the glassy look of her eyes telling me that she may cry with the news.

"He's never been convicted of a crime, and with no criminal history, it's nearly impossible for the judge to deny bail."

I keep my eyes on Kincaid when I feel Brielle scoot a little closer to me, and I have to fight the urge to wrap my arm around her shoulder and pull her closer.

"I just wanted to update you, not scare you," Kincaid tells her, also reading the fear in her body language. "But that's not all we need to discuss."

I almost open my mouth to tell him that she's heard enough, but I know it won't go over well. At this rate, she may never want to leave the room again, and I hate the way I'm torn on how that thought makes me feel.

"Xan," Kincaid says. "No one has claimed his body. The coroner doesn't know what to do."

"Nathan should make that call," Brielle whispers. "I have no power to do anything."

Her refusal to help make plans to lay the man to rest increases my confidence in her, and it quiets that voice that keeps wondering if she's here for nefarious reasons.

"Nathan has refused to even acknowledge his son's death past swearing vengeance on whoever took his life," Kincaid says with a frown. "They'll hold his remains longer, but I just wanted to check with you since he's your brother."

"He isn't my brother," she snaps, making Kincaid pull back a little.

The man stands without arguing with her as he looks in my direction. "Let me know if you need anything."

Neither of us speaks when he walks away. He pauses in the middle of the room, pulling in a deep breath, before turning back around and retaking his seat on the coffee table.

"I know this isn't something you want to discuss, and normally I would give you as much time as you needed to heal, but Nathan is going to be extradited back to Ohio. The prosecutors there feel like they have enough to proceed with a grand jury indictment on him."

"Back to Ohio?" she asks, shaking her head. "That's a mistake."

"I don't control what the police do," Kincaid says.

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