Rogue - Michele Mannon Page 0,90

I have to find out you had lunch with Novák from a handful of anonymous pictures Hayden handed to me?”

Pictures. Someone took pictures of my encounter with that Prick back in Shelby.

“If you hate the man so much, why the fuck were you having lunch with him?”

“I didn’t tell you because it wasn’t important. It’s something that happened unexpectedly. That Hayden knew about—he refused to let me terminate the Prick. Kept asking me if I knew why they were outside the Ranch.” I take a deep breath. Jaxson has to believe me. “I was set up. My cover with Franco exposed. Novák made aware of who I am, and who I’m working for. TORC’s work revealed. Those pictures are just another piece of incriminating evidence, pointing the finger at me. Why Hayden chose to believe them, along with the false information being circulated when he pulled me off the hit . . .”

Damn you, Francis. But before I can explain who the real traitor is, we’re interrupted by a buzzing sound.

“Damn him. Twenty seconds early.” Jaxson grins before removing his cell phone and taking the call. “Your dime.”

My lips tighten as a chill runs up my spine. He’s reporting in to Hayden right now?

“Photos?” Jaxson raises an eyebrow at me. “She mailed you pictures?”

Yep. No doubt Hayden’s called him back. And little did I realize I’d be fighting one set of pictures with another.

Hayden says something on the other end but his words are muffled. I wouldn’t put it past him to have one of those voice-altering devices attached to his phone.

“I have information that’ll cheer you up.”

Jaxson pulls the phone away from his ear as Hayden responds.

“Understood.” Jaxson rolls his eyes, then proceeds to repeat word for word what I told him moments ago, stealing my thunder at the end of it by adding, “I overheard a discussion.”

There’s a pause. Jaxson sits up and whatever motivated him to poke the tiger in the first place vanishes.

“Diego?”

I scramble to my feet. Oh shit.

“That’s not necessary. I’ve finally located her,” I hear him say from across the space. I take the spiral staircase, two stairs at a time.

Back inside the chapel, I freeze and raise my eyes to the loft.

Jaxson is standing at the balcony, phone to ear and scowling fiercely. “I’ll finish my orders.”

His words don’t drift down to me like we’re acting out our twisted version of Romeo and Juliet. No, his words drop like daggers, piercing me to the core.

“Yes. I understand. She’ll be dealt with.”

25

Shelby

The Ranch feels different. I can’t put my finger on it. The muted light in the great room casts a warm, earthy glow across the space, the furniture has been rearranged just so, everything neat and tidy and in place. It’s quiet with no signs of the men in residence. A welcome relief, this peacefulness that’s settled over the Ranch.

Yet someone buzzed me in at the gate.

Jaxson? Is he here?

“You missed the fireworks, amiga.”

Not Jaxson. I shake off my disappointment and turn my attention to the handsome man who has entered the room wearing nothing but a pair of worn jeans. No shirt. No shoes. All muscular male. Except he’s not the man I’m anxious to see.

Or the other man I’m dreading confronting. Yeah, first things first.

“Is Hayden in his office?”

“Gone.”

“He’s not here?” I scowl. That was fast, unless he’d already left when I contacted him earlier.

“The news angers you? Trust me, you should be relieved that he’s off and away on business. I’ve been with Hayden for years. So let me give you some advice. You poke that tiger the wrong way and he’ll kill you without a second’s hesitation. Better remember that. We all need to remember that.”

Jesus. Is that what I’ve done—poked the tiger? What the hell, he doesn’t truly believe I told the Pricks about Freedom’s Bluff? About TORC?

“How upset is he?” I demand, searching for answers.

Diego whistles, a brief, low-pitched sound, expressing his disbelief. “Upset? No. Wrong word. Pissed off beyond belief. Better count your blessings you arrived after the show.”

“The show?”

“Dios mio. It’s a wonder no one got killed . . . though Hayden’s famous for biding his time . . .”

There’s a chill in the room like someone’s turned on the air conditioning, and now I want nothing more than to bid Diego adios and seek out the warmth of Jaxson’s presence.

“I always thought you’d be the death of him.”

“What did Jaxson do?” I manage, my pulse in a mad race with my thoughts. Me .