Page 77 of Holy Sinner

“I’m going to go see her.”

My men instantly jackknife up off the bed and the blankets are pulled back from me. Even though it’s so dark that I can’t see my hand in front of my face, I know they’re glaring at me. That cold look I shy away from is totally aimed my way. The bed dips and they move close, turning so their thighs are pressed against me. My pillow moves when they lean over and brace a hand above my head.

“You are not going near that bitch.”

“No way in hell am I having you in the same room as her.”

Dottie Bee is the one person I know exists that can reduce Grant and Rafe to this. Their voices sound different. There’s a hint of panic in their words that’s never been there before. I reach out and find them by touch.

“I am,” I tell them. “I want to see her.”

“Why?” Grant snarls. He’s angry. I understand. I’d feel the same way if they went to see my mother. Even thinking about them in the same place as her makes it hard to breathe, but I have to do this.

“Because she has to pay for what she did,” I say. “She doesn’t get to get away with it.”

“Shy girl…it’s in the past. We don’t think about her.”

Maybe he’s right and maybe he’s lying to spare me. Either way, I don’t care. Dottie Bee is mine to fucking handle.

“You keep me safe and now it’s my turn to keep you safe.” I move to sit up but I don’t get far. Rafe has his arm around my shoulders and Grant buries a hand in my hair.

Grant guides me to him and leans his forehead against mine. “You don’t need to worry about us. She’s practically dead.”

Practically doesn’t mean truly. I aim to fix that.

“No one makes us do what we don’t want anymore,” Rafe whispers against my skin and kisses my shoulder. Anger spikes in my chest. My hands clench into fists and I shake my head.

“And they never fucking will again. How many times have you killed for me?” I ask. “The only thing I want to do is expose her to the world. She doesn’t deserve to have fans.”

“We do what’s necessary,” Grant says. “Airing Dottie Bee’s abuse to the world isn’t going to do shit. She’s in a coma.”

“And you do it without thought. How is that so different from what I want to do? Dottie Bee deserves to answer for what she did.”

“And right now you’re being watched by the police for a murder you didn’t commit,” Rafe says, the low rumble of his voice sinking into my skin. A zip of pleasure sings through my body. “Dottie Bee biting the big one after you pay a visit isn’t exactly going to help us clear your name.”

A murder I didn’t commit.

I wish I was as sure as he was. Even with the timestamp and the discovery of the ladder, there’s the weight of uncertainty that colors everything I do and say. I don’t know if I did it. I know what I’m capable of.

And I know what I’ll do again.

Chapter Thirty-Six

GRANT

It’s 7 am and the cops are at my front door. Not exactly the wake up call I wanted but I know why they’re here. Holly no doubt let them know we were moving locations. If I hear the words “flight risk” come out of their mouths I won't be surprised.

“Mr. Stone. Good morning. How are you?”

“Doing just fine, Officer…” I look at them and there's no badge because they’re plainclothes but they rush to answer me.

“Lawrence, Detective Lawrence.” He’s a man in his sixties, brown hair and brown eyes with the kind of build that tells me he works out even if he’s older. He’s broad-shouldered and looks like he might be able to keep up with me for a minute or so in a flat sprint, if needed. All-in-all, not bad.

I shake his hand. “Nice to meet you, Detective Lawrence.”

“Wish it was under better circumstances,” he says and then motions for his partner to step forward. “This is Detective Torrence.”

A woman with curly brown hair and blue eyes steps forward to take my hand. She’s younger than Lawrence, maybe mid-thirties. She could definitely keep up in a run if she needed to. I remember that. I can’t be sloppy with these two sniffing around, no matter how much the target is asking for it.

---