Chapter 44
-Hailey-
The water was scalding, but I barely felt it.
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I stood under the shower spray, letting it beat against my skin. My hands shook as I reached for the conditioner, and the scent of it- lavender and cactus flower did nothing to calm my nerves.
–
Every time I blinked, I saw something awful. Either Matt’s face as he lay lifeless on the floor, or Becker’s face… smirking. Knowing. Waiting to destroy everything I had left.
I scrubbed at my skin, trying to peel off the layer of dread clinging to me. But despite Logan’s efforts to fuck it out of me, it was bone deep.
The meeting with Andrews loomed ahead, and I wasn’t ready. Not even close.
“Ace?” Logan’s voice broke through my thoughts.
I turned off the water and stepped out, wrapping myself in a towel. He was leaning against the doorframe with a worried look on his face. Water dripped from his curls, but he was fully dressed – leather cut and all.
The sight of him should’ve been comforting, but all I felt was a fresh wave of guilt.
“You good?” he asked.
I forced a smile, but it felt brittle. “Yep.”
He stepped closer, his hands sliding to my hips. “You want me there? At the diner?”
I chewed on my bottom lip. Part of me wanted to say yes, to let him be my shield. But I knew it had to be me. If Logan showed up in his club colors, it might cause a scene.
“No,” I said finally. “I need to do this alone.”
He studied me for a second. Then he nodded, but his jaw was tight. “Alright. I’ll borrow Talon’s truck and drive you there. Wait in the parking lot.”
I shook my head. “Logan-”
“Don’t wanna hear it, Ace,” he interrupted, leaving no room for argument. “You go in alone, but I’m gonna have eyes on you.”
I smirked despite my nerves, leaning into him. “Oh, you like to watch, huh?”
His hands came down hard on my ass, pulling my hips into him. “Such a smartass,” he muttered, then kissed my forehead. “Go get dressed. I’ll call Talon.”
I tugged on a pair of jeans and a baggy sweater, trying to ignore the way my hands trembled. The sweater was heavy and grounding, but my mind was reeling ahead to the diner, to Andrews, to everything that could go
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wrong.
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Logan lay sprawled on the bed with his phone in his hand, watching me with those intense green eyes. “You’ll be fine,” he said simply. “Just stick to the script.”
The script. Right. Like I could just roll into this conversation like it was some rehearsed play. The truth was, I had no idea what I was going to say.
How do you ask a cop to betray her boss? How do you even start that conversation?
I grabbed my boots and sat on the edge of the bed to put them on. Logan’s hand landed on my shoulder, squeezing lightly. “Hey. Look at me.”
I lifted my head, meeting his gaze.
“You’re tougher than you think, Ace. You’ve already been through hell. This is just another rung on the climb
out.”
“Profound words from a hard–headed biker,” I murmured.
He smirked, his thumb brushing over my jawline. “You mad that I’m right?”
I rolled my eyes but leaned into his touch. “Fine, Mr. Know–it–all. Let’s do this.”
He stood, grabbing his keys from the nightstand. “Let’s roll.”
We took Logan’s bike to his dad’s house and traded it for his truck. The drive from there to the Firefly Diner was quiet, but some oldies station played softly on the radio and filled the space between us.
Logan’s hand rested on my thigh, his fingers tapping in time with the rhythm of the song. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to keep me from spiraling.
When we pulled into the parking lot, I spotted Andrews‘ patrol car parked near the entrance. My chest heaved as I thought about the last time I saw it, parked in front of Matt’s house.
Logan shifted the truck into park but didn’t turn it off. He reached over, his hand cupping the back of my neck, pulling me toward him. His forehead rested against mine, his eyes staring into my soul.
“You got this,” he murmured. “Just remember – you’re not asking her to do anything she doesn’t wanna do. You’re just layin‘ it out there.”
I nodded, swallowing hard. “Right… just… laying it out there.”
His lips met mine for a second, soft and gentle. “Go get ‘er, Ace.”
I climbed out of the truck, my boots crunching on the gravel. The diner was small and unassuming, with peeling paint and a neon sign. I took a deep breath, glancing back toward the truck, then pushed open the
door.
I was met with a wall of warm air that smelled like coffee and bacon. The bell jingled overhead, and I scanned
the room.
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Chapter 44
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Andrews was sitting in a booth near the back with a cup of coffee in front of her. She looked up as 1 approached.
“Hailey,” she said, nodding toward the seat across from her.
I glanced back toward the entrance one more time. I couldn’t see Logan from here, but I had a clear line of sight to Talon’s truck.
I slid into the booth, my hands shaking under the table. “Thanks for meeting me.”
She leaned back, studying me. “Of course. What’s on your mind?”
I took a deep breath, my fingers twisting the edge of my sweater.
“I need your help,” I blurted out too loud, too fast.
–
I hadn’t meant to say it like that… so desperate and raw. But there it was.
Andrews raised an eyebrow. She took a sip of her coffee, her hazel eyes never leaving mine. “Help with what?”
I glanced around the diner. My heart was pounding in my ears. Paranoia prickled at the back of my neck, but nobody seemed to be paying us any attention.
“Detective Becker,” I whispered, leaning in closer. “He’s… he’s not who people think he is. He’s targeting Logan and the club. And Maverick… he’s innocent. Becker planted that coke in his truck.”
Andrews‘ expression didn’t change, but I saw something flicker in her eyes. Like she already suspected him. It was gone almost immediately.
“That’s a serious accusation, Hailey. Do you have proof?”
“Not yet,” I admitted, my stomach twisting. “But it’s true.”
She studied me for a few seconds. Her fingers tapped lightly on her coffee mug. “Why are you telling me
this?”
“Because you helped me,” I said quickly. Desperation was creeping into my voice now. “You saw what Matt was like, and you didn’t just turn away. You actually gave a damn. And I think….. I think you’re one of the good ones.”
She glanced out the window for a minute, like she was weighing her options. The silence stretched between us, and I thought my heart was going to beat out of my chest.
“Hailey,” she said finally. “I can’t just take your word for it. If Becker’s crossing the line, there’s a process for that. But I need evidence… something concrete. I’ve never liked the guy, but I can’t stick my neck out for nothing.”
I nodded, gripping the edge of the table. “I get that. But… If I find something, you’ll help me? You’ll listen?”
She hesitated again. “Yeah. I’ll look into it. But I’m not making any promises. Becker’s not someone to mess with lightly.”
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Relief flooded through me. “That’s all I’m asking. Just… someone to listen.”
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She leaned back in her seat, her eyes still fixed on me. “Be careful, Hailey. If he’s as dangerous as you say, you’re playing with fire.”
“I know,” I murmured. “But I don’t have a choice.”
She nodded, her tone softening a little. “Alright. Keep me updated.” She pulled a pen out of her pocket and wrote a phone number on her napkin, sliding it to me. “And if you’re ever in real trouble… call me at this number. It’s my personal cell.”
“Thank you, Officer Andrews,” I said, breathless, sliding out of the booth.
She smiled. “Call me Sam. Good luck, Hailey.”
As I beelined for the door, I swore I felt another set of eyes on me. Maybe it was nothing.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
