“She give you a full statement?” he asked.
“We were finishing up. She needs to make some phone calls and I was about to call Krys or Lauren to come in and—”
“She’s gonna be with me.”
He felt Jussy’s head tip back and her eyes on the underside of his jaw but he didn’t take his from Keaton.
Chace gave him a long look and gave away nothing through it when he said, “Okay, then let’s finish this up ’cause we’ve had ice on her face and she needs rest but before that she needs to make some calls. This guy who did this to her was using her to send a message to someone else. Boys are gonna bring down her phone since it was her phone he used to send that message.” He paused and then went on warningly, “Now gonna say this and you need to keep keepin’ your shit, Deke.”
“I’m good, Keaton, just say it,” Deke bit out his lie, bracing for the worst.
Chace gave him another look before he nodded and said, “It was while he was strangling her that he made the call. Put the phone to her while he was choking her so they could hear. Threatened her and someone else. Boys got her phone. She gave us her password and we know he called a female friend of hers that’s had some trouble.”
He looked down at Jussy. “Bianca?”
Her lips trembled and she nodded.
“Fuck,” he grunted and turned his attention back to Keaton. “You know she’s famous.”
Jussy’s body got tight in his arms.
He held her closer.
Chace nodded. “It’s early but from what she’s shared, this isn’t about that. It’s about this Bianca. We got guys up at her house and the crime unit is headin’ up there now to see if he left us anything.” His voice changed, went cautious and he said, “He used gloves so we reckon no prints but she tore through during the struggle and got some of his skin. We got that.”
Tore through…got some of his skin.
Christ almighty.
Deke closed his eyes and hefted up Jussy so she was resting right against his heart, her head tucked under his chin.
He opened his eyes and ordered Chace, “Call Krys. She needs clothes and shit. Get your boys to let Krys do her thing at Jussy’s place. She’s comin’ with me to my trailer.”
Chace’s body shifted. “Deke, man, this guy gave her girl a week to pay whatever he’s owed and said he was comin’ back. Not thinkin’ the trailer is a good idea. It’s remote and easy to breach.”
“She won’t be alone.”
“She’ll be a lot less alone and a lot safer she stays with Tate and Lauren or Lexie and Ty. They both got security systems.”
Deke set his jaw and said, “She’s gonna be with me.”
“Deke—”
“Jonas ain’t a kid anymore but they’ve had enough shit, it came right to their front door, they don’t need more. So Tate and Laurie are out. You know the same with Ty and Lexie and they do got kids, little ones and a lot of those fuckers. So it’s gonna be the trailer.”
Jussy was still trembling and his words made her do it more so Deke started stroking her back.
“Deke, dammit—” Chace started.
Deke cut him off. “You got the resources, keep a unit at the trailer. I don’t give a fuck. Won’t matter, I’ll talk to the crew and they’ll take shifts, keeping an eye. But she barely knows Tate and Laurie and I don’t think she’s even met Ty and Lexie. She needs to be with me.”
“I want to be with Deke.”
That came from Jussy.
Her voice didn’t sound right, scratchy and hoarse, and Deke checked it, hearing that too.
He made no response physically or verbally to Chace. He just stared at his friend to make his point.
Chace looked from Deke to Jussy and his face got soft. “Right, Justice. Whatever way you want it. We’ll do our best to put Deke’s trailer on patrol and if we can, keep units out there.” He looked to Deke. “Need you on speed dial, man, and you get the crew set up. Haven’t been to her house so I don’t know what we’re working with, professional or somethin’ else. Glass shattering says something else. Professional would get in another way and that’s the one bit of good news we got so far. But I gotta see. In the meantime, you don’t take any chances and we’ll have an unmarked follow you when you go, keep a look out to see if…”
He trailed off but Deke got him.
Whoever did this to her might have eyes on her. If they had an unmarked following them to Deke’s trailer, they’d spot a tail.
“Tate won’t get made,” Deke told him.
“Then I’m callin’ Krys and I’m callin’ Tate,” Chace replied and his gaze dropped to Jussy. “Justice, I’m gonna step out. Make a few calls. Sort a few things. Then we can let you go and you can get home with Deke. Once we process it, I’ll give you your phone before you go and I need you to make your calls and give me anything you got. Right?”
“I remember the plan, Lieutenant Keaton,” she said quietly.
Chace nodded.
“You keep a lid on this,” Deke demanded and got Chace’s attention back.