Page 147 of The Piece You Stole

“Thanks for the information, Detective.” Dariel’s hand tightens right before he shoves me inside. He follows me in, slamming the door shut on the cop still stretching his card toward me.

“More and more, you make me wonder whether you have a brain at all rattling around in that head of yours,” Dariel says, a bite to his words. “What the fuck is your problem?”

I give him a wide-eyed look, as if I have no clue what he’s talking about. Should I have controlled myself a little better? Maybe. Will I next time? Who knows? “You think it was him? Rylan?”

When Dariel glances over at the front door, I turn and spot a small white card the cop must have just shoved under it.

I glance at Dariel, but he doesn’t move to pick it up.

We listen in silence as the seconds tick by. A car starts up and then pulls away.

“We can’t trust him,” I say as Dariel crosses over to the card.

He briefly glances at it before pocketing it. “I know. But not only did this Detective Morgan learn where we live, but he knew Saige was here with us. Did you think to wonder why?”

He pauses. I curse myself because no, I did not fucking think to wonder why. Not until now.

“You think they tracked us from Rylan’s land?” I guess. “Because I don’t—”

“Regret it? Neither do I. But since he didn’t arrest us on the spot, maybe he didn’t. Maybe he’s just biding his time until he gets something concrete on us. Either way, we need to keep a close eye on this cop going forward. I’m getting some sleep. I have a feeling I’m going to need it.” He takes a few steps up before halting. “And next time Saige wants to go for a wander in the garden, do us all a favor and gowithher.”

I lower my voice. “I still say we should kill him.”

Do I see myself ripping out a man’s throat who has Mona’s eyes?

My wolf doesn’t have a problem with it. But the man remembers holding Mona’s body in my arms. Remembers her blood soaking into my pants. Could never forget her dead eyes.

But if it needs to be done. It needs to be done, so I’ll do it.

“Leave Garrett to me,” Dariel says in a voice so low I barely hear him.

“If you think talking will get him to go away, it won’t. Every fucking year he—”

“She was his sister,” Dariel interrupts as he continues up the stairs. “He’s grieving. In time, he’ll move on.”

“You didn’t see him.” I lower my voice when it creeps up with my frustration. “We need to do something about him.”

“And I’ve said I’d deal with it.” Dariel’s tone sharpens. “We don’t need to go borrowing any more trouble. If he comes back, leave him to me.”

“And you’ll do what, exactly?”

Silence.

If I wasn’t worried Saige would overhear, I’d follow him up those stairs and continue this conversation, but this time, I let him go. When he’s disappeared from view, I head for the backdoor so I can recode the side gate and get rid of these spare keys.

CHAPTER 34

SAIGE

Standing at the doorway of Kade’s bedroom, I hold up a mug with a bright smile. “I made cocoa. With grated chocolate and marshmallows.”

Kade, sitting at his desk, continues typing away. “I’m not answering any of your questions.”

Ugh! Busted before I even get one foot in the door.

I turn to leave.

“Come back with my bribe,” Kade calls out.

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