Page 34 of Lies Beneath Secrets

“You were drugged,” he blurts out when he gets away from me. It’s such a random thing to say that I hardly comprehend he just said it.

“Drugged? What do you mean? The night we?—”

“No.” He holds up his hand. “God, no. I meant last night. That’s why I’m here. I ran into you at the club. You drank some water that was tampered with,” he explains.

“Piper?” Panic rolls through me. “Is she?—”

“She’s fine. You passed out, and I brought you back here. Your body didn’t like whatever was in that bottle. You were vomiting quite a bit, which made you dehydrated, so I got you hooked to an IV, then gave you some anti-nausea medicine with that. I haven’t seen anything like it, someone unconscious and hurling like that. I didn’t want to leave your side… you know, just in case.” Thanking him for keeping me alive should be the next thing out of my mouth but suddenly, I remember that I have a job. One that I needed to work a closing shift for.

“How long have I been asleep?”

“It’s been a day and a half. I stopped by the diner and talked to your boss. You still have a job,” he says. I suck in a deep breath and walk over to the couch to drop down into the cushions.What would have happened if Conner weren’t there? Would I’ve ended up missing like that girl did? Would Piper have? I open my mouth to tell him thank you for looking out for me and Piper, but his words snuff out any gratitude I have in this moment.

“I don’t want you going out anymore. Especially not to that club.”

“What?” I turn around to find him still in the same place by the door, arms crossed over his chest. Why does that slight smattering of facial hair make him seem so much more appealing?

“It’s not safe,” he says, matter of fact. It’s not like I go out and party every night. But for some reason, telling me I can’t only makes me want to stand my ground.

“Look, I get you’re trying to be nice and look out for me, and I’m grateful for everything you did for me and Piper. But telling me I can’t go out anymore? It’s none of your business what I do.” I let out a frustrated groan and lie back into the couch cushion. My head still kind of hurts.

“Get pissed off all you want, Lauren,” he says, coming over closer to me. “If I see you out painting the fucking town red in a dress like you were wearing last night again, I’ll spank your ass so fucking hard, you won’t know where the fucking dress ends and you begin.” He doesn’t shout, but his tone is steady and authoritative, enough to make me shrink back a little. Only for a moment though. When he walks toward the door, I stand up from the couch.

“You cannot just ditch me, then come back a week later and tell me what I can and can’t do.” The grin that slowly grows on his face sends a shiver through me that lands right between my legs. Damn it. My body is a fucking traitor.

“Oh, Lauren.” He chuckles a little. “Watch me.”

CHAPTERTHIRTY-THREE

Con

I left Lauren to stew over me telling her she can’t go out anymore. I doubt she’ll obey such a demand, especially from me, but it sure as hell was fun to piss her off in that moment. The way she got so heated and pushed back turned me on just a little bit. The fire in that woman will be the death of me. “This is either the stupidest idea in the world or fucking genius.” Pace leans back against the wall of an old, abandoned building. We’re outside of town where an old mill used to be until it burnt down ten years ago. Now all that’s left is a small shack that must have been used for an office or something. The fall has pushed its way in at full force, and the days are getting colder and shorter. Riding our bikes is nearly coming to an end for the year. There will only be a handful of good days left until the snow flies.

“We’re about to find out,” Knox says and stands a little straighter as a lone white single cab truck pulls up to where we are. We all stand ready as Shane Heinz steps out of the truck. Out of his uniform, the man still is stacked.

“Fucker looks like he shops at the Baby Gap,” Pace mumbles, then straightens up as well.

“You wanted to talk. Let’s talk.” Shane crosses his thick arms over his massive chest. Does this guy do anything other than lift weights? I’m a fit guy, but I sure as hell don’t have that kind of muscle. The gray in his hair and beard shows he’s got to be a little older than I am.

“You and Boe had an understanding,” I start and before I can continue, he holds up his hand.

“Understanding is putting it loosely. The investigation of his death?—”

“Murder,” Pace corrects Shane, who tilts his head to the side, then nods.

“The investigation of his murder,” he corrects and gives Pace a side eye before he continues, “Hasn’t gotten too far because no one is cooperating. Is this meeting because you want to cooperate?”

“No. We know what happened to him, and it will be dealt with by the club,” Knox boldly states, getting a huff from Shane.

“Is that really something you want to discuss with a police officer?”

“I don’t see one at the moment.” Knox locks his gaze on Shane. “Right now, you’re either an enemy, or you’re an ally. This meeting is to determine which one, because right now? We’re in need of the latter. If that’s something we can count on, we can work together to get fentanyl out of our town. I know damn sure it’s making a comeback after Boe was killed.” Shane regards Knox for a moment, then looks my way.

“Where does Lauren fit into any of this?” he asks, catching me off guard.

“She doesn’t.”

“So, you just happened to move in across the hall from her on sheer coincidence?” My hands fist together, and I force myself back a step instead of toward him.

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