Page 191 of Mountain Boss

He never would have fucking touched her.

I was right there.

I flex my fists.

But he still got too close.

I pull my phone out of my pocket and dial Rocky.

“Sterling.”

“I need a favor.”

He hums on the other end of the line. “Consider me interested.”

“You know those security cameras you have behind your office building?”

“What cameras?”

The start of a smirk pulls at my lips. “I have some trash for your dumpster.”

“A happy camper?” I can hear the humor in Rocky’s voice.

Leon hits the brakes harder than necessary as we approach a stop sign.

There’s another thud. Another cry.

“He’s not that happy,” I answer.

“Noted. I’ll make sure none of my staff head that way for the cigarettes they think I don’t know about.” He pauses a moment. “You need anything else?”

“That’s plenty. I’ll owe you.”

“I’ll remember,” Rocky states before hanging up.

Leon chuckles. “Curious what sort of favor that man will ask for.”

“Me too.”

We stay silent for the rest of the drive until we near the Inn, then I direct Leon where to go.

Rocky Ridge Inn is a long two-story motel built into the side of a mountain, with the bar front and center. But about a quarter mile down the two-lane highway, around the bend in the road, is a small building. This is Rocky’s office. But from the one time I set foot in it, I saw it’s mostly just used for storage.

“Behind there.” I point out the windshield.

Leon pulls the truck around the far side of the building, revealing the dumpster.

There are dumpsters closer to the Inn, but I don’t want to leave this human garbage right next to someone’s motel room.

Leon puts the truck in park, then relaxes in his seat, clearly planning to stay put.

Fisher and I open our doors at the same time and meet at the back of the truck.

I drop the tailgate and open the back window of Leon’s topper.

Blood is smeared across the truck bed.

Guess I’ll owe Leon a favor too.

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