I wasn’t looking forward to the backlash that was bound to happen, and I’d worked myself into a mood that didn’t have anything left to deal with bullshit.
Which was, of course, when I got the call from Shad.
“What’s up?” I grumbled.
“Need your help,” Shad said. “He’s months behind on child support.”
My back stiffened. “I warned him.”
“Well, seems like that warning wasn’t taken seriously.”
I got up, smoothed the lapels down on my suit coat, and said, “Noted.”
“Where are you going?” Keely asked as she met me in my office doorway with lunch.
“Out,” I said. “Leave my lunch on the desk. I’ll be back.”
I was back in an hour with a wad of cash in my pocket and the sureness in my bones that Joey needed to die.
The man could buy new gaming consoles, but couldn’t afford to pay his ex-girlfriend’s child support for a child he had a hand in making?
I think, the fuck, not.
Fifteen
I’m not clearing up any rumors. I probably did do it. And if I didn’t, I probably might.
—Copper to Baker
BAKER
Two months later
“Your mystery benefactor has been here to pay for you already.” The woman smiled.
“You still won’t tell me who ‘he’ is?” I asked, looking around in hopes that I would see said benefactor.
Instinctively, I already knew who “he” was.
I was just refusing to admit it to myself. It was easier to think that I had some mystery admirer rather than admitting to myself that he’d rather do things for me, but still not be seen with me.
“Been and gone.” The woman smiled again, answering my non-verbal question. “And no can do.”
I wasn’t sure how Copper had done it, but he’d remained completely anonymous in all the mysterious little things that he kept doing for me.
I knew it was him, though.
Audric wouldn’t just allow anyone to move into his house next door.
I also wasn’t completely oblivious.
I knew damn well and good that Audric was getting chummy with his new neighbor. And Audric wasn’t chummy with anyone that wasn’t a part of his club.
Which, by extension, now included me.
I had this pointed out to me by my dad last week when he’d run into Audric on the sidewalk.
“He’s treating you like an old lady.”
