Page 23 of Beautiful Exile

“I’ll tell him you said that,” I called over my shoulder.

By the time I grabbed my gear bag and Brutus’s leash, Lolli had already taken off. I motioned him into Wanda’s cab and climbed in behind him. The leather seats were warm from the sun but not too hot, and I let the feeling skate over my skin as I started her up.

I drove into town a little faster than was strictly legal and hoped like hell one of Trace’s deputies didn’t pull me over. If they did, I’d never hear the end of it.

Downtown Sparrow Falls was the sort of picturesque you’d expect of a small town. Aged brick buildings held a mixture of restaurants, galleries, tourist shops, and other retail businesses. The town prided itself on the elaborate flower beds that dotted every corner of the main drag: Cascade Avenue.

Kye’s businesses weren’t on that main street. He’d chosen a spot off the beaten path in a slightly less perfect part of town. It felt like a conscious choice, part of how Kyler saw himself despite finding incredible success as a tattoo artist.

The fact that he also owned the mixed martial arts gym next door was less of a well-known fact. He liked to stay under the radar there, which made sense given what he’d gotten mixed up with in his teens. Kye also didn’t want the world to know what a tender heart he hid beneath all the ink. Which meant he didn’t advertise the fact that he also ran a youth program out of the gym.

I pulled into a parking spot next to a couple of motorcycles and Kye’s souped-up black truck with shadow detailing along the sides. I grinned at the difference between our vehicles. Hehatedthat I hadn’t fixed Wanda up.

I grabbed my phone out of the cupholder and saw a flurry of new texts.

Shep has changed the group name to Arden’s Next Victims.

I scowled at the screen. What the hell had I done now?

Shep

Apparently, Arden nearly made poor Linc bleed out on the floor of Kye’s gym.

I dropped my head, pinching the bridge of my nose. I’d thought I was safe from Linc spreading that little story around since it didn’t paint him in the best light, but apparently, he didn’t care about people knowing he’d gotten his ass handed to him by a girl.

Rhodes

You didn’t.

Cope

Kye, you need to up your umbrella insurance policy. I already called about mine.

Kye

We’ll never be able to afford enough coverage for Arden.

I let out a little growl of frustration and typed out a text.

Me

He barely even bled, you guys.

Fallon

YOU CUT HIM?!?!

The chat devolved into a series of stabbing GIFs, and I locked the screen, shoving the phone into my bag. Linc would pay for this. I wondered if there was a way for me to sabotage the hot water heater. Or maybe put pink dye in his showerhead.

A smile tugged at my lips at that image. Turning off my engine, Ihopped out and grabbed my bag, motioning for Brutus to follow. He loved going to the gym during regular business hours because he was a ho for all the pets he got. And everyone here loved him.

I slung my duffel over my shoulder and shut the door, locking it behind me. Then I headed for Haven. The moment I hauled open the door, the music hit me. I wasn’t talking about the rock playing over the speakers; thetruemusic was the sound of gloved hands hitting bags and mitts. It was a rhythm that managed to both soothe and excite. A familiar buzz lit in my muscles as I stepped farther inside.

The moment I moved deeper into the gym, Kye greeted me. “Way to go, killer,” he said, his lips twitching beneath his dark brown beard.

I flipped him my middle finger. “You guys are the worst.”

He smiled fully then, and I saw why women fell at his feet. The combination of the ink, the muscular frame, and that devastating grin were potent. “You mean thebest?”

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