Page 129 of Axe-identally Married
A surge of love for her tore through me as she bossed my brothers around, making phone calls and forcing me to hydrate. I’d spent my life looking for this. My person. Someone who didn’t look at me like I was a disappointment. Someone who believed in me even when I wasn’t at my best.
Silently, I thanked those Bellagio dice. Because with one roll, I’d won this fierce woman.
Several glasses of water and four pieces of toast later, I was beginning to feel more like myself. Finn was asleep on the couch, Gus had gone home to Chloe, and Jude was making scrambled eggs in the kitchen.
When the phone rang, Willa answered and immediately paced the room, asking questions in doctor’s speak.
When she hung up and looked at me, her features had hardened.
“Flunitrazepam,” she said, shaking her head.
“In English, please?” Jude asked.
“Cole was dosed with a benzodiazepine to make him sleepy and confused.”
“You got roofied?” Finn asked, almost rolling off the couch.
“I fucking knew it,” she said, stomping her foot. “Those fuckers are going to pay.”
My thoughts were still jumbled and foggy. Why would someone drug me?
“The good news is, it was a small dose. Well, it was probably a dose that would have done damage to the average person, but luckily, you’re a giant. God, the existence of this shit makes me insane.”
“What does this mean?” Finn asked.
“Cole was set up,” Willa said, snapping her fingers at Jude. “Call Parker. Tell her we need to get in touch with the FBI.”
When he hesitated, she glared at him until he abandoned his eggs and grabbed his phone.
“You,” she said, pointing at me. “Hydrate more. Your liver is angry right now, and you’re going to be feeling sick for a while.”
“What about me?” Finn asked.
“Call your ex. We need a good lawyer.”
“I like this one.” Finn gave me a wink. “Bossy. Reminds me of my Adele.”
Snarling at him, she strode across the room, headed for me. When she got close, I pulled her into my lap, kissing her head and whispering thank-yous in her ear.
“You were set up.” She shook her head.
It was because of the watch. I knew it. “I think it may have been Chief Souza.”
Her mouth dropped open. “Because we saw him the other night during the blizzard?”
“Yes. And because I went to his office yesterday and asked him point-blank about the watch.”
Her eyes widened. “Shit.”
My brain was fuzzy and aching, but I knew in my bones the chief was involved. Whatever we’d stumbled upon that night during the storm, it was something he did not want known. And the look on his face when I identified the watch only made it more clear he was up to something.
So this was how he planned to get me out of the way.
Willa closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “We will fight this,” she said under her breath.
“Parker is on her way,” Jude reported.
“Good.” Willa snapped up straight. “We’re gonna need the FBI too. And probably the whole damn town.”
