Page 86 of Taking Denver

“Well…” Adler leans back in his chair. “No one has seen her or her bodyguard since she ran off ten years ago. Do you really think Ranger didn’t find her?”

It had occurred to me. Of course, it had. But even Ranger wouldn’t kill the mother of his child. And if he had, then we’d all know about it because it would add to an already fearful reputation.

I drum my fingernails against the metal table. “So, what is it you want, Detective? All our juicy gossip? Our dirty laundry?” I gasp dramatically. “You wanna know where all the figurative bodies are buried?”

A muscle ticks in Adler’s jaw. “Give us what we need to arrest Ranger Luxe, and you can leave.” I roll my eyes. “And so can Axel.” My spine goes rigid, and I can’t fucking hide it. “That’s what you want, isn’t it? Little Luxe to be safe?” He rests his forearms on the table and searches my face. “We will protect youboth. Ranger will be behind bars. Cal Winterson will be right there with him. No one will be able to touch you. A new life, a fresh start, anywhere you want.” My breathing quickens, and Adler has the nerve to soften his gaze. “Help us, Denver. He’s a murderer, a drug dealer, and he will never let you go. Is this really the life you want?”

I force my muscles to relax and lean close, lowering my voice. “Are we done?”

Adler pauses before nodding curtly, and I stand, sweeping my hair over my shoulder. As I stride for the door, Hayes speaks.

“Being loyal means nothing if he kills you.”

My hand wraps around the door handle, and I throw him a sweet smile. “Thanks for your concern. Next time, show it with a fruit basket.” I give him the finger and pull the door open.

Ranger stands. “Done?”

“So done,” I mumble, lacing my arm around his waist. “Can we go home?”

He kisses my temple and hovers his lips close to my ear. “We can slash some tires first if you like.”

The laugh that escapes me is real and loosens the knot in my chest, but it’s seconds before it tightens again, robbing me of breath and words.

Ethan strides toward us.

“Mr. Defender,” Adler says. “Thanks for coming in.”

I stare at Ethan, but he doesn’t meet my eye before going into the interview room.

Adler winks at me. “We’ll be in touch, Mrs. Ledger.”

He closes the door behind him.

Chapter 29

Ranger

Denver is quiet on the drive home, and I bite back everything I want to say. There will be no kindness in my words, no patience in my tone, and any conversation we have right now will erupt. It’s sparks to spilled gasoline, and we’ll both say something we regret.

So, I resist. I bite my fucking tongue. I do what she needs, and I act like a half-decent human being for once in my life, and it’s a bitter taste in my mouth, one I don’t dare swallow for fear it’ll become part of me.

Denver kicks off her shoes once we’re home and walks silently up the stairs. Wesson wiggles over to me, then follows Denver, and I watch her go. Still, I say nothing.

“It didn’t go well?” Martha asks from the archway to the living area.

I keep my eyes fixed on the stairs until Denver disappears from view. “It went fine.”

“Then why is she sulking?”

My hands close tightly over my keys. “I don’t know.”

There are two possible reasons. Either seeing Ethan has rattled her because she misses him—or because he knows the truth.

I don’t know which is worse.

Detective Sampson answers the phone after one ring.

“They brought him in because of some footage of him at Pulse,” Sampson says as I pull the refrigerator open, looking for nothing, just needing something to occupy my hands. “They think he might know something because he’s… well, it looks like?—”

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