Page 22 of Even if You Fall

“We need to question her,” Rush said, sounding at once apologetic and worried.

My eyebrows pulled tight as I glanced his way, wondering why he cared so much about the new girl only to wonder why it bothered me that he did.

Because she’s a threat,I told myself.

“I know,” Briggs finally acknowledged, only to slant his head. “But Lainey’s gonna kill me for this.”

“We can hold off,” Rush agreed a little too quickly. “See what Monroe found in the school first, then I’ll talk to Chloe.”

“If anyone’s gonna question her, it’s gonna be me,” I cut in, surprised by the possessiveness pounding through my veins. From the way both Briggs and Rush’s eyebrows lifted, they were equally surprised.

But that wasn’t what this was—it couldn’t be.

This was just me protecting my family.

“She’s a good liar,” I added, trying to explain away my harsh tone just seconds before. “I knew she was lying to me earlier, and she still could’ve fooled me with how easily the lies fell from her.”

Long seconds passed in tense silence before Briggs gave a single dip of his head. “Not yet though. Let’s wait to see what Monroe has to say at the meeting.”

Just as I started turning for the door, Briggs’ voice stopped me. “You’re sure you’re not picking up on anything from Evans?”

I slowly looked back at him before turning fully to face him. With a quick glance at Rush, I answered, “Positive. Why?”

From the silent conversation Rush and Briggs had, the tension in the room mounting until it felt the same way it had when I’d first stepped inside, I knew I’d had it wrong before.

I hadn’t walked in on an argument.

I’d walked in on them discussing something big. Something that had Briggs asking about the loyalty of Evans. Which could only mean one thing—one family—Wreckers.

“I’ve been getting...messages,” Briggs finally admitted, a dark look washing over his face as he focused on me. Grabbing a tri-folded paper and photo off his desk, he held them out for me to take and said, “The picture wasinsidemy car, on my driver’s seat, when we finished our security detail Saturday.”

My eyebrows shot up at the news, but I just let my stare fall to what was in my hand as he continued.

“The letter was taped to my garage when I got home last night.”

I paused in unfolding the paper, then continued. Glancing between the two, I studied the picture of our newly repaired office building, a target drawn over it in red Sharpie, before reading the handwritten letter.

How thrilling to see we didn’t do any irreparable damage to you and yours.

Yet.

“Ominous,” I muttered as I placed the picture on the paper and folded it once again before handing it back to Briggs. “Why now, when we’ve had the office finished from their rampage for a while?” Before Briggs could respond, I added, “Why now, when we haven’t had anything to do with them in months?”

“That’s the question,” Rush answered for him.

“Are they reminding me they’re there,” Briggs continued smoothly, “or are they letting me know they’re not done?”

My head bobbed as I thought before quickly shaking. “Evans is solid,” I said confidently. “Like I told you this weekend, he wouldn’t go that way. He’s too by-the-book. He’s hurting and betrayed by his dad, and that’s coming out as anger, but he isn’t gonna betrayusby joining the Wreckers.”

“Then you can back off him,” he said, accepting my evaluation of our youngest member, before hurrying to add, “slightly. But we need to be vigilant until we know what exactly the Wreckers meant by this letter. Checking cars. Checking our houses and apartments. Everything.”

“Understood,” I said as I took a backward step toward the door. “Do the others know?”

“About to,” he muttered, then stood with a sigh. “Evans needs to know the same as the rest.”

Surprise wound through me at the irritated way Briggs had tossed the last part out. But before I could wonder if he was trying to convince me or himself, Rush said, “I know.” Seeming to relent as he did.

Maybe Ihadwalked in on an argument...

---