Page 42 of Laurels and Liquor

Me: What did you tell him?

Luc: That I had nothing to do with it, that none of us did. I sent him my time clock records and I’m having the gate guard put together the report of our comings and goings.

I sigh in relief, and Mateo shoots me a curious look.

“Luc got a visit from EPD, asking for alibis,” I relay.

Mateo’s face goes pale for a moment, and he swallows. “He’s set, right? Lydia, too?”

I nod. “I told Caleb to keep Lydia at home as much as possible while we’re out of town, and he’s done his job. Lucas has a paper trail to confirm his story.”

Mateo relaxes and then goes back to flipping channels. My nerves only manage to get through five clicks before I’m on my feet, ripping the remote out of his hand and shutting off the television. Mateo sputters some outraged nonsense, but I take the remote back to my seat and tuck it under me before looking out the window again.

“Don’t think I won’t move you to get that back,” Mateo snaps at me.

I growl low at him, but he doesn’t move to challenge me. All the better. I don’t feel like getting into a fight with him right now, at least not a physical one. He has at least a hundred pounds on me, and I know how often he and Rhett work out. I’d still put up a fight, but I don’t like to lose.

“Rhett is going stir crazy,” Mateo says, out of the blue.

I chuckle to myself. That’s a bit of an understatement. One of the things I love about Rhett is his seemingly endless energy and drive. Being trapped in one place, no matter how nice, is like caging a tiger. We’ll have to run him once he’s free.

“Ted says that the case isn’t going well for the prosecution. Without Lydia’s testimony, it’s all he said, she said, and the grand jury is skeptical. If they don’t settle on an indictment in the next two weeks, the case will have to be dismissed,” I say, a little wistful.

Rhett, Ted, and I have been discussing options for plea deals if the grand jury decides to indict, all with the goal of getting Rhett back to Georgia post haste. A refusal would be the best-case scenario, but I’m not going to put all my eggs in that basket.

“Lydia’s heat is coming up, and I don’t want her to go through it without him,” Mateo comments.

I turn to look at him curiously, and I find him staring unseeing into the middle distance, as if lost in thought. Though I understand his concern this time. Lydia’s heat has been on everyone’s minds, for better or for worse. It’ll be the first time we’ve gone through an omega’s heat since Seth.

“I don’t want to go into a rut again,” Mateo says, drawing me out of my thoughts.

I snort in agreement. Even if mine wasn’t the full thing, seeing Mateo and Rhett undone by the need to claim and bite and fuck isn’t something I’m likely to forget.

“I’ll make sure everyone stays safe this time,” I say with finality.

“I know. But you shouldn’t,” Mateo returns flippantly.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I snap, temper on a razor’s edge.

Mateo shrugs. “If you’re caught up in keeping order, you’re not going to be able to enjoy yourself.”

I blink at him, equal parts annoyed and defensive. “Do you not want everyone to be safe?” I return heatedly.

Mateo throws me a harsh look. “That’s not what I said. But whatever. Forget I said anything.”

I stare with my mouth slightly agape as he settles into his chair and crosses his arms over his chest, trying to end the conversation. But like hell would I let him do that, not after throwing around a serious accusation like that.

“Lydia’s safety and comfort is the number one priority, and if that’s not the case for you—”

“Don’t. You. Dare. Accuse me of not wanting to protect her,” Mateo growls, voice dropping nearly a full octave.

“Our enjoyment shouldn’t ever come at the expense of her mental and physical well-being,” I finish, lifting my chin a little.

“God, you can’t be serious right now. I’m not going to hurt her, Lex. No one is going to,” Mateo nearly shouts, throwing his hands up in exasperation.

“You were the one who was just bitching about not wanting to go into a rut again,” I return, voice rising to match his.

“Yeah, because I want to remember the moment I bond with her this time!”

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