Page 49 of Cosmo

“I told you we had a backup plan. What more do you want?”

“The fed…he was my date. He was supposed to go undercover to bust me and get to you. He couldn’t do it because…because he likes me.”

The staring at that moment was incredible. All eyes were on him, and it took Eazy to clear his throat and said, “Um, excuse me?” for them all to change their shocked expressions.

“Honey,” Tally said, her voice a rasp. “You didn’t confess these things, right?”

“Of course not! I’m not stupid. I don’t automatically believe a guy because he’s hot! I put him through hell, and I fucked him on top of it to throw a little wrench in.”

“You fucked him?” Abs asked with a squeal. “Are you serious? Before or after you knew?”

“After. I’m gonna use it against him if he’s not being square with us.”

“Oh, come on,” Goldie hollered as he laughed. “You’re not falling for that shit, right?”

As angry as he was getting, he realized they were now in the place he’d been earlier that very day. “No. I’m not,” he said with his voice surprisingly steady. “I didn’t reveal a thing to him. I listened to him, though, and he sounds sincere. I am in no position, or would I assume to make up your minds on that.”

“So? What are we meeting about, then?” Murphy demanded as his face and ears reddened.

Eazy laid his hand on Murphy’s arm and said, “Honey, wait a minute. He’s getting there.”

“He’s waiting in a park for us to meet him there. We can take him anywhere we like, and he can start answering some questions.”

“Oh, sure, we’ll walk in there and have handcuffs slapped on our wrists,” Hippy said.

“He could do that now, if he had enough on you all, and if he wanted to,” Liam reminded them. “They suspect you, which iswhy he was going undercover to get in with me. The feds figured they’d come at me, being on parole, that I’d be scared enough of going back inside to drop the dime on all of you. I’m here to tell you, again, that’s not me.”

Abs jumped to defend him. “I don’t doubt you, Cosmo, and neither should anyone else.”

Murphy held up his hands in surrender. “Fine, whatever, but that still leaves the fed waiting for us. Are we going?”

“No, Connor Murphy, you’re going,” Tally said with her chin raised. “You took responsibility for these boys. Now you hold up your side of the bargain.”

All eyes suddenly landed on Murphy, and he grumbled, “Fine.” He turned to his husband and said, “Get the bags for the kids ready. Just in case.” To the others, he said the same. “You all know what to do.”

Abs told Liam, “I’ll help you. I’ll get Daiq ready and pack you some things. Just in case.”

He wanted to deny him that, but he was worried too. “Thanks, Abs. Watch over Daiq for me too. I haven’t been home almost since I got him.”

“Like that’s a big favor or something. I love him already.”

“Tell him I’ll be back in the morning.”

Murphy stopped him and said, “Morning?”

“Yeah. I have an errand after our little meeting.”

“You’re making me nervous, you fuck head.”

Liam only smiled.

Murphy drove them and when they arrived at the park, he circled it four times before he parked. “I don’t see anyone.”

“I might just be…out of touch from being inside, but I believe him,” Liam admitted reluctantly.

“I’ve seen a lot of guys coming out of prison. Being too trusting was never a thing for any of them. Quite the opposite.”

They got out of the vehicle and started up the little slope to the picnic table where Taran sat alone. Sitting across from him, Taran held out his hand to Murphy, who smiled sardonically and asked, “Are you kidding me?”

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