Page 25 of Petty's Crime

Her closet and drawers have been emptied, but neatly so there are piles of clothes on the bare mattress. Noticing she’s keeping her feet well away from the void under the bed, I open the suitcase that someone had obviously gotten out for her and open it myself, running my hands around the lining to reassure her.

The courage with which she had entered seems to have deserted her, and she stands still as a stone. She’s completely white, shivering, with her hands wrapped around herself. Knowing she’s nearing panic mode, I take over.

I wave my hand toward the contents of one of the drawers. “What do you want from here?”

She tells me, then I indicate the wardrobe. Likewise, I follow her called-out instructions as I go into the bathroom. Soon, the suitcase is full, and I can get her out of there.

Although she’s anxious to get out, RoseLyn takes each step cautiously, freezing after each. She’s hyperventilating, her eyes going everywhere. It’s slow progress and takes a lot of encouragement and my repeated assurances my brothers have cleared the house for her, but eventually, we step outside into the bright sunlight.

Once there, I place my hand to the small of her back and she jumps into the air, then swings around, her face now coloured with embarrassment.

“My skin is crawling,” she explains, rubbing her hands up and down her arms.

I can understand that. The hairs on the back of my neck had risen the entire time we’d been in the house. “Come, I’ll take you to the hotel.” I walk her to the car and get her settled inside. Once I’ve closed the door, I notice Cobra beckoning me to one side.

“You’re taking her?”

I nod, noticing the set to his jaw. “You got something to say about that?” I raise a brow.

He scowls. “I like her, Brother. And I don’t know that you’re the best man…”

“For what?” Now both brows reach my hairline.

Cobra clenches his teeth. “She needs support and you won’t give her that.”

“And you will?”

Cobra sighs. “She doesn’t like you—”

I slash my hand through the air. “I don’t give a damn whether she likes me or not. I’m here to do a job. And yeah, she’s just had a shock, but she’s a grownup and doesn’t need to be handled with kid gloves.”

Cobra throws up his hands. “You better be prepared to answer to Red if you push her too far and lose the job for us.”

“And we’ll fuckin’ lose this job and all others after it if anything happens to her.” I try not to let my impatience show. RoseLyn seems to have all my brothers wrapped around her little finger. Luckily, I’m immune to her.

With a shake of his head and a glance which clearly says,on your head, be it,Cobra stalks off.

I go to the car, start the engine and head into Vegas. A sideways glance shows while her eyes are still red, she’s got a little more colour in her face.

“You going to sing tonight?” I ask, brusquely.

Her eyes come to mine. If she’s looking for me to show my sympathy, she won’t see it. I’m validated it’s the best approach when she draws back her shoulders. “Of course. I can’t take a night off.” She pauses, then adds, “And however I feel, I’m not letting him win.”

Good girl,I think quietly. “You think you not going on stage is what he wants?”

She shrugs as she considers my question. “I don’t know what the fuck he wants. But it’s likely, isn’t it?”

I hate myself as soon as the words leave my mouth, but somehow can’t stop them coming out. “What the fuck did you do to make him hate you so much?”

CHAPTERNINE

RoseLyn

What?

I try to remind myself that I’d missed Petty while he’d been gone, but for the life of me, I can’t think of the reason. It must be a form of self-flagellation as now he’s sitting beside me, he’s riling me up all over again.

It’s not that there’s anything inherently wrong with the question he’s just thrown at me, but it’s the way that he’s asked it, as if I’m truly in the wrong.

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