Page 68 of Enforcing the Rules

He held his palms up. “Leave me the fuck out of this.”

Kate’s phone vibrated in her purse, then again.

I glanced back, but the girls were deep in conversation. I slipped her phone out and looked at the text to see if it was Ray again. I swiped my thumb up to see the one before it. They were both from a girl named Chloe.

Chloe: I still can’t get a hold of Wes. I’m sure the heroin is all gone.

Chloe: Has Ruiz shown up?

I couldn’t believe this shit. What the fuck?

I grabbed her purse off the bar and stalked over to the girls.

“Sorry, Lola. I’m gonna need a minute with Kate.” I didn’t wait, just grabbed her by the bicep and hauled her to her feet. “Come with me.”

“Utah.” She tried to pull back, but that wasn’t happening. I led her down the hall to my room and slammed the door behind us.

“What is wrong with you?” She yanked her arm free.

I tossed her purse on the bed and held her phone up. “Is this what you need the money for? Drugs? Heroin, to be precise.”

“What?” She took the phone and read the texts. “Is that what you think of me? That I’m a heroin addict, for God’s sake?”

“Then explain it to me.”

“I can’t. You have to trust me.”

I huffed a laugh. “There’s that word again. Trust. I’m running pretty short on that right now.”

“Please, Utah. I know it looks bad, and I’ll explain everything. I promise. But I can’t tell you right now.”

Frustration surged through me, and it was about to explode if I didn’t do something quick. I pointed a finger at her. “Stay here.” Then I stalked out and headed to the bar. I didn’t trust myself not to put a fist through the wall.

“Women!” I reached over the bar and grabbed the Jameson and filled a glass, then threw it back.

Lola took one look at me, then looked at Memphis. “Give us a minute, baby.”

Memphis grabbed his beer and walked over to the dartboard, grabbing up some darts. I’m sure he didn’t want any part of this. I didn’t blame him.

Lola scooted over one stool and bumped my shoulder. “Hey. You can talk to me. I have a feeling this has to do with men not understanding women.”

“You ladies are hard to figure out, that’s for sure.”

“What’s the problem?”

“There’s something going on. It’s important, and she won’t talk about it. It’s like she doesn’t trust me enough to tell me what trouble she’s in. I can’t help her if she won’t open up to me.”

“Utah, let me tell you a secret. I promise if you do what I say, it will work.”

I met her eyes. “I’m listening.”

“If you want her to open up to you, you have to show her you’re willing to do the same.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means tell her about something important. Something you don’t tell anyone else. In other words, be vulnerable.”

“Vulnerable? I’d rather slit my wrists.”

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