Page 13 of Swallow

And they all had Ash in the center of all of them.

8

ASH

Several days later

It took one call to Cal to get everything I needed.

Evie had said her ex’s first name, and because I had her full name, I knew my buddy could find out whatever I wanted to know.

He picked up after the first ring, his voice gruff and tired. “Figured it wouldn’t be long after you sent me the name that I’d be hearing from you.”

I leaned against the bar, watching the soft flicker of the TV screen across the room, where Evie sat eating dinner. She wasn’t watching the game anymore. She was staring at the screen like her mind was somewhere else entirely. And the small smile on her lips told me wherever she was made her happy.

But all I could focus on was finding her ex and making sure he never hurt Evie again. I wasn’t the kind of man who could sit back and let that stand.

I heard Cal typing away and focused back on the call. Keeping my voice low, I asked, “What can you give me?”

There was a rustle of papers on the other end, followed by more typing. “Found out who the fucker is and did a deep dive on him. He’s a piece of shit, Ash. Heavy drinking, gambling debt, and runs his mouth too much. Got himself in trouble with the wrong people more than once but never enough to get buried for it.” Cal let out a breath. “I got a home and work address.” A long pause came from the other end. “You looking to make a long-term problem for him? You only ask me to look someone up when they’ve crossed you.”

I felt darkness coil within me. “I’m looking to make him see his god and regret his life’s decisions,” I said flatly. “Not dead. Just… gone.”

Cal chuckled. “Copy that. Sending you the details now.”

My phone buzzed. I glanced at the message—an address and a photo of a man I didn’t know but who I already fucking hated.

“Let me know if you need my help with anything else,” Cal offered.

“Thanks, man.” I disconnected the call and pocketed my phone, exhaling slowly.

I looked at Evie and saw she already watched me, and for a moment, I wondered if she sensed the shift and change in me.

I pushed off the bar and walked toward her, running a hand through my hair. “Listen,” I said in an even tone. “I’m gonna close early for the night. I need to take care of something, which is gonna take me away for a little bit.” I honestly didn’t know how long it would take me to fuck this douchebag up.

She straightened, eyeing me carefully. “Is everything okay?”

I nodded.

She didn’t press, didn’t ask for details, but after a second, I saw the flicker of realization in her eyes. She knew.

Evie licked her lips, exhaled, and then whispered, “Okay.”

I couldn't stop myself. I reached out and brushed my fingers over her cheek. It was a small, grounding touch, but it felt likethe most pivotal thing to me. And when she shivered and leaned into my hand, I knew she felt it too.

Whatever had sparked and ignited between us, it was something I would never let go of.

9

ASH

Tracking the motherfucker down wasn’t hard, and not just because Cal gave me the information I needed. It had been easy enough to spot him. Brady was sloppy and loud, and just watching him for the last hour told me he was destructive.

He was exactly where Cal said he’d be—half-drunk in a bar that smelled like stale beer and piss, raising hell with the men around him as they argued over replays of the game that had ended hours ago. Now, he was slouched in a booth in the corner. His head was down, his fingers curled around an empty glass, tapping a slow rhythm that didn’t match the music coming from the busted-up jukebox beside his table.

I didn’t give him time to see me coming.

I slid into the booth across from him, waiting until his blurry gaze lifted, confusion flickering on his scrunched face.

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