Edge Of Fear (Arrow's Edge MC Book 4) by Freya Barker (best love novels of all time .TXT) 📗

know gets up in each other’s face from time to time. Didn’t exactly have any good examples, growing up in homes and foster care. When I was older, I was only interested in getting laid and paid little attention to any subtle signs or signals. I looked for blatant come-ons, easily recognized and leaving little to the imagination.

Turns out, my brother has more sense than I had at that age.

“Sorry, kid.”

His eyes flash anger at my use of that tag—something I do without thinking—but then he shakes his head.

“Not gonna shut her out, though.”

I suppress the smile that wants to surface at his defiant tone.

“I’m not asking you to.”

I would’ve insisted he keep his distance from her if he hadn’t just shown himself the bigger man.

“And if you hurt her, you’re gonna have to answer to me.”

Fuck, fifteen years younger, but definitely the bigger man.

“Expecting nothing else.”

He narrows his eyes on me for a moment, before he turns away and heads for the door.

“Later.”

“Later, brother,” I call after him.

Not long after he leaves, Sophia walks in with Ramirez in tow.

“Any news?”

Sophia sits two seats down from me and Ramirez fills us in on Bernie’s condition.

“Did you talk to any family?” she asks Ramirez.

“Finally got hold of a sister. She’s on her way, driving in from Shiprock. She shouldn’t be too much longer.”

I lean forward with my elbows on my knees.

“Do you have an idea what happened?”

“Beats me. Until we can talk to Mr. Wilson, your guess is as good as mine. It wasn’t theft, nothing looks to be taken, or even attempted. The only place that shows any disturbance is the kitchen. Whoever did that must’ve just walked in, or maybe Wilson let them in himself. Crime scene techs are going over the place with a fine-tooth comb, but I have a sneaky suspicion they won’t find much.”

“What about Clover Produce?” Sophia suggests. “Could their driver have seen something? Those boxes must’ve just been dropped off. “

Ramirez grins at her. “That’s my next stop. I’m heading to Farmington to meet up with local law enforcement. I should probably get going. Dropped in hoping maybe I could ask our victim a few questions, but it doesn’t look like that’ll happen today.” He walks to the door and turns back. “If you think of anything else, let me know?”

Sophia nods and then suddenly freezes.

“Wait. This is probably nothing, but a few times over the past couple of weeks I’ve seen people hanging out at the edge of the parking lot when I locked up. Not seen them so I couldn’t identify them, nothing but shadows, really, but I noticed them three, maybe four times.”

I sit up straighter and so does Ramirez.

“How many?”

“Hard to tell, they were right by the trees. Two, could’ve been three.”

“Same people every time?”

“I wouldn’t be able to tell you. Like I said, it was dark, and it may not mean anything.”

“Anyone else mentioned seeing people back there?”

Sophia shakes her head.

“Nobody’s mentioned anything and I haven’t asked. Should I?”

“No.” Ramirez is firm. “I’ll take care of that. You call me if you remember anything else.”

“I will.”

“Good.” His eyes slide to me. “Be careful. I’ll be in touch.”

The moment he’s gone, I get up and move over to a seat next to her.

“Did you chase Wapi off?”

Straight for the attack. It won’t be hard to figure out when I piss her off, she doesn’t seem to hold back on her anger. Just on everything else.

“No. We cleared the air.” She snorts derisively. “I’m serious,” I insist. “Actually, he did most of the talking and I listened, but we each know where the other stands.”

She turns her face my way.

“And where would that be?”

I lean toward her and note she doesn’t back away.

“Can’t speak for Wapi, that’s not mine to share.” I drop my voice low. “But I’d be happy to tell you where my mind is at.”

She sucks in a sharp little breath.

“Forget I asked. I’m no longer sure I wanna know.”

“Coward,” I whisper.

She shoots to her feet.

“I need some coffee,” she mutters. “Or a stiff drink.”

“You sit. I’ll go. Not sure they serve hard liquor, but I’m sure I can rustle you up a coffee.”

“Some cream and—”

“Two sugars,” I finish for her. “You like it sweet. I know.”

The cafeteria is not hard to find. I doctor us up a couple of coffees and take them to the checkout, bypassing the food they have on display. It’s probably been there all day and if she gets hungry, I’ll just get one of the guys to drop something off.

When I’ve paid and make my way back down the hall, my phone rings in my pocket. Juggling the two cups in one hand I use the other to fish it out of my pocket.

“Talk to me.”

“How are things?” Ouray says without introduction. Not that he needs one.

I tell him what I know, which isn’t a whole lot.

“You gonna stick around?”

“His sister is on the way; I imagine Sophia will at least want to wait for her. I’ll see her home.”

“Good. I talked to Benedetti. He’ll keep an eye out.”

Benedetti is Police Chief Joe Benedetti, who happens to live right across from where Sophia has been staying. The house she stays at actually used to belong to Benedetti’s wife and since she had some trouble a few years back, it is outfitted with good security.

“Sounds good.”

“Okay. See you later.”

I tuck my phone back in my pocket and resume walking.

Truthfully, I’d feel better keeping an eye on her myself, but something tells me I won’t get very far. Not yet, I’m not going to force the issue after the day she’s had, but soon.

When I enter the waiting room, Sophia is talking to a platinum blonde woman dressed head to toe in black leather. Biker babe is the first thing that comes to mind.

“Tse, this is Liz, she’s Bernie’s sister. Liz, this is Tse.”

The blonde turns around and unapologetically checks me out top to bottom.

“Tse? I’m liking the name.” I grunt. I’m not interested