Page 143 of With Us

The latest asshole had the uniform right, but he’d left his van in the back alley with the keys in it. He’d likely assumed no one would be checking things out.

He’d assumed wrong.

Another layer of guilt landed on my shoulders, heavier than the last.

Since it was doubtful anyone had it out for a former workaholic barista, it was a safe bet it was Dahlia’s connection to me that’d put her in danger.

And since I sure as fuck wasn’t about to give her up, that left me one option.

Find the motherfucking rat who was behind all this and make him pay in a way that made it clear.

No one fucks with us.

Chapter Twenty

Toe the Line

Dahlia

Stretching, my eyes remained closed as I inhaled deeply. Theo’s scent hit me, settling the vague unease lurking in the back of my tired mind.

I opened my eyes and rolled onto my side, but the bed was empty. For the first time in over a month, however, I hadn’t slept alone. Catching sight of the clock, I did a double take. It was after ten.

The day before, Niall had driven me home. When pacing the room had grown old, I’d taken a bath to rinse the stench of hospital off me. I’d climbed into bed with Gus to watch some TV around six, but must have fallen asleep.

I’ve slept more in the last week than I have in the last three years combined.

Climbing out of bed, I felt grimy and tender. As much as I wanted to find Theo, I needed a shower first. Maybe I was just prolonging the inevitable, but I stayed in the hot shower longer than necessary, gathering my thoughts.

When the water began to turn cold, I dried off and pulled on some leggings, a long tank, and a hoodie before heading into the bedroom. The TV was on, the volume low. I looked around for Theo, but found only Gus sprawled on the bed.

“Hey, fella, catching up on current events?” I scratched behind his ear as he rolled to reveal the remote under his fluffy belly.

“… after Senator Larson’s suicide shocked the political world.”

I turned toward the TV so fast I nearly twisted my ankle. Very little was being said, the focus more on the new nominees. However, an old campaign photo of the senator took up half the screen. His date of birth and date of death were stamped across the bottom of the picture.

It could have been a coincidence that he’d died the day before Theo had turned himself in. I knew it wasn’t, though. To my soul, I knew.

Senator Larson hadn’t committed suicide.

Theo was responsible.

Directly or not, I wasn’t sure. But I was going to find out.

I made my way down the steps on trembling legs. Anticipation surged through me as I mentally reviewed all I wanted to ask.

When I got downstairs, I turned, only to halt when I saw Theo, Luc, and Gabe sitting in the living room.

They all stood, everyone but Theo gathering their things. They said something, likely their goodbyes, but I didn’t hear.

As the door closed behind me, Theo stepped forward.

And I stepped back.

Guilt and pain slashed across his features, his voice a harsh plea. “Dahlia.”

He tried again, but I took another step back and held my hand out to stop him. His jaw clenched, but he stayed in place.

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