“I made a vow, Lexie.” Jennie carefully placed the envelope on the table. “Even though I did get divorced, I’ve never felt divorced. And I wouldn’t normally tell you, but I believe his letter. I believe you’re in danger, and I think you should go speak with him.”
Betrayal coated Lex’s throat. Her mother had been communicating with her father for years, and she’d had no clue. “Oh, I’ll go see him, all right.” She’d let the bastard know exactly what would happen if he ever bothered Jennie again.
“Be nice, Lexie.” Jennie brushed thick curls over her shoulder. “Try to remember the good times. He read to you every night.”
“Before he sold poison on our streets.” Before he’d been taken away, and they’d lost their home. Even her new stereo had been confiscated and probably sold at auction. “We ended up penniless.” And scared. More important, they’d ended up alone.
“I know.” Jennie leaned forward. “Please say you’ll go talk to him. Just in case.”
“I promise.” The talk wouldn’t go nearly as well as Jennie hoped, however. “Did you tell him how to find Tori?” Lex asked.
“No.” Jennie’s mouth pursed. “I’d never do that.”
Yeah, Lex didn’t figure she would, but that just meant their dad had good connections in the outside.
A physical therapist in light blue scrubs turned around the corner and moved their way, his eyes bright, and his movements graceful. “Jennie? It’s time for therapy. Whoo-hoo.”
Jennie giggled and gestured toward Lex. “John, this is my daughter, Lexie. She’s a homicide cop.”
John wiggled dark eyebrows under dark hair. Handsome and clean-cut, he appeared to be in his early twenties. “I’ve heard. So nice to meet you.”
“You, too.” Lex leaned over and dropped a kiss on her mom’s forehead. “I’ll be back tomorrow night. And don’t worry—I’ll take care of the other issue.” Reaching under Jennie’s arm, she helped her to her feet, while John positioned her walker.
Jennie smiled. “My strength is coming back, and I feel like I’m going into remission again. Yay.”
Thank goodness. Lex waited until John had escorted her mother from the room before heading for the door. Her phone rang just as she reached her car. Seeing it was Bernie, she answered, “Hi, Sexy.”
He chortled. “You’re funny. But I have news that ain’t gonna make you laugh.”
She sighed and rested her head on the car. “God. What?”
“Got the info on Duck. Guess who bailed him out and picked him up personally the other night. Two hours before he ended up dead?”
Lex swallowed, her heart leaping into fast-paced action. “Who?”
“None other than smooth Irish boy, himself. Kellach Dunne.”
Son of a bitch. “I’ll call you later.” She hung up and jumped into the car. She’d kill the bastard.
Chapter 15
An eerie silence enveloped the large garage and surrounding buildings at Titans of Fire, and even the black asphalt seemed harsher than usual. Lex shuddered. The line of bikes under the garage’s eves showed that at least a few of the thirty or so Fire members were on site at the compound.
Bernie had found Pyro at a local watering hole to make the notification of Duck’s death. Was it only the previous night that Lex had stood over Duck’s burned body? Apparently Pyro had turned to tequila instantly, his eyes wet.
Lex was supposed to be getting some sleep before reaching out to Kellach, but she knew he wouldn’t talk to Bernie, and there was no way she could sleep right now. It was her one chance to find out what was going on and get Kell to tell the truth about his bailing out Duck. “This is such a fucking bad idea,” she muttered while stepping up to the heavy steel door.
But if she had to arrest him, she would. She was trained, she was fast, and she was pissed.
Even so, if he fought back, it’d be a hell of a fight. Could she take him? Chills cascaded down her back in direct contrast to the fury spiraling heat through her every nerve.
Would he fight her, or would he call Simone? If Lex approached him just right, perhaps he’d be too confident to call his lawyer. The second that woman got involved, the investigation would stall again.
She lifted her hand to knock, hoping Pyro didn’t answer, and the door opened.
Kellach blinked, obviously on his way out. “Detective?”
She swallowed. He’d thrown on faded jeans, badass boots, a T-shirt that stretched over powerful muscles, and his cut . . . tough black leather. His dark hair was ruffled around his shoulders, and he’d neglected to shave, leaving his jaw stubbled and making him look even more like a bad boy created just for sin.
“I need you to come down to the station for a few questions.” No way could she handle him one on one. She had to keep it professional and forget the amazing night of almost sex she’d just had.
What the hell had she been thinking?
He looked over her head toward her car. “No backup?”
“No. I thought I could get the truth from you better alone.” She took a step back. How had she forgotten how large he was? How solidly formed?