Page 50 of Overstaying His Welcome

Watchingthe men work had to be one of the most eye-opening experiences so far. Sure, I’d seen how they’d been during the search for Tank. This was different.

My boyfriend led them with a calm sort of dominance. There was an obvious veil of respect between them all. Maybe even some admiration if you dug a little deeper.

Tank had given them a home in NightShade. He’d created a family.

It was far more involved than I’d ever known.

And now I was part of it.

With only the last few days to go by, I could already tell it was going to be better than even my own family. Not that there was much to surpass with that bunch.

Memphis and Arick had their laptops perched on their laps as they waited for Tank to give them more and more information. It was as if every word he spoke would be the one to break the case.

I kind of hoped it went that way.

This whole Gilded Ones problem needed to be dealt with. Diestro Lune, for all his money and power, was going to fall just like the others had.

“We’ve already uncovered everything you’ve shared so far. I need the deeper stuff, boss. The things people wouldn’t know in a background check,” Memphis said.

Arick nodded. “Was there anyone else around at this time? Did you have friends that maybe you had a falling out with?”

Tank shook his head as he looked from both men to me. I wasn’t sure what he was hoping to find in our gazes. He was the only one who had the answers we needed.

“I’m trying to remember it all, but I can’t. There wasn’t anyone who stands out in my mind.”

“Ok, then let’s start from the beginning,” Memphis pointed out. “What about when you were on the run? Did your mom have enemies?”

“Not really. We never stayed anywhere long enough for that to happen.”

I nodded along, following the train of thought. “You mentioned after you settled there was another guy? Your stepdad, right?”

Memphis jumped in. “Did your stepdad have anyone who might dislike you? Guys he worked with that lost out when you killed him?”

“The guy was a dick, but he was also a loner. He made money off an inheritance rather than working. I doubt anyone even cared that he was gone.” Tank’s scoff brought a grin to my face. He was always so arrogant.

“What about the next phase of your life when you went into foster care?”

At my question, he closed his eyes. I could tell he was getting tired from all the questioning. It wouldn’t be long before he needed to rest.

He would push until he couldn’t anymore. Too much was on the line now.

“I can’t think of anything. The parents back then were ok. I got lucky, only having to stay with two different couples before I got out.”

Arick leaned forward. “Why two? What happened at the first?”

“They got busted for drugs during a surprise visit. I’d been at school, but when CPS showed up, they found the mom strung out on coke while the dad was fucking the dealer.”

“Wow,” I said slowly. “Glad you didn’t stick with them for any longer.”

Tank’s smirk said he agreed with me.

“And the second?” Memphis asked. “They were better, you said?”

“Yeah, they were. Cute couple. They had a couple of other kids there at the time. I can’t remember any of them. From what I do recall, they’d been fostering for over a decade, so they had lots of experience.”

“Yet you left anyway?” I questioned.

He pulled his hand from mine. I hated that he needed the space, yet I had a feeling what he was going to say next was tough for him.

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