Page 28 of Never Trust the Living (Battle Crows MC 7)

Needless to say, dirt and I didn’t get along too well.

When I got dirty, I freaked out. And that wasn’t a good thing.

“Okay,” Detective Green said. “We’ll head out. Sorry to bother you so late at night. But we wanted to get a quick jump on this.”

Bram’s arm slung more purposefully around my neck, pulling me even closer. “It’s not a bother. But for what it’s worth, he killed two young girls in our community. Both had boyfriends, lots of friends, parents, and grandparents. I can see any of them wanting to deal with him the old-fashioned way. Especially after learning of his insanity verdict. I can’t say that I blame whoever did it, either. That is just a slap in the face to all of us that suffered at his hands.”

Detective Alto rushed off after Bram’s parting comment. It was Detective Green who said, “I can’t say that I agree with you. Because that would put me in a position I don’t necessarily want to be in. But if I did, I would try really hard to figure out what that guy’s problem is.” He hooked his finger toward Alto’s departing back. “I’m sorry that this happened to you two. And for what it’s worth…”

He left that hanging, but his eyes said something completely different.

As if he knew what we’d done, and he approved.

Bram’s hand stiffened on my shoulder that he was now holding, but the rest of him was calm.

After everyone left, and it was just the two of us standing there, I said, “What the fuck are you doing? You can’t give up Mimi!”

Bram sighed. “Mimi’s already halfway given me up anyway. This’ll be a clean break. I love… loved… whatever. I like her still. But I can’t deal with it anymore. This last week has been from hell. And if anything, today gave me a perfectly good reason in my conscience to give her up. I won’t feel bad anymore about letting go.”

I shook my head. “This is going to be a disaster.”

• • •

Things happened really fast after that.

As in, I never once expected him to spend quite so much time with me to sell our lie.

Nor did I expect him to leave his girlfriend.

The first time we saw her while we were out to eat, I nearly threw up the food that I’d been barely eating.

It was barbeque and probably would’ve hurt coming back up.

Weeks passed, and each time we saw Mimi, the more the dagger in my heart twisted.

Because Bram felt horrible. I could see it in his eyes, on his face, and the way he held himself when she was around.

He clearly still loved her.

But Detective Alto, if anything, had doubled down his efforts in trying to prove our guilt.

If we ever needed to sell the lie, now was the time.

I only wish it hadn’t come at the expense of Mimi’s heart and my own.

CHAPTER 7

FYI—I’m out of medicine that makes me like you.

-Bram to Shine

BRAM

“I don’t believe you,” the detective admitted. “I feel like there’s more going on here than what meets the eye.”

He was a suspicious man with good cop vibes.

He was right.

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