Page 160 of Five Mountain Daddies

“I need to see you,” I say. “Somethinghappened.”

He answers me just as I finish getting my clothes on. “Are youokay?”

“I’m coming to your room,” I tellhim.

There’s a short gap before he sends me the room number. I slip my phone into my pocket and head downstairs, out to my car, and pull out of thedriveway.

I could probably just tell him what happened over the phone, but I have the sudden and intense urge to see his face. I don’t know why, but I don’t think I can sleep tonight without talking to him in person. He can calm me down, get me to see that everything will beokay.

Maybe he’s not staying, but at least he can make me feel better. At least fortonight.

12

Wyatt

Ipour myself a whiskey and sit down in the ratty old leather chair that’s perched in the corner of my room. I sip the drink and wait, my gun loaded on the desk next tome.

I don’t know what to expect. I look at my texts again, the mysterious message from Cora, and I try to figure out what it is. Maybe someone showed up outside of her house again, but I doubt she’d want to leave her place if that’s the case. Maybe she just got spooked and wanted to getout.

Or maybe she’s coming over because she doesn’t want me toleave.

I shake my head, trying to get rid of that thought. Of course she wants me to stay. She wants me to work this case and find her brother’s killer, nothing more thanthat.

She’s not coming over because she wants to take her clothes off slowly and let me touch every inch of herskin.

I sip my drink, savoring that tight burn as it goes down. Truth is, that’s what I want. Fuck all this other shit happening in this garbage town. Fuck Atticus for getting himself killed and for being a wedge between me and Cora. I just want her here, lips pressed against mine, hand on my throbbingcock.

I can’t think of the last time I wanted someone this badly. Whenever I wanted something in the past, I always got it, always got a taste. I’m the fucking Lovemaker, I can always get any piece of pussy that comes myway.

This though… this is different. This situation with Cora is so fucking complicated, and there are so many layers between us. Atticus is the specter that haunts us, but it’s not just him. I’ve known Cora for a long time, so it’s our childhood memories that are wrapped up in this thing we have going on, whatever it is. I know she’s feeling it too, I’ve seen the way she looks atme.

But if I’m going to work this case, which I’m definitely not going to do, I can’t get involved with her. I’m going home tomorrow, but if for some reason I do stay, I have to keep mydistance.

I grip my glass. I can’t think like that. I can’t keep leaving myself room to stay here. I have to commit to leaving and just get back to my life. This place isn’t my home anymore and Atticus isn’t my fuckingproblem.

I stare at the wall, fighting with myself. If something bad happens to her, I’m responsible. I got her in the sights of the Niners. Before, she was still under the radar, and who knows what would have happened. But with my help, now they know who she is, and that’s myfault.

Can I really just tell her good luck and run away from this? I’m not that kind of fucking man, but I also don’t know how I’m going to drop everything in my life and stay here to work thiscase.

I’m torn in half, trying to figure out what I’m going to do. I should never have agreed to help her, but I couldn’t stop myself. She’s so fucking gorgeous, and every ounce of me itches to touch her, to taste her, to make her feelgood.

I finish off my whiskey just as there’s a knock at my door. I stand up and hesitate, still not sure what she’s coming here for, but ready to find out. I walk over and pull the dooropen.

Cora stands there, arms wrapped around herself, a slight frown on her face. Instantly, I know this isn’t a good visit. “Are you okay?” I askher.

She nods. “Can I comein?”

“Sure.” I step aside and she walks into my shabby little room. I shut the door behind her and follow herin.

She turns to me. “Got anything todrink?”

“Justwhiskey.”

She nods. “Fine.Okay.”

I grab another clean glass and pour her a little bit and myself another. She takes the drink and tosses it back in one go, making me raise aneyebrow.

“Okay, tell me what’s wrong,” I say to her. “Did someone come to your houseagain?”

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