“There’s more,” Anson added. “He’s got some shady investment stuff. Dex sent me the records. He’s cost a lot of people their life savings with bullshit building renos.”
My anger shifted to fury. This asshole likely planned to take Sutton for all she had. But I wasn’t about to let that happen. “Get a file together,” I ground out. “I’m going to the bastard today, and he’s going to sell me everything he has.”
Shep shifted in place. “I had a feeling you were going to say that.”
“Like you’d do anything differently if this was Thea,” I snapped.
Shep’s brows flew up. “Is that what this is?”
Hell.
The last thing I wanted was my family involved in my relationship with Sutton, but after last night, I knew my days of them staying out of my business were limited. “I care about her.”
That wasn’t even remotely close enough to the truth. It was so much more than care. But saying that out loud was ridiculous. I’d only known the woman for a month. Yet she was turning my world upside down in the best ways imaginable. And I’d do whatever it took to protect her.
Anson held out a hand to Shep. “I’ll take that twenty now.”
I looked between the two of them. “Did youbeton me?”
Shep gripped the back of his neck. “Just a friendly wager on whether you were sunk or not.”
I glared at my brother. “You know, I covered for you when you came home wasted from that field party your junior year. How do you think Mom would feel if she knew the reason her fiddle leaf fig bit the dust was because you used the pot as a urinal?”
Shep’s eyes narrowed on me. “You wouldn’t.”
I arched a brow. “Wouldn’t I?”
Anson chuckled. “Sometimes, I love your family.”
“Jesus,” Shep muttered. “It still weirds me out when you smile like that.”
Anson grinned like some creepy clown, making me shudder.
“Get me the file,” I clipped.
“Cope,” Shep began. “I think we should take this to Trace. Dex can send it to him as an anonymous tip.”
I met my brother’s stare. “Is it enough to fry Rick’s ass? I’m talking jail time and him forced to turn over the buildings.”
Shep and Anson shared a look.
“I’m taking that as a no. So, this is what we’re going to do. We’ll get him to sell, and then Dex can drop the files to Trace. But he needs to sellfirst. Because I’m not risking Sutton’s livelihood.” She’d worked too hard and put everything she had into that bakery.
“This could come back to bite you. You’ll basically be blackmailing him,” Shep warned. “Do you really think it’s worth it when you’re already on thin ice with your team?”
“Yes,” I snarled. Because Sutton would always be worth it. No matter the risk.
30
SUTTON
Nerves bubbledin my belly as I walked up the front steps to Cope’s house. The anxiety had been my ever-present companion throughout the day, just like the hum beneath my skin. It was as if my body was reliving the feeling of Cope’s hands on me, his mouth, his—nope, nope, nope.
I needed to get ahold of myself. This was ridiculous. Cope was just a man.A man who gave you the best orgasms of your life.I shoved that thought down as I punched in the lock code on the front door.
Steeling myself, I opened it and stepped inside. I didn’t hear anything at first, and then there was a shriek. Not one of terror but one of joy. I moved through the house and toward the sounds of laughter coming from the backyard.
As the rear windows came into view, all my nerves melted away. I wasn’t worried about whether sleeping with Cope was a horrible mistake or if he would break my heart far worse than Roman ever had. All I could think about was how happy my kid looked.
