Page 20 of Bound By Love

Tessa sighed. “I feel bad for him. And for Miranda. Why wasn’t this sham figured out sooner? What in the hell are you guys doing in office five?”

“Dicking around, I guess,” I muttered, feeling like an incompetent asshole. Jason hadn’t been on my radar because he was a close friend of Will’s. I’d dropped the ball on this one, and I hated myself for it. “York and Scout were boots on the ground. I handled the tech at SJI and helped Will on the side.”

“And Simone?”

I cut my eyes to hers. Tessa knew I didn’t talk about Simone. “What did you learn today at work?”

She shook her head, smiling. “I searched through the computer system but didn’t find anything that would prove Miranda is pregnant. Her office was clean, and her files were reorganized. Someone will slip up sooner or later.” She sipped her drink. “What about the bikers?”

“They’ve followed her up to Oregon. Jason may not be working with the cartel or drug lords, but I’ve seen the way he drools around her.” I gripped the steering wheel again. “Just keep doing what you’re doing and play the part.” My nerves were wrecked. We needed to keep Miranda safe. I felt it down to the marrow of my bones, which was why I asked Mack to have some of his guys follow Miranda. Shit was going to escalate. It was only a matter of time.

“I’m on it. Wanna go into Target with me?” She waggled her eyebrows.

“Seriously? That place is a madhouse.”

She laughed. “Okay. I’ll try to hurry.”

Freaking Tessa, always trying to get me to do shit I hate.

“And while I’m gone, figure out how you’re going to tell York about all this.”

“Nothing to figure out. I’m just going to tell him the truth, that I fucked up.”

“That’ll go over well.”

I shrugged. Nothing I could do to change anything now. I needed to bring York into this; he had connections far beyond what the Jagged Lords had. If we were going to take down Jason and his associates, Abe, Cori, and whoever else, it might take a small army to do it. Nobody would give up over one hundred million without a fight… a fight to the death.

Yeah, I might meet my maker today if York decides to kill me. I was hoping Will wouldn’t let him since he’ll be there, along with his dad.

My leg bounced as I sat in office five waiting for York to arrive with Will’s dad. Scout kept glaring sidelong at me. It wasn’t like me to be nervous, but I also never fucked up this deplorably.

“Clearly, you’ve gotten yourself into some deep shit, the way you’re shaking in your seat.”

“Fuck off!” I cut my eyes to Will, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. He was still pissed over me not telling him Miranda moved out of the beach house, and rightly so. If I were in his shoes, I’d be in jail serving a life sentence for murder. Good thing Will was nothing like me.

Scout snorted. “You want me to leave when the boss gets here? Or will you need my protection?” He curled his arm and flexed his biceps, grinning at Will—the showoff. The man was a scary beast and knew it, but Will didn’t appear impressed.

I ground my back molars. Scout was just trying to get a rise out of me. I appreciated the motherfucker more than ever before because his baiting was taking my mind off why I was here.

The secret door opened, and York and Mr. St. James appeared, both with grim expressions.

Fuck.

“What’s up?” York barked.

“Sir, you’ll need to sit down for this,” I said, getting to my feet.

“Not what I wanted to hear.” He pulled out a chair for Mr. St. James. Will remained in his spot against the wall, his brow furrowed now.

“Yes, sir. I’ll be straight with you. You’re not going to like what I have to say.”

Scout snorted again. “I’ll stay. Sounds like you’re going to need me.”

“Speak, Axel!” York yelled and dropped onto a metal chair beside Will’s dad. The man never had an ounce of patience.

“I know who’s behind the breach. I’ve known for about six weeks.” I glanced at Will. His dad followed my gaze. Shit, I’d just thrown Will under the bus.

York was out of his chair so fast I didn’t have a chance to move before his fist slammed into my jaw.

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