Page 58 of Wicked and Ruthless

Abby paused again. “Not that I can think of. Sorry.”

“No, you’ve done great. You’ve helped more than you know. Do you have your phone handy? I want to give you my number in case you think of anything else.”

Abby reached in her pocket, unlocked the device, and handed it to Haisley. “Cool.”

Haisley tapped in her number as a new contact and saved it, then texted herself from Abby’s device. “Got it. I’ll pass your the info on to Nash and Ethan, too, okay?”

Good call. Her mother was probably in protective mode, and who could blame her? Given that, if a grown-ass man gave her underage daughter his phone number, she might not take it kindly.

Abby nodded. “Yeah.”

Finally, Nash leaned in. “You’ve been a big help. We appreciate it.”

The girl looked relieved. “I wanted to do whatever I could.”

“Have you thought about quitting your job until this is resolved?”

Abby winced. “My mom wants me to, but I’m saving for college. I need the money. Otherwise, I can’t go.”

She was in a tough place, and Nash understood. He’d grown up the dirt-poor kid of a coal miner. There hadn’t been money for more than the necessities when he was a kid, and he’d worn nothing but Trees’s hand-me-downs until he was an adult. “If I put out some feelers for a different job that has similar hours and pays at least as much, would you consider it?”

Haisley snapped her stare to him, clearly surprised. By his offer? That he cared what happened to the girl? God, did she think he was the kind of asshole who didn’t give a shit about anyone but himself?

“Y-you would do that?” Abby breathed.

He purposefully softened his voice. “Sure. I can’t promise anything, but this world is scary, and you shouldn’t have to feel unsafe where you work.”

Abby glanced over her shoulder to her waiting manager. When she turned back, her expression looked guilty as hell. “I hate to leave Ginger. She’s been really good to me, almost like a second mom.”

“Then she should want the best for you. I think she’ll understand,” Haisley said, backing him up.

“Yeah. Then, um…if you hear of something and I’d qualify, I’d appreciate it.”

They wrapped up the interview and stood so Haisley could don her coat. Nash insisted on watching Abby until she made it back to her unit and was ensconced safely behind the counter.

As they headed for the exit, Haisley turned to him with a triumphant grin. “I think that was a success. We have a solid lead to chase down.”

“Thanks to you,” he said, unable to keep the note of pride from his voice. “I couldn’t get her to even look me in the eye yesterday. But you? You were amazing.”

“Thanks.” She gave him a faint grin. “I’ve had a little experience. Well, it was a simulation with an online crime-solving group, but the others involved told me I did okay. It was good experience to do the real thing in person.”

“You’ve got a knack for it.”

But he wasn’t surprised. Haisley wasn’t merely amazing. She was the kind of woman who would keep him on his toes, challenge him in all the best ways. And he wanted nothing more than to support her and stand by her side in every sense of the word.

A pretty flush stole across her cheeks at the praise, but she shrugged it off. “I just approached her a little differently, and you did a really good thing, offering to help her find a safer job. Think you can pull that off?”

“No promises, but I know some people. I can make some calls.”

“I love that you’d do that.” She smiled as he opened the door to the parking lot. “And you’re right. We make a good team.”

Her words were like a caress to his heart, igniting a fierce spark of hope in his chest.

God, he wished she’d tell him why she’d left two years ago… Or he needed to work up the guts to ask. If she’d be honest, they could work through anything. He was convinced of that, just like he knew they were meant to be together.

For now, he bit back the words and helped her into his truck. The time wasn’t right. He hadn’t regained her trust. They were in the middle of a dangerous investigation and emotions were running high, fueled by worry and adrenaline. But she’d moved back, and that bought him time. She’d find out soon enough that he wouldn’t give up until she was his again.

“We do. In every way.” He sat beside her and let the words hang in the charged silence, heavy with barely restrained desire.

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