Page 71 of Triple Power Play 3
“The most stable I’ve ever seen him was in New York. It’s not me or Charlie. It’s LA fucking with his head. It’s sad to say, but the best thing Kyle did was send him to boarding school.”
Focused on his phone, he says, “We’re both committed to this team for two more years.” A smirk plays on his lips. “And you know he hates the snow.”
Then, it hits me—the reason behind Jax’s paranoia and why I am unable to resign.
I blow out a heavy breath. “I can’t quit right now, and you don’t want me to.”
Ethan peers over at me, his brows pinched in question.
“Kyle’s former partner, Hugo, still works for the LAPD.”
He sets his phone down, his eyes darkening. “Fuck.”
“It gets worse. He made police chief a week before Kyle’s death. He’s one of the highest paid in the country—nearly twice as much—petitioned and approved by the board of police commissioners.”
“Meaning Kyle.”
I nod. “We’re investigating him and the LAPD, but…”
“It’s a long and corrupt process,” he answers.
“Hugo likely knows about me. Kyle, or someone using Kyle’s phone, sent pictures of us in New York to an untraceable number. Given the threatening text toward Aurora, Hugo’s afraid Jax will talk. I have a hunch Kyle kept the LAPD away from Jax?—”
“Yeah, because if he were arrested, Kyle would lose his paycheck.”
I lean in and lower my voice. “Here’s my worry: Jax tipped off and blackmailed Kyle to prevent us from using Aurora as bait. Kyle warned his partner, who wanted Jax silenced. Kyle refused because he wouldn’t get a dime of Jax’s inheritance if Jax wasn’t alive, especially with the baby’s paternity in question.”
Ethan’s eyes widen, and his tone deepens. “So they got Kyle out of the way once he was no longer needed.”
“Exactly, and I can only protect Jax and Aurora by being employed with an agency that outranks the LAPD.”
31
AURORA
Ethan steps between my knees and takes my face in his hands. Stormy-gray eyes bore into mine. “You and I are gonna have a talk.”
I slide my fingers under his shirt and wrap my legs around his waist. “I missed you today.”
“Don’t suck up to me.” His voice drops low and stern. “I need you to be safe, Aurora.”
That deep scowl between his brows tells me he’s serious and stressed out, which only makes me double down on the love and humor to cheer him up.
I hook my ankles at the small of his back and press our bodies together. “Jax, did you measure these counters? They’re the perfect height.”
My husband, working at the stove behind us, snorts.
Ethan shakes his head, not even a hint of a smile. “Who’s in charge here?”
“You are, and I love you.” I trace the firm, defined lines of his abdominal muscles, the heat of his skin radiating under my touch. “We’d fall apart without you. Truly.”
He weaves his fingers into my hair and tugs my head back. “How about I add to your punishment every time you attempt to mollify me, brat?”
“I quite enjoy every punishment you give, so sure.”I know the punishment is coming either way. Might as well make it fun, right?
He cocks a threatening brow. “Really? Do you enjoy it when I sleep elsewhere?”
Nope, that’s not fun. That’s the opposite of fun.
