Page 135 of Arran's Obsession

“Your flat.”

She sniffed. “Not for much longer.”

I crossed the room. Set the photo down then collected her to my lap and just fucking held her. “I bought the Crescent in your name. Is that security enough?”

Her focus lifted from the picture frame to me. Strong emotion clogged my throat.

“A choker to protect my neck that I can’t get off. A property purchase based on a single word from me. Arran. Do you know what this is?”

“Taking care of what’s mine, that’s all.”

She huffed in disbelief.

Cassie made a cooing sound. “Ye guys are so cute. But can we focus, please? Genevieve said that Natasha woman had been here earlier in the evening, kicking up a fuss and making a spectacle of herself. She pissed off a lot of people, but who’d kill her for that?”

Shade ended his call. “Councillor Slaughter has an alibi for the murder. He was in the brothel all evening and only left half an hour ago.”

“We’re assuming whoever killed Natasha also killed Cherry,” Cassie explained. “That could be a duo, though. Slaughter is meant to have had a friend, so the second person could’ve been tonight’s murder culprit.”

“The mayor is close to Slaughter,” Shade took up. “He was here earlier, too, but left about an hour before Natasha was killed.”

I brushed my fingers down Gen’s cheek, wallowing in the need to clamp her to me, and to get her to understand that I was hers, even if she didn’t get the exact words she wanted.

Jamieson spoke. “Does anyone know the mayor? Why would he kill a random woman? I can see a motive with Cherry if he was protecting the reputation of his council member, but that’s still a stretch and fucking risky. Plus Natasha would be a complete stranger.”

Shade snorted. “Don’t think he doesn’t enjoy risk. He’s ruthless.”

Cassie tilted her head. “Ye know him?”

Something dark swirled in Shade’s eyes. He gave a short nod.

Gen adjusted her position. “I have his daughter’s phone number. I can call her and ask a few subtle questions to help us work it out.”

With a recoil, Shade stared at Gen. “Why do you have Everly’s phone number?”

“She was here this evening. We spoke.”

He wheeled away, hiding whatever was in his expression. “Lose it. She has no business being here or speaking to anyone.”

“Shade,” I said, low and clear. “Order Genevieve around like that again and see what happens.”

He heaved in a breath, annoyance simmering.

Cassie gazed between us, her head swivelling as if she were at a tennis match. “So by my count, we have Councillor Slaughter for Cherry, the mayor of Deadwater for Natasha, but without any real evidence, Red from that other gang?—”

“Who’s already rejected the claim,” I added. I told them about the message Red had sent.

“Do ye believe him?” Cassie asked.

“Actually, yes, in the case of Natasha. That execution style fits a gang MO, but he’d be the first to claim it. With Cherry, there’s no motive.”

“Huh. Well, maybe there’s honour amongst thieves. Who else, oh yeah, Don the scary gangster, some alternative friend to the councillor who allegedly knocked Cherry up, and another unknown copycat, perhaps. That’s a lot of dudes. Let’s not forget ladies. Don’t leave us girls out.”

Gen gave a short laugh. “Do you want your name added to the list, Cassie?”

“Not me, silly. I’m just trying to be thorough.”

Gen pondered that. “If we’re looking for women, how about my elderly neighbour? She hated Cherry. Or Moniqua? She was here tonight. And even perhaps Alisha. If we find a link between any of them and Natasha, that’ll narrow it down.”

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