Page 116 of Bishop's Queen

Jay.

Her eyes rounded, and she dropped her chin, staring at the floor, shocked. Where had that come from? Sure, she was mad as hell at him. He’d lied to her, played games with her, and he’d clearly crossed the line about Bishop and with Tara. But never had she once thought Jay was creeping on her, not even in the back of her mind.

“Ella?” Locke pushed.

She pulled her gaze off the floor and sought comfort in Bishop’s eyes. His stare wasn’t entirely what she needed. Or maybe it was. Fiercely protective and equally angry, the man wanted vengeance and blood. He wanted to make the hell she’d been through stop and wipe away her suffering. Amazing, she got that all from a glance.

“Fuck, I thought so,” Bishop growled. Fury flexed in his jaw. Even the way he breathed flared his nostrils with hostile intention. If Jay had been within a thousand-yard radius, Ella would’ve been worried for his life.

“The FBI is all over Seneca, but whatever you just thought,” Locke said, his tone as serious as Bishop’s face, “you tell Angie Byrd if you won’t tell us.”

Years of happy memories, tough times, hard work, and future goals disappeared as she fought to find the simple words. During the last hours spent under hospital observation, she’d been fine. Now, Ella shook like a lavender sprig in a summer storm.

“It’s Jay, isn’t it?” she whispered.

They remained silent, but their menacing, hardened features said her opinion matched theirs. Bishop had pushed her to question Jay before, and she had pushed back. Locke, though, had no reason to pull a jealous-ex-boyfriend card, and truly, neither did Bishop. He wanted her safe. She knew that. He wasn’t the jealous type. A man like that needed no comparison and had no competitors.

Ella had to realize Jay was the problem on her own, but it took Manny’s injury to open her eyes. Hot tears slipped free. “I need to talk to Agent Byrd now.”

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