Page 44 of Diesel

“Lucas,” he sighed, and scrubbed a hand over his face. “Good news travels fast.”

“Something like that. Anything we can do?” It was best to be the community leaders we tried to be, while also pumping him for information.

Respect and maybe a little pride shone in the sheriff’s eyes. “The fire spread to the houses on both sides, leaving four families without a place to stay for a while.”

I stared at the charred duplexes on either side of the house that was already little more than a pile of smoke and ash. “Rebel. Hawk. Find a place for the families to stay until they can figure out what happens next.”

Sheriff Cross pointed to a cluster of men and women with small children clinging to each of them. “I’m sure they’ll appreciate it,” he said.

“Did everyone get out okay?”

His gaze darkened and the sheriff shook his head. “Everyone who was supposed to survive,” he said ominously, and I crossed my arms, waiting for him to spit out the rest. “We found a girl inside. Her throat was slit. No soot around her nostrils suggesting she was dead when the fire started, the autopsy should confirm it.”

“The fire was set to cover up her murder.”

“Yep. But they didn’t count on the people in this neighborhood working second or third shift.” The sheriff shook his head, signs of exhaustion written all over his body. “She was just a kid, couldn’t be more than sixteen years old.”

Rocky offered a supportive shoulder squeeze to the man who was at times our ally and our enemy. “That’s rough, but now we know something important. The main reason for the fire would be to cover up her age and her cause of death, but there’s also another reason.” Rocky grinned like he was Sherlock fucking Holmes. “To fuck up any evidence that might point to the killer.”

“Exactly what we were thinking,” Cross confirmed. “We should have an ID on her tomorrow since the crew arrived early enough to save her body, but these cardboard houses burn like kindling.”

“This isn’t good for any of us.” I voiced what we were all thinking but none of us wanted to say out loud. “Dead teenagers are a problem for you and me, Sheriff.”

Cross nodded. “Any ideas who it might be?”

“Not yet, we’re looking into a few leads.”

The sheriff arched his brows. “Sharing is caring,” he joked.

“I need to do more digging before I share.” I wasn’t willing to divulge my thoughts about Carter with the sheriff. Carter was a big name in Vegas development, which meant he had plenty of politicians on speed dial, many who wouldn’t hesitate to do his bidding for a few more campaign dollars. Even if it meant covering up murder. And if news started spreading through law enforcement offices, where there were plenty of dirty cops and paid off sheriffs to pass the information back, it would all be over before it even began. “I’ll be in touch.”

Sheriff Cross nodded. “You know how to reach me.”

At that moment, my phone rang.

“Gio, what’s up?”

“Ellie and Leo are heading off now, you still want me to keep an eye on them?”

“Yep,” I answered. I knew Ellie didn’t want a fuss, but I wasn’t taking any chances, especially after what I’d just learned. As soon as I was done here, I’d head over and try and get her to see sense and come back with me. I added, “Don’t be too obvious about it.”

“Copy that, boss,” Gio said, and ended the call.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Ellie

When I made the decision to pack up and head back to the bungalow, the plan was to get my head on straight. I needed the clarity that distance from Diesel would provide so that I could figure out what I actually wanted. Was it Diesel and the undeniable connection I felt with him or was it just the intense sex and multiple orgasms? Seriously, nights with Diesel felt like they were part of some dream sequence, slowly sensual, hotter than the pits of hell, and utterly unforgettable.

A girl could seriously fall in love with him just based on the sex, and the fact that Stacy hadn’t? Well, that made me question everything, hence the need for space.

Returning to the bungalow for a few days had been a compromise I made with myself in the name of fairness. A few days would allow me to return with a renewed sense of myself and what I wanted, without depriving Leo and Diesel of their growing relationship.

“Is Daddy coming too?” Leo had asked the same question at least ten times on the drive from Diesel’s place to our house and I still hadn’t figured out the best way to answer.

“Probably. We’ll have to wait and see, won’t we?” I jumped from the driver’s seat and grabbed a few bags before opening Leo’s door. “Come on, buddy.”

Leo darted up the steps and I smiled at his ability to shake off new changes. Children really were incredibly resilient, unlike us adults who found it difficult to forget just about anything, particularly the hard shit. I looked just ahead of him and froze at what I saw.

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