Page 16 of Deceit & Desire

“My guess would be he did it to protect his only child because you and Missy had a huge, very public fight the day she died, a fight big enough that it would have put you right at the top of the suspect list if Missy’s death was investigated as a murder.”

Landon paused for a moment, as if trying to let his words sink in, and his gaze slid over to where Roman stood at my side. He’d gone as still as death, but he held Landon’s gaze as Landon plunged ahead.

“Not to mention that he didn’t want to lose his most loyal ranch hand, even if Roman was the reason you and Missy tied up for a fight.”

Chapter6

No Means No

PLAYLIST: ”BACK OFF BITCH” BY GUNS N’ ROSES

ROMAN

God…Landon could have kicked me right in the balls, and I wouldn’t feel as sick as I did at that moment. I could’ve gone my whole life without Landon bringing up that nasty little fact.

I didn’t need that reminder, and I damn sure didn’t need him to remind Zoe of it, just when we were starting to get on an even keel. The fact that I destroyed their lifelong friendship and never had the chance to set things right has haunted me all day, every day, since Missy died and Zoe left town.

Struggling to swallow the lump tightening my throat, I cleared it and held out my hand to Landon for a handshake. “Thanks for warning us, Deputy Blackwell. If you ever find yourself in a bind and in need of a hand, I’m only ever a phone call away.”

Landon took my hand and gave it a firm shake. “I’ll definitely keep that offer in my back pocket, just in case I ever need it.”

As Landon pulled away, Zoe reached out and laid her hand on his forearm, giving it a gentle squeeze as she peered up at him through her thick, dark eyelashes. “Can I just ask… why did you warn us?”

Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth, baby. Just say thank you so we can send Landon on his way already.

Landon chewed on the inside of his cheek for a second, pausing to scan our surroundings before he cleared his throat and spoke.

“To be perfectly honest, I don’t like how the odds seem to be stacked against you within the department. That doesn’t sit right with me. Besides… I don’t believe for a second that you killed your best friend, regardless of the fight.”

“Thank you, Landon. It does my heart good to hear you say that… it means a lot.” Zoe sagged with relief and offered Landon a sad little smile that made my chest ache. “And I hope you know that there’s no way in hell that Roman killed Missy, either. He might have stirred up a fight between us, but I know in my bones that he would never lay a finger on a woman in anger.”

“I wouldn’t have told you what I just told you if I didn’t have a gut feeling that you’re both innocent.” Landon looked up, spotting something behind us. He wrinkled his nose with distaste and jerked his chin in that direction. “Ugh. Fuckboy alert. I’m gonna head out and confront Mr. Michaelson with the video of his employee beating that horse.”

“Fuckboy?” Zoe frowned, glancing in the direction Landon had indicated, then waved a hand in dismissal. “Pfft. Cody’s a natural-born flirt, sure, but the guy is harmless.”

I looked over at Landon and rolled my eyes so hard it hurt. He just nodded his agreement and strode back over to his SUV, leaving me to wrestle with the bombshell he’d just dropped on us.

Worse than that, I was left to face the blonde-haired, blue-eyed all-American fuck-stick that had just ambled out of the bunkhouse, spotted Zoe, and ran over to sweep her up in a bear hug, spinning her around before setting her back on her feet.

“Holy shit! I haven’t seen you since you were a teenager headed off to college in Miami, Zoe. Now look at you… all grown up, to say the least.”

Zoe snorted and rolled her eyes, giving Cody’s arm a swat in the process. “I was gone for a decade, so of course I’m all grown up, goober.”

“That’s not what I meant, and you know it.” Cody grinned, flashing his perfectly straight white teeth. That smile was known to drop panties all over Blackwell, and it left me itching to punch him in the mouth.

I disliked Cody Jacobson’s lazy ass on a good day, but that dislike flared up into white-hot hatred as his hands drifted down and lingered on Zoe’s waist, just above the delicious curve of her hips.

I’m going to rip his arms off and beat him with them if he doesn’t get his hands off my girl in the next three seconds.

“Shut up.” Zoe gave Cody a playful shove, stepping out of his embrace and reaching back to grab my hand, lacing her fingers with mine.

I glared at Cody as I raised Zoe’s hand to my lips and kissed it, subtly showing off her engagement ring as I did so.

Cody’s gaze snagged on the emerald glinting in the morning sunlight and he cocked a brow at us in disbelief before turning his full attention back to Zoe.

“Does this mean you’re moving back to Twisted Creek Ranch for good, then?”

“What else would it mean?” Zoe arched a brow at him in challenge.

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