Page 88 of Wild Bliss

And if the sheriff liked someone, he would protect them.

Hell, Nate Wright would protect him even if he didn’t likehim.

“He’s in trouble, and I think there are things he’s nottelling me.”

“About how he managed to get out?” Wright asked.

Well, no one ever said the sheriff was a dummy. ExceptCallie a couple of times. And Zane, but they were partners so it was expected.He could totally call Wyatt a dummy and get away with it. Because they werepartners. “Yeah. I can’t see Wayne letting him go with nothing more than takinga blowtorch to his chest.”

“What?” Max asked. “They torched his chest? Why would theyburn him? Damn, that’s cold.”

“It was hot, and it’s because you can’t wear the tat if youaren’t in the club.” Sawyer held up his left arm showing the black block there.“I got off easy, but I assure you Wayne would require more than mere pain fromhis brother.”

“Like what?” Henry asked as Poppy settled back onto his lap.She was awake now and looked around the room as though assessing the situation.

Max might be right about Poppy Flanders. “I don’t know.”

“He does,” Wright corrected. “But he doesn’t want to say it.Wayne likely would have made Wyatt do something that would make him vulnerableif he ever talked. He would keep evidence of the crime in case he needed to useit to bring Wyatt back into line. Sawyer, I’m here to help. I’m not looking toarrest Wyatt. He was his brother’s accountant, right?”

Sawyer nodded. “Yeah, it’s why last night happened.Apparently the new guy isn’t as good. I know I didn’t go over this in thestatement.”

Wright held up a hand. “I asked about the physical fight.Anything else is outside of the scope of this investigation. And whatever yousay here is in confidence. I need to know what we’re up against and how youintend to keep Wyatt safe since we both know he’s going to try to martyrhimself if the going gets bad.”

The sheriff had studied Wyatt well. “It’s possible handingover the information stops the threat for now.”

“But not forever,” Rye added. “I’ve dealt with some membersof the Horde in my time, too. Something will happen and suspicions will startup, and they’ll look Wyatt’s way. How friendly did you look with Wyatt lastnight, Nate? They would have been watching.”

The sheriff winced. “Well, I am friendly with him. I likethe kid, but I get your point. If it gets back to the Horde he’s hanging withlaw enforcement, they might get the idea he’s talking. I didn’t even thinkabout it. I took one look at Wyatt and wanted to make him comfortable becausehe’d obviously had a break, and it was easy to see why. I know the feeling.”

“I think this was about more than accounts,” Sawyeradmitted. “I think this was always going to happen. Look, Wyatt’s been cageywith me and I understand why. He thinks if he talks, he opens anyone who knowsto his brother’s wrath. I think if it was only me, he might, but not Sabrina.It doesn’t matter how cool she was last night, how competent. He won’t everexpose her. It’s why we told his brother last night we’re lovers.”

Max burst into laughter and then noticed no one else wasjoining him.

Poppy frowned his way. “Uncle Max is rude.”

“Hey, I wasn’t being homophobic. It’s cool if dudes want todo other dudes,” Max said quickly. “But you have to admit they would look weirdtogether.”

“So body shaming,” Henry added.

He did not need this shit. Any minute Nell would show upwith a bullhorn. “I don’t care. I don’t think it’s going to work. Wayne isgoing to talk to those guys and he’ll start to think about it, and in the endeven if Sabrina is nothing more than a friend, she’s an easier target than me.And he knows Wyatt wouldn’t be able to sacrifice her to save himself,” Sawyerexplained.

“So we make her a harder target,” the mayor said, sittingup.

“We’re going to take care of Sabrina,” Mel promised. “Andyou and Wyatt.”

Yep, his chest hurt. He was having a heart attack.

Or feelings, as in more than one. It was weird to have morethan one. He wasn’t sure he liked it.

But damn he liked not being alone. It was something he couldget used to.

ChapterFifteen

It had been a weird day. Sabrina hadn’t known how muchweirder it could get. “This is a bounty of feminine products, Sawyer.”

He shrugged a big shoulder as Bella sat down beside him.She’d spent most of the day at the bar with Lark watching over her. When they’dpicked her up, she’d acted like they’d been apart for five hundred years.“Wasn’t sure what you would want. It would have been easier if there were wayless choices.”

He was oddly sweet, even with a grumpy expression on hisface. He couldn’t help it. He had resting grump face. “Well, thank you, but youknow I could have picked some up when we stopped by my cabin to get freshclothes.”

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