Page 27 of Smoke the Enemy

Everything inside me shuts down. Lee isn’t a bad guy, but I have never had the unwavering trust in him or his family that my brother and my dad seem to. The glare in his eyes shows he is still suspicious of me, but I did nothing wrong. I have nothing to defend.In fact, I have an alibi. I used the plane to stalk Taylor.

“What’s going on, Steff? Your brother showing back up, Van Doren, murders surrounding us, Taylor, and a Dupree has sprouted from out of nowhere.” Lee grits through his teeth, clearly hating how screwed up our lives have gotten, and if the side eye is any indicator, that also includes my presence.“Do you know?”

“Do I know what?”

“The body!” Lee rages and Steffan steps back.

“You know better than anyone I own up to the things I do. If I’m not owning it, then I obviously have no idea what you mean by a body.” I shrug my shoulders and his hands tighten into fists.

Lee steps away and runs his hands through his pretty-boy hair. He glances between Steffan and me, “I’m sorry, Soren. I freaked out. We have a huge problem.”

“Who was it?” Steffan asks, his arms crossing over his chest. His brain is already going into planning mode.

“The university counselor,” Lee sighs. “Mrs. Amanda Jefferson.”

“Why are you so worked up?” I narrow my eyes at Lee. There’s more to his reaction than this being another simple casualty.

“I might’ve had a few hookups with her before Bailee.”

“Why are we just learning about it now?” Steffan practically growls.

“I don’t question all your lays, man.” Lee’s shoulders fall, “I only found out because Bailee’s friend told her.”

“I’m going to have a word with our guy in the police department. We should’ve already been alerted. Not have to find out on some kind of gossip line.”

“How did they find her and connect her to the same person killing people here?” I ask, my brow lifting.

“She was hanging from a tree in the back. The sick fuck even strung lights around her insides like a fucking sick Christmas present,” Lee grimaces, “Whoever is doing this has to have a strong stomach. Bailee said her cousin told her even the local police couldn’t be at the scene without puking.”

“Why go after a counselor?” I ask out loud.

“She obviously knew something she shouldn’t have.” Steffan glances at me and I’m already a step ahead, taking my phone from my pocket.

“You rattle off anything during your little pillow talks, Lee?”

“No. Where did you go today, Soren? I heard you left in the plane, and now there’s been another death. Coincidence?”

“Another woman you fucked is dead, coincidence?” I fire back. Last year it was the Homecoming Queen he was screwing, and her football boyfriend. And who the fuck is he to be questioning me?

“We could easily have any information about her and the case pulled from the investigation,” Steffan rattles off, although I know he already has his preferred person on speed dial and is about to press that button.

“This is the last thing we need right now.” Lee sounds about as agitated as we feel.

“The shipment to the Fallen MC is coming up due. Lee,” Steffan points at him, “That’s your first priority. Soren and I are going to look more into the individual victims of these murders. Whoever it is has a personal connection.”

My phone dings and I glance down at a news notification message. Ice runs in my veins, “Turn the news on.”

Steffan grabs the remote to the television and turns on the news.

“And in other news tonight, there is a story out of Blue Rose, Alabama, where the name of the murderer is quickly being dubbed the Christmas Angel Maker. Our investigators are in the field to bring you the latest. Tom…”

“Merry Christmas, Josephine. If only it was a happy holiday for everyone down here in Blue Rose. Early this morning a gruesome scene was discovered at the town’s private nursing home. One of the staff arrived to find that the occupants of the home had been murdered, all injected with what officials are calling poison. One of the night nurses on staff, forty-seven-year-old Mary Anne Thomas was brutally murdered.”

“Our inside source says that the nurse’s skin was flayed open to represent wings like an angel. Her scalp was removed and placed lopsided to represent a halo. That’s where the nickname is coming from,” I read the message out loud.

“So two killings in two separate places, but equally as gruesome.” Lee’s eyes are still on the television while cameras show the nursing home and police officers as they go inside the building and carry out a body bag.

“We need to find out if there is any connection between the university staff member, the nurse at the nursing home, and the past murders.” Steffan sighs. “Just as important, though, the Fallen MC is obviously still on. Just be careful and take extra precautions.” He gives the order to Lee who nods.

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