Page 90 of Bolo's Curveball
“Hey. What’s up?” he asked, as he answered the phone.
“I’m about to get home. Can you meet me in the apartment?”
There was a heavy pause on the other line. “Yeah. We’re all here dealing with something and have been most of the morning. Is everything okay?”
“I…don’t know.” As far as I could tell no one had followed me home. But the hairs on the back of my neck were standing up and it sure felt like I was being watched. Bowers was trying to rattle me. I just didn’t fully understand why. Probably wanted me to give away information on the MC.
Even if he knew I was somehow involved with Bolo and the MC, how did that help him? I didn’t know anything about that fire. Or the break-in he was talking about. None of this made sense. My desire to strangle Bolo for—probably—starting that fire was overridden by Detective Creepy McCreeperson.
Parking the car, I let out a relieved breath when I saw Bolo leaning against his motorcycle, waiting for me. I should’ve figured he wouldn’t go up to the apartment to wait on me. I got out of the car and immediately stepped forward and wrapped my arms around him as he straightened up to his full height.
“Okay. What’s going on?” he asked, voice firm. He tightened his arms around me as he asked. “Something’s up.”
“I’ll explain it upstairs. I can’t shake the feeling that someone’s watching me.”
His brows slammed together as his gaze snapped over to the road, then scanned the property. He pulled his phone out of his pocket, tapped a button, and held it to his ear as he held me closer.
I burrowed in, enjoying the feeling of being safe in his arms. I didn’t want to admit it, but Bowers had worried me. He was a cop. It wasn’t like he was really a threat to me. But he was to the guys. To Bolo. My nervous system was alerting me that something was going to happen to Bolo and the club. My protective feelings were for more than just Bolo. The rest of thegroup was growing on me quickly, now that I lived here and saw them every day.
Drifter and Relay checked in on me every day. It was completely sweet, which I expected of Drifter, but had been a shock coming from Relay. I wasn’t sure Bolo knew his brother was doing that. I hadn’t mentioned it to him either, because I liked the quick little check ins from Relay. I had a feeling he was going to be a great brother-in-law. All of Bolo’s family was great. His mom had been calling and texting to check in on me, too.
She really was amazing. Between her, my own mom, and my sisters I knew that if I needed someone to talk to I had a huge circle of support I could go to. Not to mention Camila and Rue. And if Bolo wasn’t available I could always go to my dad, Bolo’s dad, his brothers, and his MC brothers. My support group was so huge it almost made my head spin.
I frowned as my mind drifted back to Bowers. It was just starting to occur to me that I wasn’t going to be able trust the police in the same way as I always had in the past. If something happened, and I needed help, I would need to depend on the MC just so that it didn’t bring the cops knocking on their door. That didn’t bother me at all, I realized. It was just new.
I didn’t necessarily have an issue with Bowers, other than the fact that if he got the chance he’d lock up my family. It was a weird position to be in, since I sometimes worked closely with law enforcement for my job. But as long as I stayed out of the messes the MC started, I wouldn’t need to feel bad for omitting things. Because I wouldn’t involve myself at all. It was the best I could do.
“Something’s wrong. Up the patrols on the perimeters. And time’s up for messing with that…stuff.” Bolo looked down at me before he kept speaking. “We need to move it now. I’ll be back over to help in about ten minutes.”
He disconnected the call and led me upstairs, his arm wrapped around my shoulders. Once we were securely inside the apartment, I let it all spill out. About Bowers. His investigation. What he’d said and implied.
He was silent as I spoke, his expression remaining neutral. I suspected that was what I looked like when Bowers had been talking to me. “Did your club set fire to that factory?”
He winced lightly. “It happened before I told you about the club. And then Iwasgoing to tell you about it, but then I found out you were the one investigating and figured you wouldn’t appreciate knowing that.”
I nodded. “Actually it was better I didn’t know. Especially if Bowers already thinks I’m somehow involved.”
“I’m not sure how he’s gotten that impression,” Bolo told me with a scowl. “He must be following you.”
“But why?” I asked, not at all surprised since that was the conclusion I’d come to as well.
He shrugged. “He thinks you can lead him to us.”
“Look.” I rubbed my forehead. “I’m not mad you didn’t tell me about the factory. Well, no, Iammad. Or Iwillbe. Or something, stupid hormones. Anyway, I get why you didn’t. But I’d really appreciate if you could give me a head’s up if you’re going to do something like that in the future, so that I can pass the investigation on to someone else. I don’t want to be investigating your guys’...activities.”
“Fair enough,” he said with a chuckle.
“Now.” I folded my arms over my chest. “I’d like to know everything.”
“Everything?”
“Why did you start that fire? Who was the pile of bodies? What happened at that apartment complex?”
When did a series of questions like that become so casual?
His lips twitched. “I guess I do owe you an explanation, huh? Come on.” He stood and held out one of his huge hands.
Eyeing him with suspicion, I took his hand and let him pull me to my feet. “Where are we going?”
