Page 45 of One Love

Shoo downs the rest of his beer before slamming it down on the table beside us, in complete agreement with my decision. Unlocking my phone, I send the group chat a message.

Me:Bringing takeaway in about ten.

Tab:Can’t wait.

Binx:So ready for it.

Flower, Crank, and Fizz are staking out another location where we’ve noticed the serial killer seems to be active and Glitch is at the crew house with Dmitry doing whatever it is they do with computers.

A few minutes later, Craig returns—presumably after speaking with Ed on the phone about lending Cook more money—and he’s shaking his head, telling Cook no, which doesn’t seem to go down too well. Cook jumps off his stool, shouting, “What?” His arms are raised and his stupid thin face is turning red.

“Time to work, Shoo.”

We both move quickly, each of us standing on either side of Cook. I tilt my head at Craig as I link arms with Cook, and Craig knows exactly what’s about to happen. Extraction.

“Hey, what the hell?” Cook struggles as Shoo and I lead him toward the back exit. He’s stronger than I’d have given him credit for, but he’s no match for us. This is actually more fun than I thought it would be. Something feels right about finally bringing him in and I know he hasn’t realized I’m one of his captors yet. “You.” There it is! His voice is so full of venom aimed in my direction, and I smile, completely ignoring the dick. “Get off me. You have no right. You’re just a stupid gi—”

Shoo slams his fist into Cook’s face, effectively shutting him up, but also making Cook turn limp as he passes out.

“Fuck sake, Shoo. You could’ve waited until we got him in the van.”

“Yeah, but he was being disrespectful, Boss.”

I shake my head, but a smile is firmly in place. I fucking love my crew.

The van is idling alongside the bar, so there’s no street traffic or people seeing us hauling an unconscious man, which is perfect. Not that anyone hanging around here would call us in for this anyway. Binx is waiting with the back doors open, ready for us to throw Cook’s limp body inside, and there’s surprise on his face when he sees who it is.

“Is he the man we’ve been after all this time?”

“Nah, but he’s pissed the boss off enough for us to bring him in for questioning. We’ll come back again tomorrow for another stakeout for the killer.” It’s Shoo who answers, leaving me to grab my helmet and shove it onto my head.

“Can I come inside with you tomorrow? Tab had chili for dinner and I swear his ass is rotten.”

Tab chuckles behind the steering wheel of the van as Binx helps Shoo secure Cook with our custom-built chains.

“Take him to the warehouse by the docks, I’ll follow behind on my bike,” I instruct as I pull out my phone to check for messages. I do this way more often than I ever used to and I’m blaming a certain D.

Glitch has sent me a long text message that makes me pause, not quite believing what I’m reading as I wait for the picture he sent with it to download properly.

Holy fucking shit.

Cook has a step-sister, and we know who she is.

What the fuck?

Chapter Fifteen

D

Three hours earlier

“Fuck that, man, it’s just not right. You can’t loveStar WarsandStar Trekequally.“ Shaking my head at the ridiculous notion that Glitch hurdled at me fifteen minutes ago, I chomp on my Twizzler out of pure frustration. Usually, I like to keep it in my mouth for a while, it helps keep the cigarette cravings at bay.

“I got enough love in my heart for both, dude. Deal with it.” If the guy hadn’t carved me out a little space for my toys in his nerd cave, I would have thrown a mouse at his head.

“Nope, not buying it. It’s like saying you love your wife and mistress equally. Lies, all lies.” I shrug as I scroll through hours and fucking hours of video surveillance around Cook’s house. The equipment I set up in there is top of the line, the camera eye having a motion detector and following movements as it senses them.

“That doesn’t even make sense. If you have a mistress, you’re a fucking douchebag who’s incapable of love.” He’s right. I need a new metaphor.

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