Blacklisted (Loveless, Texas #3) - Jay Crownover Page 0,14
closet for that. I also had my own agenda when it came to payback. Not to mention the rest of the club to look out for as well.
“It won’t make any difference. Most of the people looking for me aren’t the type who want to be found. Even if you did run across them, I’m not sure it would end well for you. As I said, Kody is a friend. I can’t knowingly put her older brother in the line of fire.” I gave him a wink. “Besides, it’s not like you’re great at keeping the bad guys behind bars anyways.”
Case’s eyes narrowed even more until he appeared to be practically squinting. “Are you talking about yourself, or someone else?”
A low chuckle escaped because he had a point. “I’m saying you might want to start by looking at those who have slipped through the legal system’s cracks. The woman who killed your father and burned down your family home is still missing—after how many months? The man who almost got your woman killed gets bounced because of a paperwork error, and who’s keeping an eye on him?” I lifted my hands and let them fall. “Lots of dangerous people on the streets, Sheriff, and it’s not my job to regulate them.” I winked at him again. “Until it is.”
Case blew out a deep breath and leaned forward, hands on the table. His intensity was palpable and so was his simmering anger. “Not your job to regulate? Then what would you call what happened with Jethro Coleman and the school shooting?”
The reason I’d been shot and two of my brothers had died was because Jed’s older brother had set his sights on punishing Case in the most effective way possible. He’d taken aim at the sheriff’s teenage son and the rest of the kids who attended Loveless’s only high school. Case had been literally caught in the crossfire, so I’d stepped in to handle the problem…permanently.
Knowing I’d pushed my luck as far as I could for one day with the big man, I settled back in my seat and offered up my honest opinion. “I’d call that particular incident justice.” We both knew he had no proof that I was the one who took the older Coleman out, and I wasn’t about to implicate myself. “If you have any other questions, send them through my lawyer, Sheriff. I’m going back to my breakfast if you don’t mind.”
Case swore, long and loud, smacking his palm on the table and making the diners around us jump. “I still want to talk to your VP. He was with you that day at the apartment. Maybe he saw something you didn’t. I want an official witness statement. Have him come to me, or I’ll show up at your clubhouse when you least expect it.”
I nodded and reached for my abandoned and now cooled coffee. “I’ll pass the request along.”
Case grunted his response and went to slide out of the booth, but I stopped him by asking, “How is the good doctor? She took a pretty good knock on the head.”
For once, I wasn’t asking the question to get under his skin. I was genuinely curious about how Presley was doing. Her apartment appeared abandoned, and the parking lot still had police tape around it. She’d seemed so frightened that day but was also totally determined to face on her own whatever was hunting and haunting her. I was admittedly impressed. Plus, I was still indebted to her, and I needed to get that damn noose off of my neck.
Case turned to give me one last warning. “I told you to keep your distance, and I meant it, Shot. Presley has a lot going on in her life right now. The last thing she needs is you stirring the pot and leading her astray. Leave her the hell alone and don’t make me find a reason to arrest you.”
I took the threat in stride. It wasn’t the first time he’d issued it. When Kody and I had casually dated, I’d found myself hauled into the sheriff’s office on trumped-up charges more than once. However, I got the distinct feeling Case felt like he had to go above and beyond to protect his new sister because he didn’t think she could protect herself. Which was definitely not the case with Kody.
After the sheriff left, I finished my breakfast and left the waitress a hefty tip to make up for disturbing the other diners. The club had a