Page 52 of PET

He chuckles, dropping his arms. “You did, and I do. Follow me back here,” he says with a nod of his head.

I look around nervously, wondering if this was a setup or not. Beau could have some of his guys waiting around that wall to jump my ass.

But nobody’s standing there when I slowly peer into the room to check. I follow him through a few more rooms before we step outside onto a back patio. Beau lights a joint and sits at the garden table and I join him. He offers me a smoke, but I shake my head. I have to keep my head focused right now.

He waves his other hand, urging me to start as he leans back and puffs.

I’m just going to be completely real with him. Dana can kick rocks if she thinks I’m going to lie to this motherfucker to get on his good side. We’ve never been friends, so we’re not going to magically be now. And I hope Beau will be straight with me if roles ever reverse.

“Listen, man, I’m not going to run around here. I’m here because I’m working with an FBI agent; the one who broke Reaper last year.” I run a hand over my face before stealing a look over at him.

He’s staring out into the landscape, dragging the joint from his mouth as he blows out a long, steady smoke cloud.

“That Dana bitch the one your buddy Holden fucked?” he asks.

I chuckle. “Yeah, the very one.”

“Shit,” he says with a laugh. “That bitch has some enormous balls, doesn’t she?”

“The biggest. But listen, my girl might be in trouble and that’s why I’m here. They informed me you’re related to Lacee Mas—”

He holds his hand up and shakes his head. “Nah, don’t talk about my family, man.”

“I mean no disrespect, Beau. Lacee and I were… friends,” I add nervously. I’m not sure how close they might have been, and I’d like tonotget punched in the fucking face today.

“Friends?” he asks with a snicker, side-eyeing me. “She was my baby cousin. So, if the kind of friends you’re referring to came with benefits, I’ll kick your ass.”

Now I’m snickering. “Dude, we’re not going to go there today. I didn’t bring any bills to bet onmekickingyourass.” Just because I said I didn’t want to get punched in the face doesn’t mean I can’t fight. BeauknowsI can fucking fight.

He waves me off. “Calm down, Veradin. Me and Lacee were pretty close growing up; that’s all. Her dad was a deadbeat, so we took care of her a lot. She was like my little sister. Until her mom married that douchebag Masterson.” Taking a hit from his joint, he glances over at me again and asks, “You mentioned your girl being in trouble, but what does that have to do with Lacee?”

“That’s what we’re trying to figure out. She had an altercation with my girl the day before her death.”

“First off, who’s your girl?”

I swallow, knowing he might change his mind about helping me when he hears her name. A lot of people have cut off anyone who was involved with the shit last year, but I said I was going to be straight with him.

“Billie Lucas.”

He inhales a sharp breath and puts his joint out in the ashtray. “That bitch has her own set of enemies, my guy. Lacee’s death had nothing to do with your traitorous—”

“Watch what you fucking say next,” I warn, gripping the arms of the chair with a death grip. I’ll knock this motherfucker out if he says one bad thing about Billie.

Studying me for a few seconds, he falls back into his chair and turns his gaze back on the garden. “The only thing I can think of is that Masterson has some shares in Van’s company, who has ties to the hospital where Billie’s bitch mother worked. You can connect the dots, I’m sure.”

“So, what you’re saying is anyone connected to any of the four families involved could be a target?”

“He’s smarter than he looks, folks.” Then he turns a hard glare on me. “Now get the fuck out of my house, Veradin. I’m done with this meeting and would like to get my dick sucked before I take care of business. Business yourgirlforced me to have.”

I’m about to tell him to go fuck himself when he waves his hand and the French doors to his right open. A smokin’ hot chick in a bright red bikini steps out. She marches straight for him, dropping to her knees while running her hands up his thighs.

Yep, I’m out of here. I don’t want to see this.

I think Dana has eyes on me from down below because as soon as I get in the car, she’s calling.

“Jesus Christ, Dana. I just got out. I’ll be down in a minute.”

“I’m not calling about that. We’ve got a problem, Christian. I just heard over the radio that officers showed up at Reaper Academy and arrested Zeke.”

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