Page 64 of Enforcing the Rules

I knew one thing: I didn’t want what we were building to end anytime soon. So, I was holding her to the deal we made.

Slipping from the bed, I crept out and went in search of coffee. I made a pot and stood on the porch, watching the sun come up while it brewed. It was late summer, but there was a hint of the scent of fall in the air. Perfect weather for a ride on the bike. Depending on how the day went, maybe I could slip off with Kate for a few hours.

I returned to my room with two steaming mugs. Setting them down, I noticed Kate’s phone on the nightstand. As I picked it up to set it aside, the screen lit up, showing the text that had come in. I was able to see who it was from and the first sentence.

RAY: I DROVE BY, BUT THE LIGHTS WERE OUT, SO I DIDN’T STOP.

YOU STILL NEED HELP WITH THAT MONEY?

What the goddamn fuck?

First of all, she was obviously in contact with the man we were both hunting. Secondly, she was doing this shit behind my back, and third, what goddamn money?

Betrayal ripped through me, and it burned like a white-hot charge of lightning.

There was a reason I didn’t trust women. I thought maybe Kate was changing that, but I kept uncovering things she’d been keeping from me. How much more wasn’t she telling me? Was she playing me for a fool?

“Kate. Wake up.” I shook her shoulder. She rolled over, glancing around like she was disoriented about where she was, then looked at me. I tossed her phone on the bed by her hip. “You got a text from Ray.”

Her eyes got big.

“You trying to go behind my back and get this guy? That wasn’t our deal.”

“We just made that deal. This was from before.”

“So, you’ve been in contact with him?”

“No. Not really. I’ve been trying.”

“You’ve got his number. Do you know where he is?”

“No. I swear.”

I wasn’t sure I could believe her, given what I’d just found out. “I have a hard time trusting and you keep throwing red flags in my face, but if you’re telling the truth, maybe we could use this phone number to our benefit.”

“You can’t kill him.”

I huffed a laugh. “I disagree.”

“Please, Utah. Promise me you won’t kill him.”

“Why the fuck would I do that? I’m not even sure we’re on the same team here.”

“No, that’s not true. I swear. Please don’t kill him.”

“I can’t believe you’d beg for this scumbag’s life. And over money, no less.”

“He’s not a scumbag.”

“The hell he’s not.”

“He’s my father!” She slammed a hand over her mouth like she never meant to reveal that little tidbit.

Silence filled the room.

Kate collapsed into tears, trying to speak between the sobbing. “You can’t kill him, Utah. Please.”

I stared at her, stunned, finding it hard to believe the words my ears just heard. “Have you always known where he was?”

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