Page 83 of Until Ace

“It was Jim.”

“What?” I bark. “Explain.”

“He was the one who got to your witness.”

Fuck. Me.

“He waited for the shift change.” Nico takes a breath. “And, man, he waited for over a week before he got lucky.”

At least one sliver of good news—our cops aren't dirty.

“He was in and out in three minutes. Five minutes after he left, your man was in the wind.”

"Did you find the witness?"

“Yeah.” Nico sighs, and I know it's not good news.

“Is he breathing?”

“Not for at least two weeks.”

“Fuck!” The word explodes out of my mouth. “Do you know if Jim’s the one who did him?”

Acid fills my mouth just asking the question. I’ve never met the man, and based on all the things I’ve learned about him, he’s not someone I want in my life. Still, he’s Mandy’s brother, and no matter how much the asshole hurt her, used her, and tried to degrade her worth, she still loves him.

She’s still willing to go balls to the wall for him. It’s taking all my abilities to fucking keep her away from Pleasure Den so she won’t try to have a chit-chat with fucking Gorskiy again.

“Yeah.” Nico sighs in my ear, and I focus back on what he’s saying. “But, brother, that’s not all.”

Goddammit!

“Give it to me,” I demand with a sigh of my own. I’m so tired of this bullshit.

By the time Nico’s done with his briefing, I’m in my car, speeding toward the dealership and Mandy.

Mandy

“Hey,” I say, answering my phone with a smile. It’s been five days since our heart-to-heart. I was scared that when that day came, all I shared with Ace would finally clear his head and would change his mind about me.

But each day has been even better than the one before it.

We’ve gone out to dinner, taken a walk in town, and had just our normal everyday routine of being together.

There wasn’t anything happening that would send me over the bend from my vain effort to save my brother, and my mother mercifully left me alone.

I know it’s what I want, but still, I can’t help but feel hurt.

But being with Ace, just the two of us, has been pure bliss.

“Where are you?” The tone of his voice makes my smile drop.

“At work,” I reply and look around. “What’s going on?”

“It was Jim,” he says urgently.

Dread fills me. “What was Jim?”

Oh God, what did he do now?