Chapter 15 Zach
ZACH
Istayed as still as possible. I’d quickly figured out where the floor creaked and where I could safely stand and listen to everything that went on downstairs.
I’d watched from a window as Remington talked to the police.
The man I’d wanted to take down forever, Remington Theriot, was right there. But now, I was on his side. Kind of.
What could I do anyway? There was nothing I could charge him with.
He left no trail at any crime site, and he had plenty of friends in the NOPD, in the government, in other criminal organizations.
He’d been untouchable for years, and I sure as hell wasn’t going to reel him in now.
As much as I’d like to do that, I wanted Ivanov a lot more.
I listened as the paramedics examined Rafe’s hand and let out a long breath when they said the burn didn’t need anything but basic care. They gave him some antibiotic cream and fresh bandages. I would make sure Rafe followed all their instructions.
Then I realized what that implied. What was wrong with me? I wasn’t his nanny. Why was I so concerned about him?
He’s your partner. He’s your way in.
Right. He was part of the job. That’s all this was. I was playing a role for a job. Except now Rafe knew my name, and I knew what it felt like to have his lips around my dick.
When the paramedics left the house, I returned to the window.
The firefighters were packing up their trucks, and only a couple of uniformed officers remained on the scene.
I watched as a sleek black car parked in front of the house.
Two men got out, and I recognized them as Lorenzo and Dante, Rafe’s brothers.
That was a lot of Theriots in one spot. I should be nervous as hell.
I should be planning how to escape out of one of the windows and get the hell out of there, but I was busy worrying about Rafe.
Instead of fleeing or finding a secure hiding place, I crept back toward the stairs and positioned myself so I could hear whatever the men had to say to Rafe.
“What the fuck is going on, and who stole one of our cars last night?” I guessed the question came from Lorenzo.
Great, so they’d already pulled surveillance footage. “A guy I hooked up with, and he didn’t steal it. I offered it to him.”
“Then why the hell was he chasing you?”
“It was just a game,” Rafe insisted.
“A game?”
“I thought we didn’t kink shame in this family.” I bit my lip to keep from laughing. Rafe really was as impossible with his family as he was with me.
“It was a fun game for him to hot-wire a car and chase you through the city?” That question must have come from Dante, the professor who was now married to a former student, one who had been targeted by Ivanov.
“Yeah, I told him if he caught me, he could have me.”
“Jesus Christ.” Lorenzo again. “So some random man chases you down, then your car blows up the next morning.”
I tensed, ready to run if I needed to.
“He’s not involved,” Rafe said.
“Who is he?” Remington asked.
“It doesn’t matter. He didn’t put the bomb in my car. He was going to ride to the casino with me so he could pick up his own car. He’s as lucky to be alive as I am.”
Why did it feel so good for him to lie to protect me?
I tried to push that thought away. He was probably trying to save himself trouble as much as protect me.
You pulled him away from a burning car. Don’t think maybe he feels some kind of loyalty to you?
Before I could think about that anymore, Remington spoke again. “Rafael, I need you to be serious and objective. When I put you in charge of this investigation—”
“Wait. What?” Lorenzo yelled.
“This is between me and Rafael,” Remington said.
“Fuck no. This is my baby brother you’re talking about. Somebody tried to blow him up. I want to know what you’ve involved him in.”
“The car went off when I hit the fob to unlock it,” Rafe said. “It could have been a warning.”
“Either way, you could have died,” Dante said.
“I am being serious and objective.” I imagined Rafe pleading his case to Remington. “I was with the guy the whole time he was here. There was never a time when he could’ve put the bomb there.”
“So where is he now?”
“Gone. I sent him away so he wouldn’t be involved.”
“He could have put the bomb there before you hooked up,” Lorenzo said.
If I had any sense at all, I would get the fuck out of there and find another way to track down Ivanov, but I didn’t move. I couldn’t abandon Rafael. I didn’t think his family would hurt him, but I had to be there for him if he needed help.