Page 87 of Searching for Valor

“Yeah, man. It’s all over the tech blogs.” Sawyer’s fingers flew over the keyboard, pulling up an article. “They’re calling it a breakthrough in prosthetic technology. ‘Life-changing’ and ‘revolutionary’. And to think, you were one of the first to test it out. You’re like a bionic guinea pig.”

A surprised laugh bubbled out of Rylan. “That’s exactly the legacy I was hoping to leave behind.”

“Hey, there are worse things to be known for. Like, say, being a giant asshole who pushes away everyone who cares about him.”

Rylan winced. “Touché.”

Sawyer grinned, and just like that, everything was okay between them again. Sawyer’s forgiveness lifted a weight from his shoulders. He knew he still had a long way to go to rebuild the trust he’d shattered, but this was a start. He clapped a hand on Sawyer’s shoulder. “Thanks, man. For everything. I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but I’m grateful for it.”

Sawyer patted his hand. “You’re family, Ry. We don’t give up on family.” Footsteps and voices sounded in hall and Sawyer’s grin returned. “And now, it’s time to defend our family. You heard about Ash?”

“Yeah, I was with him when he found out about the investigation.”

“It’s bullshit.”

“We all know it.” Rylan studied the screens, which showed Sawyer was already deep into researching a connection between AG Parker Julian Graves. “Find anything that can help us?”

“Unfortunately, no,” Sawyer muttered as the rest of the team filed in. Rylan noticed Pierce kept his distance. Not that he blamed the man. Pierce was next on his apology grand tour, but it was going to have to wait.

“Parker’s record is clean—on paper, at least,” Sawyer continued. “There’s no connection to Graves or Monica. No suspicious payments, no ties to any shady organizations... well, other than he used to be golf buddies with the corrupt former sheriff. Ash thought there was a connection there, but I can’t find anything. Either Parker’s really good at being corrupt or he’s just an ambitious politician with a grudge.”

“So this is just about smearing Ash?” Zak asked. “That’s it?”

“Looks like it,” Sawyer said. “He’s always hated Ash, and he’s just using this mess to his advantage. Nothing illegal about that, as much as it sucks.”

Zak groaned and scrubbed his hands over his face. “So we’ve still got nothing. Fuck.”

chapter

thirty

The meeting didn’t amountto much.

They spent the next several hours brainstorming and digging into every lead they had, but they kept coming up empty. No matter how they approached it, they couldn’t find a solid connection between Parker, Graves, or anyone else involved in this clusterfuck. The frustration in the room was palpable, a living, breathing thing that seemed to suck the air from Rylan’s lungs.

When they finally called it quits around dinner time, Rylan felt like he’d aged a decade. His head throbbed and his muscles ached from the tension he’d been carrying. He wanted nothing more than to go home, down a few shots of whatever alcohol he had on hand, and pass out.

But, no, dammit. He wasn’t doing that anymore. So instead he pointed his truck toward the hospital.

He needed Izzy. Needed to see her. Hold her. Love her.

Fuck.

Hedidlove her, didn’t he?

The revelation hit him like a freight train. Love. He was in love with Izzy Delgado. The woman who had shattered his trust, the one person he’d sworn he’d never forgive. But somehow,through all the pain and betrayal, she’d managed to burrow her way into his heart.

Rylan gripped the steering wheel tighter, his knuckles turning white. How the hell had this happened? When had the anger and resentment transformed into something deeper, something that made his heart race and his palms sweat?

Headlights flooded his rearview mirror and in the seat beside him, Valor sat up, his ears perked, his body suddenly as as tight as a bowstring.

Rylan reached over and stroked his prosthetic hand down the dog’s back. “What’s wrong, buddy?”

The words were barely out of his mouth when the vehicle behind him accelerated, ramming into his truck’s rear bumper. The impact jolted Rylan forward, his seat belt locking tight across his chest. Valor let out a sharp bark, his eyes fixed on the mirror.

“Shit!” Rylan’s heart thundered as he fought to keep the truck steady on the road. He pressed down on the gas, trying to put some distance between them, but the other driver matched his speed, swerving into the oncoming lane to pull up beside him.

Through the passenger window, Rylan caught a glimpse of a dark figure, their face obscured by a ski mask. The driver jerked the wheel, slamming into the side of the truck. Metal crunched. Glass shattered.

---