Page 13 of Absolution

I needed to remember all the reasons I was sober, and why I couldn’t let Gideon take yet one more thing from me.

“Okay, let’s go to the police.”

Chapter 8

Leo

The minuteI walked into the office I took off to find Josie. I’d just raised my hand to knock when I heard a giggle and what definitely sounded like a moan. My knuckle made contact. There was a male groan of disappointment and a muffled curse word. The door opened fully and there stood Josie with an innocent smile, her short blonde hair slightly mussed.

“Leo, what can I do for you?” She asked as she adjusted her royal blue glasses on her face.

Over her shoulder, I spotted Miles, her fiancé and Connor’s second in charge, zipping up his pants and buckling his belt. I quickly averted my eyes —back to Josie who was now smiling not quite so innocently.

Miles scooted by her with a swift kiss on her cheek and a whispered, “I love you.”

Then he sent me a sharp glare before disappearing down the hall.

“Sorry to interrupt.”

She shrugged off my apology and gestured me inside. “What’s up?”

“I need to locate someone, and Connor told me to check with you.”

Josie settled in behind her computer and started tapping on the keys. “Sure, gimme a name.”

“Gideon Townsend.” I dropped into a chair to wait while she worked her magic. Josephine Bishop was a fucking computer genius.

“Okay, I need a little more info. Previous residence, age, something I can use to narrow down the search.”

“He was a ward of the state of New York and lived in foster care. Last known residence was with Gerald and Tina Waters. He’d be about twenty-nine. Is that enough?”

She nodded absently. “Yeah, that should do it. Give me a minute.”

The clicking of her nails on the keyboard was the only sound in the room. My leg bounced restlessly while I waited. There was a loud beep and Josie whooped.

“Got him. Damn, that was too easy. Next time, give me a challenge why don’t you?”

“Josie,” I growled a warning.

She merely rolled her eyes. “Don’t try to get all Dom on me. I’m not one of your subs who’ll drop to your feet. Anyway, Gideon Townsend, formerly of 1643 Turning Leaf Lane, Ithaca, New York. Twenty-eight years of age. Until next month at least. Six feet tall and just shy of two hundred pounds. Prison ID 11B7769. Good looking guy. Too many tats for me though,” she added almost absently.

Dread pooled in my gut. “Prison? Where? What the fuck for?”

Josie started typing again. “Let’s see. Auburn Correctional Facility. Damn, your friend Gideon has been a bad, bad boy. There’s a laundry list of drug charges. Weapons possession. Second degree murder charge dropped to voluntary manslaughter. Most likely from a plea deal.”

“Jesus,” I breathed out. “How long’s he been in?”

“Eight years. Whoa,” her eyes widened before she began pecking at her keys like mad.

“What is it?”

She shushed me and continued to work while I restlessly tapped my toes. Finally her fingers stopped moving, and she slowly turned to me.

“How long have you known Gina Castillo?”

“Why?”

“Because you’ve been a member of Eden for a year and neither of you have ever given any indication that you already knew each other.”

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