Page 80 of Mad Love

In a rumpled top and yoga pants, Tyler looked like she’d just rolled out of bed, her hair still in a messy bun and the glasses perched on her nose emphasizing the almost violet color of her eyes.

“What’s up?” I asked, pausing warily.

“Nothing except that this limp-dicked dung beetle can’t admit that he’s wrong,” Tyler spat.

Ash rolled his eyes toward the ceiling, his hands curled tightly around the back of the chair he stood behind. “Swear to Christ, Ry, get her out of here.”

“Or what?” Tyler scoffed. “What are you going to do? Keep sucking at the one thing you’re supposed to be good at?”

Charles—or Chase, since that was apparently his new name—appeared behind Tyler in the doorway that led to the kitchen. “Everything all right?”

“Take your sidekick and bounce,” I told him, jerking my chin at Tyler.

“Why don’t you go sniff a moldy crotch?” Tyler countered, turning her ire on me.

My brows shot up. “I’m sorry. Is it a love connection then?”

“He’s my cousin,” she hissed. “And if anyone’s the sidekick, it’s him.”

“I think I’m offended,” Chase murmured. “Tyler, why don’t you take a break?”

She gaped at him. “Chase, come on. You’re going to let these dipshits push you around?”

“Does she come with an off button?” Ash demanded. “Seriously, shut up.”

“Don’t speak to her like that,” Chase replied as Tyler cried, “Fuck off!”

“Jesus Christ,” I groaned. “Can we all just act like adults for a fucking minute?” I stormed into the room and yanked out a chair before falling into it.

Chase grimaced. “As much as it pains me, I think he’s right.” He moved forward and sat across from me.

Snorting, Ash sat down. Tyler was last, and she sat with a huff and folded her arms.

“Now,” I started calmly, looking at my best friend, “where are we at with finding Gary?”

Ash ignored Tyler when her hand shot into the air like this was a schoolroom. “None of his accounts have been touched, but he may have fled to one of the properties we flagged before that we thought Maddie could be at.”

Tyler thrashed her hand back and forth.

“Yes?” I drawled, looking at her.

She smirked at Ash. “He’s in Nevada. Henderson, specifically.”

“How could you possibly know that?” Ash demanded.

“Because I planted a Trojan horse when I transferred the money. He handled everything on his phone, and I can track him that way. I have access to everything—his accounts, his emails and phone calls. I hacked his mic, so I know if he farts.” She shot Ash a triumphant smirk.

“Other than the fact that that’s gross… Not bad, newbie.” Grudging respect tinged Ash’s tone. He drew in what looked like a painful breath. “Can you show me? I might be able to notice something about what he’s planning next.”

Tyler settled back in her seat and nodded. “Of course.”

“Awesome. Now that you two are playing nice, maybe Chase can explain how he ties into this and how he knew Madelaine.” I stared at the guy in question.

He swallowed and nodded. “Madelaine reached out to me last spring.”

“Why you?” I demanded.

He sighed. “Because Gary Cabot is responsible for the death of my mother and my unborn sister. They died a year earlier.”

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