Page 51 of Wicked Ends
“A hundred grand,” I repeated.Crap.I’d left it on the floor in the back bedroom. Luckily, there was a padlock on the door, so no one could have gotten in.
“You want me to get it for you? Since I can’t be trusted with big-boy money?”
Honestly, I’d like it gone, but the way Cole spoke to me always grated.
“No, no need. Contrary to what you think, little brother, I do trust you. I trust you more than anyone. Keep it safe until I need it. No one would expect you to have it… you’re the hockey star who’s going places, not a dead-end loser Bailey like the rest of your family.” His grin told me he was joking, but the solemn sadness in his eyes told me he wasn’t.
He stood, adjusting his cut, reminding me of the thing always standing between us.
“I’m heading out. You go and get your rest before your big game tomorrow,” he tossed over his shoulder.
“I thought you didn’t care about how I play?”
“That doesn’t mean I want to see my team lose,” Cole said back, giving me a small grin before making for the door.
His right-hand man, Maddox, and Gage, number three, followed.
I waited for them to go and then made for the back. I passed through the kitchen and along the dark hall that led to the bedroom I’d bunked down in more times than I cared to recall. I dialed the combination into the padlock and pushed open the door. Stopping in the doorway, I peered inside the dark room.
Something felt different.
I flipped on the light and glanced around. The bed was roughly made; I hadn’t slept in it since the night with Arianna. The sameshit was still on the dresser and chair by the window. But that wasn’t what felt different. I went to the bags stacked haphazardly by the closet. Most of them were full of random shit, old hockey gear and patches for the Harbor Hounds.
But there was one bag that was important. A hundred grand important…
And it was gone.
I stared at the space where it had been, sure I was mistaken. It couldn’t be gone. How could it be gone? Even Cole didn’t know the combination of the lock on this door, and it had been perfectly functional and not broken at all. I threw the other bags onto the bed and ripped them open, rifling through each one. Next, I moved to the closet and cleared it out, dumping out every bag I came across.
Nothing. There was nothing here.
It was gone.
I shoved a hand through my hair and cast around the room for some sign of who could have taken it. The window was barred, and the glass was unbroken. No one could have gotten in that way. The door hadn’t been fucked with, which meant that someone put in the combination. Seeing as I’d changed the number only a week ago and hadn’t told anyone… except one person. It appeared the list of suspects was short.
Ari.
An incredulous laugh left me. Not only had my birthday girl snuck away when I’d told her to wait for me, she’d fucking robbed me at the same time. Another chuckle came, turning into full-out laughter. And to think, I’d fallen for her little sob storyabout being scared… It seemed Arianna Moore wasn’t as sweet as I’d thought. She had an edge. Maybe she’d just needed to meet the guy who’d bring it out in her.
I was that guy. And I had a real fucking edge, too… something Professor Moore was about to find out.
I locked the door and went back through the kitchen, stopping when Polly, the longest-serving waitress at the joint, drifted in front of me.
“Did you see a woman leave, small and curvy, dressed like a librarian?” I asked her.
Polly always knew what was going on.
She thought for a second and then smiled. “You mean the new professor over at HHU? She’s a peach, according to Earl.”
“And how does your husband know her?” I asked.
Polly opened her mouth to speak and then seemed to think better of it. She hesitated, and I put a hand on the metal counter behind her and leaned in.
“Polly, tell me… you know you’re going to tell me eventually, so don’t waste both our time.” I gave her my most charming smile.
She sighed. “Fine. She’s a long-term guest at the Night Owl, but you didn’t hear it from me.”
A slow, victorious smile spread across my face as I straightened up.
