Page 120 of Stella
“Love you, Ind.”
“I love you too, like my own daughter. All anyone wants is for you to be happy. The amount of love this club has for you shows in how protective they all are.”
“I guess,” I sniff.
“Hey, Manny’s dishing out cake if you’re interested.”
“Oh god, really? He baked a cake?”
She laughs. “I guess it’s one way to distract everyone from going stir crazy while we’re in lockdown.”
I grin. “Cake and ice cream always win out.”
“I’m interested,” Kai says, sticking his head in the door. “I’m onto my third bowl.”
I roll my eyes. “Pig.”
He makes oinking noises as he leaves.
I stand ready to go and eat my body weight in sugary treats. I need a distraction because I haven’t heard from Cale in hours…
26
CALE
“A tomb?”I scratch my head. “Never heard of that.”
“I know,” Stella says. “But I remembered it from history, and not saying it’s from around here, but the boys have gone to check while we all sit around hoping Cash won’t be arrested.”
“He won’t tonight,” I say. “But I’m working on how I can clear his name.”
“You believe him?” She sounds hopeful.
“Yes. I don’t for one second think Cash is a killer. If anyone had anything to do with this, it’s Razor and the Devils Ink MC. And I’m gonna make it my mission in life to find out what really went on.”
“I’m so sorry,” she sniffs. “That you’re having to deal with this and get involved with your mom’s case.”
“What I don’t understand is how someone I thought was my friend didn’t give me the heads up.” I run a hand over my face. I’m at my apartment, on my laptop while Calli snores at my feet. “He’s clearly in someone’s pocket, and that makes me suspicious about everyone.”
“Including Willow?”
“ExcludingWillow. She’s been a rock, to be honest. I wouldn’t have gotten any of this without her breaking protocol.”
“Even if it meant involving Sawyer?”
I sigh. “All this mess was hidden from me for a reason, and this goes deep, Stell. Right up to the mayor’s office. Something stinks, and they know it. That’s why Razor, Caruso and all the members of the mob that the club took down have been erased. Someone wants vengeance against Cash, and they knew we were related. I’m still trying to figure it out and who the fuck is behind it. It could be anyone.”
“Can I help in any way?” she asks.
“I think we’ve both done enough today,” I laugh. “How are you holding up?”
“I’m fine. Dad isn’t speaking to me, neither is Cash, but Manny made chocolate cake, so there’s that. I do feel bad for Cash, finding all of this out, and now he’s gonna be pinned for your mom’s murder?”
“I won’t let that happen.”
“But what if they come for you, too? You said yourself; they can’t be trusted.”
“I’m already one step ahead,” I say. “And now that Sawyer has hacked into the mainframe, we have someone on the inside who has no agenda other than to keep everyone informed on what happens next. This was hidden from me, that’s fucking scary. Now we’ll know when they make their move. For the moment I have to pretend that I don’t know shit.”
