walk into a bar,” Royce teased as he read.
“Do you have lists of the program enrollees at the other dealerships?” Sawyer asked without looking up from the report.
Jonah nodded. “It’s the same kind of offenses. White-collar crimes and con artists.”
Sawyer finally looked up when he got to the supercomputer’s assessment. “Spencer has put together a crew of individuals who could create a false identity for him.”
Felix nodded. “And he’s been skimming money off the dealership for who knows how long with his scams.”
“Holy fuck,” Royce said. “Cameron Spencer is going to disappear.”
Sawyer blew out a frustrated breath of air. “And we don’t have a single shred of evidence to bring him in for questioning.”
Felix wanted to ask about the van and CCTV footage, but he didn’t want to make trouble for Minerva. As much as he hated to sit by and do nothing, he trusted Royce and Sawyer to run down every possible lead.
“We’ll take all this to Chief Mendoza and find out what he wants to do,” Royce said. “We’ll apprise you as best we can.” He smacked the documents against his palm as he rose to his feet. “Thank you for turning this over to us instead of investigating it on your own.”
“It’s for the best,” Felix said. So why did it feel so wrong?
After Royce and Sawyer left, Rocky checked his watch. “I gotta get going. I have overnight surveillance duties for a client, so I need to get in a nap or else risk falling asleep in my car.”
“Overnight surveillance, huh?” Jude asked.
Jonah quirked a brow. “Do we know this client?”
“I bet they just happen to live in Spencer’s neighborhood,” Avery added.
Rocky winked. “Plausible deniability, gents.”
“Be careful,” Felix said.
Rocky held up a hand. “Always.”
“What are you in the mood to eat?” Jude asked once they’d left Jonah’s. “I have a couple of steaks and chicken breasts thawed out.” When Felix didn’t answer, Jude reached over and covered Felix’s hand with his. He must’ve assumed neither option appealed to Felix because he continued to verbally roll through the alternate choices. “I always have ingredients on hand to make breakfast. I also have spaghetti noodles and a jar of sauce in my pantry.” Still no response. “Felix, are you okay?”
Okay. It was such a generic word and didn’t come close to describing how Felix felt. As a writer, words were his weapon of choice, and Felix wielded them mercilessly. Fighting wasn’t his aim though. Felix found himself stumbling on how to express the emotion swelling inside him. He knew how to communicate fear and fury and a bevy of other feelings. But this was… This was love, and he was fucking clueless.
Felix turned his head and studied Jude as he drove. Jude’s face was more angular now, having lost the rounded softness of youth. His mouth was firmer, and he smiled less. The most significant changes were in Jude’s eyes though. His navy blue irises were achingly familiar when Felix glimpsed laughter and mirth dancing in them. Other times, Jude’s gaze took on the hardness of a predatory bird stalking its prey. And with good reason. Jude’s entire life had been turned upside down over the past year.
And who had Jude sought out for help? Who had he trusted with the truth? Felix. He would do everything in his power to help Jude get justice for his father, but it wasn’t Felix’s primary goal. He wanted to see Jude frown less and smile more. Felix wanted to coax those dimples out of hiding and see laughter return to Jude’s eyes.
Jude glanced over at Felix, and his worry was etched in the furrowed brow and fine line bracketing Jude’s mouth. The boy who’d stolen Felix’s heart still lived inside the brawny, beautiful man. It was time the two halves joined to form the whole. Felix just wasn’t sure how to start the conversation.
Jude pulled over and shifted the car into park. “What’s wrong, Ace?”
Felix parted his lips to say something, anything, but the only thing passing through them was a shaky breath. “You told your mom about me back in college.” It wasn’t a question or accusation. Felix spoke the words with as much awe as he’d felt when he’d read Jill’s remark.
“Of course, I told her about you. She heard the happiness in my voice when I called home and saw it on my face when I visited. I wasn’t ashamed of you or us.”
“She must’ve thought I was a complete asshole for not giving you a chance