Luscious - Lexi Blake Page 0,45
the same as the rest of your unit. They were killed with AK-47s, typical of the Taliban. Rowe was killed with a nine-millimeter handgun.”
“Don’t push me Adam.” He wasn’t ready for this. Not even close.
“You need to talk to his mother.”
“I know.” He needed to face the mother and the sister. What was her name? Sarah. Carla and Sarah Rowe. He would explain everything to them. Everything except the truth. They didn’t need to know that. Maybe once he talked about how brave Ronnie was, how much he’d liked the man, maybe they would back off. As for the investigator, he didn’t even know how to handle that.
“You know what Dad thinks, right?” Adam stared at him, the ugly truth sitting between them.
He nodded. It was one more reason for his father to hate him.
“You know I understand,” Adam said, sympathy plain on his face. “I know why you’re being quiet. You have to tell them. You have to tell that family why you lied. No one who understands what it’s really like out there would think twice about doing what you did. It’s exactly the reason they pushed that report through as fast as they did. Everyone knows what really happened and why you would lie about it.”
“Rowe’s mother and sister don’t know and I can’t tell them, Adam. I can’t fucking tell them the truth.” At least his brother didn’t think the worst of him.
A long sigh came from Adam as he obviously decided to give up the fight. For now. “All right. I’m going to put Ian on the investigator. He’ll get it all shut down and I’ll look into the family. I’ll see what I can do, but I still think you should talk to them.”
“Find out if they’re okay.” Guilt sat in his gut. He should have talked to them before now, but he’d been so lost. He knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that he couldn’t really move on with Ally until he’d dealt with the Rowes. “Find out about them. I know he was born in Alabama, but I think his family moved all up and down the Gulf.”
“I’ll get started on it tomorrow.”
“Or maybe I should reply to his sister’s e-mail.” She hadn’t written him for weeks now, but he could find the address.
Adam shook his head. “You could have done that in the beginning, but not now. They’ve complicated the situation by bringing in private detectives. Let me handle this part. Let me and Jake figure out exactly what their situation is. I think it’s best if you go in knowing what to expect.”
“Let me know what you find out.”
The door opened and Ally walked out, her hair in a towel. Her body was wrapped in a robe and she gave Adam a smile as she headed straight for the coffee. There was something so right about having Ally walk through the house in a robe. Like she belonged here with him. “Good morning, Adam.”
“Morning, Ally. I’ll talk to you two later.” His brother pushed off from the bar. “And I’ll get back to you by Wednesday, Macon.”
Ally looked at him over her coffee mug. “Get back to you about what?”
The screen swung shut and Macon tried to let the tension leave with him. He didn’t want Ally looking into this. She could be very bossy if she thought there was a problem. He needed to get his ducks in a row and then he would sit her down and explain what he’d done and why he needed to ensure Ronnie’s family never knew. She would see that he was right and help him. He knew it. She was the one. “Just some business we’re dealing with. Come here. I need you to stir while I get the griddle ready. I think Sunday waffles are a new tradition.”
Her arms came around his back and flattened against his chest. She pressed herself against him and he was glad he’d left off the shirt. He’d put on a pair of shorts for the first time in forever. He was actually comfortable for once and all because Ally had convinced him he wasn’t a freak. Well, he kind of was, but that was a good thing.
He felt her kiss his back. “I like the sound of that, Miles.”
She kissed him again and then got down to serious whisking.
He worked beside her, listening to her hum.
It was going to be all right. For the first time since the accident, he had real hope for