Page 51 of Rising Storm

Gareth shut the door behind him.

“You meant that? You’ll let him get away with it?” Helix asked. “Kavaugh, I mean?”

“Of course I won’t. I’ll tell Isaac what happened—leaving Sayer out of it—and he’ll make sure the man goes down for it. What happened to their bodies?” he asked Sayer.

“I don’t know. He called Hayrick and Hayrick took care of everything. I wasn’t allowed to stay downstairs to see what they did. All I know is the bodies were gone. You knew those cops?”

Gareth nodded.

“I’m so sorry. I honestly didn’t know they were policemen. I thought they’d broken into the house and I was fighting back.”

“I believe you, although I can’t imagine why they were sneaking into your house. But your husband is going to pay for what he did. That was no accident.”

“Good. I hope he does.” Sayer cradled his arm.

“Come on,” Helix said. “We need to get you to the hospital to have that set.”

Sayer nodded, his lips quivering as he followed him out of the motel room.

Gareth stood outside and his expression told Helix this wasn’t over yet. “I’m staying here. Have to think about this—how I’m going to take care of it.” He rubbed his hand over his head. “Your brother killed my friend, Helix.”

“I know,” he whispered. “Just let me get him to the hospital and I’ll come back so we can talk, okay?”

Gareth nodded and walked into his own hotel room, shutting the door.

The whole time Helix was at the hospital with Sayer, he was fairly shaking with worry. Gareth’s expression had been agonized and Helix knew the man was fighting his need to see his friend get justice. Sayer truly seemed sad over what had happened and he knew it had been an accident, but he’d still killed the cop.

By the time he got back to the motel, he was riddled with worry. The fact Gareth meant this much to him already shocked him. And Gareth had nearly traded that Monteague for his brother. Helix knew Gareth had done that for him, that the man would do anything for him. If anything cemented his feelings for Gareth, it was this. His hands were sweating when he finally knocked on Gareth’s door.

Gareth opened the door and ushered him inside. “Sayer?”

“He’s in my room, all settled. And I’ll admit he’s scared. This is something you can’t let go.”

“I’m not going to put your brother in jail, Helix.”

“But he did kill your friend.”

“Yeah, I’m having a little trouble with that.”

“That’s understandable. It was the Jake you guys were talking about at the bar, right?

Gareth nodded.

“Tell me about him.”

Gareth sighed and sat on the edge of the bed. “We were on and off again for a few years. He was never out, so we couldn’t have a full relationship. But he was a good man.”

“Did you love him?”

“No, but I did care for him and I was faithful to him. I’m not one to cheat, even if the other person isn’t as committed as I am.”

Hell, Helix knew that about Gareth. He walked to the bed and sat beside Gareth, their thighs touching. He put his hand on Gareth’s leg. “What are you going to do?”

“Talk to Isaac and make sure Kavaugh pays. Someone has to pay for Jake, though we might be bringing up other charges on Kavaugh to make sure your brother stays out of it. I don’t know yet. I’ll talk to all the guys, put our heads together. I’m sure we’ll find a way.”

“Thank you for watching out for my brother.”

Gareth looked at him. “I could tell it was an accident. What I can’t understand is what they were doing sneaking into the house like that. Makes absolutely no sense. The Jake I knew was by the book all the way.”