Page 63 of Cup of Lies

“Smart dog,” Stormy says with a laugh. “Copper insisted on getting her some treats.”

Sunshine’s tail starts wagging wildly at the mention of the treats. Stormy pulls out a bag and tosses it at me. I tear it open and feed a couple to Sunshine. It’s not the bacon she had for breakfast, but the dog doesn’t seem disappointed about it.

“There’s dog food in the back of the truck, too,” Stormy tells me. “Some stuff for Romy as well.”

“Thank you,” I tell her. “This means a lot.”

She shrugs as though it’s no big deal. “You somehow got yourself involved with the guys and we take care of our own.”

“Can I go swimming now?” Kaitlyn asks me, giving me her best puppy dog eyes. “Please, please, please.”

I chuckle because she’s cute as hell. “We have to feed Romy first.”

“Go ahead,” Stormy says with a grin. “I’ll get this sorted out and keep an eye on her.”

“You okay with that, Kaitlyn?”

She nods, grinning wide. After having spent some time with these people, I know they’re good despite their outward appearances.

Stormy helps Kaitlyn put everything back in the bags and the two of them go inside so she can get changed. Koyn makes his way over to my table, Filter by his side.

“The pool is popular with everyone around here,” he says. “These Oklahoma summers aren’t for the weak. I don’t know how people make it through July and August without a pool.”

He’s not wrong. It’s late morning, not quite noon, and hot as fuck. I’ll need another shower when I get back to the clubhouse. A dip in the pool does sound enticing.

“I didn’t ever say it,” I mutter, voice gritty with emotion, “but thank you. Thank you all for helping me get my girls out of there.”

They both nod as if it was nothing. But it was a lot more than nothing. This group of men worked together to help me reunite with Romy and Kaitlyn, and I’ll forever be grateful to them.

“It’s not without strings,” Koyn reminds me.

“I know. I’m prepared to do what’s necessary to pay my debt.”

“Good. Information and your skillset are what we need.”

“You have it.” I pause before asking the question that’s been plaguing me. “What happened to Portman’s body?”

Koyn pulls out another cigarette from his pack and lights up again. The smoke billows toward me, but I don’t wave it away, instead letting the scent of tobacco comfort me.

Why would it comfort me?

I have a brief flash of my dad smoking on the front porch when I was around Kaitlyn’s age. He hadn’t quit yet at that point in his life. I’d played with my toy trucks in the yard, watching him as he installed a swing for Mom. My chest tightens at the fond memory.

“Dragon torched the place,” Koyn reveals. “Any evidence that may’ve pointed to you or us is gone.”

I let out a relieved breath. “What about the facility?”

“Torched that too.” Koyn cracks his neck audibly before pinning me with a hard stare. “That other doctor wasn’t there.”

“Doc Junior. Huxley’s son.”

Koyn nods. “Spend time with your girls, but this evening, we’re going to talk about what happens next.”

Romy

Soft kisses on my belly wake me from my restful slumber. When I see a shock of dark hair instead of red, I’m immediately relieved and run my fingers through the silky strands.

Seth is gone.

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