Page 151 of Five Mountain Daddies

Jaxson’s face stays friendly, but there’s an edge to him. “You’re a cop now,right?”

I nod. “Chicago PD. DetectiveReap.”

His grin gets bigger, less focused. “You always were a fucking prick, Wyatt.” I think he wants this to come off as a joke, and his two flunkies bothlaugh.

But I don’t smile. “And you always were anasshole.”

He holds my gaze, his face going a little manic, and finally he laughs. I smile and laugh a little with him as the tension dissipates slightly. I was afraid he might actually come at me for a second, but he controlledhimself.

“What brings you in here?” he asksme.

“We’ve been asking around aboutAtticus.”

Jaxson’s eyes go wide. He didn’t expect me to admit it so readily, but there’s no reason to hideit.

Cora glances at me but I don’t lookback.

“What do you want to know about that dead asshole?” Jaxson asks. He looks at Cora. “Sorry,” hemumbles.

“Were you two close?” I ask him. “Recently, Imean.”

He shrugs. “Not really. Atticus had his fucking problems. Liked to hang around me and my boys, you know, but fuck thatguy.”

“Sure, I hear you,” I say. “Any of your friends have any reason to killhim?”

Jaxson’s eyes narrow at me. “You fucking suggestingsomething?”

“Not at all.” I look over at Cora and stand up. Jaxson is forced to step back away from me. “Come on,Cora.”

She stands, looking uncertain. I toss some money onto thebar.

“Where you goin’, Wyatt?” Jaxson asks. “We just got here. I thought we’d party, for old time’s sake.” His grin is disgusting, and I suddenly feel absolutely sure that this guy has something to do with Atticus’sdeath.

“Unless you want to talk about Atticus, I’m notinterested.”

Jaxson rolls his eyes. “All this shit about Atticus. It’s like you’re obsessed. Let him stay dead, youprick.”

I stare back at him. “He waskilled.”

“Yeah, he was.” Jaxson steps closer to me, speaks a little lower. I tense, ready, just in case. “And maybe he did something stupid, like ask too manyquestions.”

I hear the threat. It’s so clumsy, even Cora’s eyes gowide.

“You have a good night, Jaxson,” I say tohim.

“Don’t come back here,” he warns. “You hearme?”

I turn and grab Cora’s hand. She stumbles after me as we leave together. Jaxson and his goons don’tfollow.

I don’t slow down. We walk fast back to my car, get in, and drive off. Cora’s dead silent until we’re a few blocksaway.

“Did he really threaten you?” she asks me. “I mean, you’re acop.”

“He’s an idiot gang banger,” Isay.

“You really think… he’d kill you?” Her eyes are wide, and I can see thefear.

I shake my head. “No, I don’t. But I didn’t want to risk getting in a fight, not in a room full of his friends.” And especially not with you there, I want toadd.

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