Page 131 of Salvaged Hearts

“Oh, come on, Dad, I’mten,” she stated with a teenager’s scowl on her face.

“Just for tonight,” he allotted. “Ifyour aunt is okay taking you home.”

Grinning, Alice’s amused eyes met mine. “Fine by me. Can you convince Uncle Grey to join us?”

“Please,Uncle Grey?” Mattie begged, batting her eyes in an adorably awkward attempt to win me over. Before I could answer, I spotted Luke, who leaned against the threshold. He dipped his chin, and I sighed.

Squeezing Mattie and Alice each in one arm, I said, “You three go. I’ll be right behind you. I’ve just got something to take care of.”

Narrowing her eyes with comedic accusation, Alice teased, “Nothing too exciting, I hope.”

“Nah, just a friend,” I assured, nodding to Luke as he moved into the space, weaving through Rhodes siblings as they funneled out into the hallway. She sighed theatrically but pressed a kiss to my cheek.

“Five minutes,max, Mr. Hart,” she demanded, tone mimicking scolding.

Laughing, I kissed the top of her head before unwinding my hold on her, then tracking the three of them as they headed outhand-in-hand, turning sideways dramatically to fit through the doorway. A smirking Jax stalked after them.

“Hart,” Luke said by way of greeting.

“Rivera,” I returned, studying the cautious purse to his lips. He seemed to sense my scrutiny, quick to poker up. “What can I do for you?”

“I got a question for you, and I don’t think you’re going to like it.”

“Fuck,” I growled. “What now?”

“How well do you know Royce Ashcroft?”

28

Stay With Me

GREYSON

I blinked at a deeply concerned detective. His jaw set, Luke furrowed his brow.

“Royce?” I shook my head as the blood in my veins turned to ice. “Justleft withmy wife,Royce? We’re friends with him and Miranda.”

“Has he ever spoken about his mother?”

“Haven’t exactly delved into family history.” When his expression gave nothing away, my brows pinched.

“I was a little worried about that. Royce results from an affair, Greyson. Mrs. Ashcroft adopted him legally, but it has always been a point of contention for their family, according to his father.”

“I don’t understand,” I admitted, although some rabid animal was burrowing into my gut.

“I was afraid of that,” Luke said, palming at his jaw. “Grey, we’re unearthing a lot of history in this interrogation, and Odessa said something the first day that tipped me off.She’shismother,Greyson. Neal covered the whole thing up to save face on his climb for power, but his newlywed bride was out of thepublic eye for nearlya yearright after the wedding. Ashcroft announced the birth of his son before she returned.”

“That proves nothing,” I countered. Although it would give her just enough time to deliver her baby and get back into normal clothes if she wasn’t preoccupied with a newborn.

“No. But my interview with Daniel Ashcroft today does. He and Royce are recently estranged. Did he tell you that? Said Royce was resentful of being pried away from his biological mother.”

“Why didn’t I know about any of this?” I growled more to myself than to him, making a beeline for the exit as he rushed to follow.

The fucker was a friend. Or the closest thing I had to one, aside from Jax and my brother. His mild-mannered wife had beenhystericalwhen Alice was attacked. It made little sense.

“Where are you going?” Luke barked as I rushed out the door.

“Hejustleft,” I growled over my shoulder. “I need to catch up to Alice and Mattie.”

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