Page 101 of Fractured Fear

Yep. He’s reading my mind.

“She lived with him, Z. For months. Plus, she was romantically involved with him for way longer than that.”

“Don’t you dare say what that fucker did to her was romantic,” Z seethes.

“You know what I mean.”

“Rio? Back me up on this.”

“I don’t know,muchacho. She’s our best source of information. Besides, talking about it will help her. And who better to be there while she lets herself break than us?”

Zane levels a glare at Rio. They don’t argue often and it has never come to blows, but Zane looks like he could punch Rio in the face.

“You know I’m right, Z.”

Zane’s anger wavers as he stares down at his balled up fists. “Shit. I know.”

Rio abandons his plate of food and sinks down next to Zane. “This is how we help her heal and move on.”

Struggling with words, Zane just nods.

“So, what’s our next step?” Rio asks.

Zane stares at his hands. “Well we let Dustin go, so next we follow him.”

“More like dropped him in the dumpster,” Rio mumbles.

We all let out a dark chuckle together because we know a dumpster is exactly where the trash belongs.

“It’s going to take him some time to wake up and then get himself to the hospital, so I give us three or four days before we need to tail him,” Zane assesses.

“Tracker?”

“Implanted in his back where he won’t see it. I’m sure he won’t even notice the pain.”

I nod in approval. This isn’t our first rodeo and it won’t be our last. We all know our roles and our strengths. We utilize them where needed.

“How’s your case coming?” Rio asks me.

“I’m up shit creek without a fucking paddle,” I say as I drag my hand down my face. “The floral company said the order was paid for in cash and the guy wore a hoodie and sunglasses.”

“So, no description,” Rio adds.

“Yeah. No chance of prints on the box since it was delivered by the floral company, but I know it’s him. I know it’s this fucker that has had me chasing my tail for months.”

“Spencer is convinced it was Anthony. Not your guy,” Zane says unhelpfully.

“I know, man, but my gut is screaming at me. It’s him. I know she thinks it’s Anthony, but she hit her head multiple times. Not to mention the adrenaline that was pumping through her at the time. We all know how that can affect someone in the moment.”

“She swears up and down it’s Anthony though,” Rio argues.

“Whose side are you fucking on?”

“The truth has no sides,” Rio says firmly.

Fuck. Can’t argue with that.

“Whatever,” I raise from my spot and head to the door, discarding my beer on the way. “I’m heading out, I need to get some sleep. I’ll see you shitheads in the morning.”

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