Page 126 of Wicked Ends
“I know all about the sister-in-law and your niece, don’t worry,” I said immediately when I answered.
She let out a long breath. “Okay, so, what now?”
“Now, we go and get them out safely. That’s where the money went your brother says you stole went, right? All the money he wanted back? You didn’t have it because you gave everything to them, so they could run away and start a new life. You didn’t keep anything for yourself?”
I already knew the answer, but I needed the confirmation that my birthday girl really was that selfless. Of course she was. She picked up other people’s trash off the street and worried about everyone.
God, I loved her. She was rare, and precious, and I’d nearly let my bullheaded, self-destructive tendencies take her away from me.
“They needed it more,” she said.
“Sure, except they weren’t the ones living in a motel, subsisting off scraps?—”
“Marcus, what’s happening now?” she interrupted, clearly frustrated that she wasn’t closer.
Maddox and Gage had also dismounted as the rest of the guys pulled up and parked. We walked toward the house. The front curtains were shut. According to a quick internet search, this was a vacation rental. Luckily, there had been lots of photos inside and out, so we knew the entrance points and possible escape routes.
“I’m going around back,” I said to Maddox.
He nodded.
“Meet you in there.”
“If you get to the brother first, remember…” I stared at him meaningfully.
“He’s yours,” Maddox agreed.
He’d hurt my girl. Tonight was his reckoning.
“Where are you going?” Ari whispered in my ear. Her nerves were palpable over the phone. “Don’t underestimate Dale. He’s stronger than he looks and he has a gun.”
“So do I. Don’t worry,”
“Don’t do anything you’ll regret!” Ari cried.
I could imagine her agonizing over the perceived sacrifice she thought I was making for her. Tarnishing my good, upstanding soul.
My sweet girl thought the best of me. It was adorable. What she hadn’t realized yet was that there was nothing I wouldn’t do for the people I loved.
“When it comes to you, Ari, I have one regret, and that’s being a possessive dickhead and making sure everyone knows that we’re together by showing those photos in the presentation. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t regret letting everyone know, but I do regret letting anyone see you so intimately. That view is for me and me only.”
Ari drew in a breath. “You showed those pictures because—I went to breakfast with Wade?”
“Mm-hmm, desperate, wasn’t it? I swear I could feel you slipping through my fingers…”
“I thought it was because you thought I’d given the bag away and you wanted to hurt me.”
I swallowed the blow that her soft voice gave to my heart and nodded, then remembered she couldn’t see me.
“That, too. In my world, it’s always hurt, or be hurt. I’m sorry I hurt you. I’m sorry I disappointed you. I’m making it up to you, starting now.”
“You don’t need to make anything up to me. I lied to you. I played around with the bag—Marcus, I don’t blame you for anything.”
“But you haven’t forgiven me, have you? You don’t think we can go back to before… I can tell by your voice. I put a wall between us.”
She was quiet for a long second. I moved around the house and took in the back exit. There was a small garden, surrounded by a railing that was easy enough to jump. Inside the garden, I snuck forward, jamming my phone between my shoulder and ear. In the house, a loud bang sounded.
“I’ve got to go, beautiful. Let’s talk this out in person.”
