Page 142 of Filthy Liar

“Or they want us to see it,” Ander said bluntly, mimicking his pose.

“You know the tech guy, right? Is he likely to do that?”

“My gut says he’s doing it on purpose. Antonio wouldn’t turn on Dante,” he said firmly, but I knew he held a small amount of doubt over the guy.

“Do you have a way of reaching him?” Beckett asked, tapping her finger on the table as she got comfortable, eyeing Ander. “Are you on good terms with him?”

“I can’t risk it. Even if he isn’t betraying Dante, reaching out could get him caught. If by chance Antonio is on our side, we have to play it his way. If he’s involved with leaving bread crumbs for us, that means he has a plan,” Ander muttered, making Maddox scoff.

“He might be trying to keep Dante safe, but he’d use Lopez as a pawn instantly and you know it. Is this just to lure us all there to save your fucking brother? Will Lopez get used as collateral damage? If it comes down to Zavier or Dante, I’m choosing Zavier, man.”

“No surprise there, he’s your family,” Ander replied dryly, his muscles going tense at the thought. “There’s no need to choose. Both are getting out, and so is Blake.”

“You’re so sure of that.”

“They’re all going to be fine,” Ander gritted out, and I could tell this was going to end as a fight before long if it didn’t calm down.

“This isn’t helping,” I said sharply, keeping my hand on Raven’s thigh. “We can’t do shit until we have a better lead, and fighting about who’s going to be okay is pointless.”

“Logan’s right,” Beckett sighed, leaning forward to put her elbows on the table. “Fighting won’t change anything.”

“What do you suggest we fucking do then, Donovan? Sit here with our fingers up our asses until their heads get delivered to the house?” Ander snapped, and I wanted to throttle him when Raven pushed her half eaten food away. She went to get up, most likely to leave, and I slid an arm around her middle and pulled her onto my lap.

Thankfully, she didn’t fight me, melting into my hold and getting comfortable.

“We need to stick together, for starters,” I said as I glared at Ander, and he winced when he noticed he’d upset Raven. “And we also really need to find more information. Can we drive around or something since the cameras aren’t reliable?”

“No point. They would’ve switched cars by now,” Beckett answered, her eyes on Raven. “Hey, do you want to find Zavier?”

Raven sat up a little with a frown. “Of course I do.”

“Then stop freaking out, push your emotions down, and help. You won’t find him shivering on Logan’s lap like a lost dog,” she said flatly, and before I could tell her to leave Raven alone, Raven sat up more with a nod.

There was a weird understanding between Raven and Beckett. Beckett didn’t coddle her, and Raven respected Beckett’s word like law. Not in a weird fangirl kind of way, she just knew Beckett had the right intentions behind her assholeness.

“Do you think they’d come after me again? Could I sit on the side of the road looking lost or something to draw them out?” Raven asked, Maddox giving her a dirty look.

“We don’t play the bait game. Ask Beck how well that works.”

“Hey,” Beckett huffed, elbowing him. “It worked when I did it!”

“You got fucking kidnapped.”

“I wanted Kristoff’s attention. It obviously worked,” she said with a small smile, and I hated the thought of any of the girls using themselves as bait.

If someone like Beckett could get kidnapped from it, what the fuck could happen to Raven?

“The main goal was always Zavier,” Maddox pointed out, motioning to her food. “Finish it.”

“I don’t?—”

“Fucking finish it or I’ll tip what’s left down your throat until you choke on it,” he snapped.

I was glad to see Maddox cared about her enough to want her to eat, but he was lucky I didn’t punch him.

“C’mon, baby. Finish your food. Do I have to spoon feed you like Zav would?” I asked lightly.

“My stomach is twisting from the stress. I’m going to throw up if I keep eating,” she complained.

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