“I’m all clear too—I just got tested,” he says, so the two of us look at each other and both shrug.

   “So we’re good then,” I reply, reaching out for him once more.

   He laughs, but doesn’t say no. “Give me a few minutes.”

   I give him two, and then his mouth is back on me and I’m in my new happy place once more.

Chapter Thirteen

   “So something happened between me and Cam,” Billie says as we sit in our pajamas, feet up on the coffee table with popcorn in our hands. She has colored her hair back to its natural shade, a dark brown just like my own.

   “What?” I ask, my head turning.

   I haven’t seen Billie much since I lost Dad, so I made an effort to invite her over. She knew my dad well, so it’s harder seeing her than those who never even met him. She used to sleep at my house all the time, and Dad would make us bacon pancakes in the morning and then take us wherever we wanted to go. He always had so much time for me, and the memories with him will stay with me forever.

   “We made out,” she says, licking her fingers. “And did...some other stuff.”

   “I have to admit, I’m not that surprised. The two of you hit it off really well.”

   And I knew Cam was bisexual. Billie experimented in her younger days, although she’s only dated men.

   “That’s all you’re going to say?” she deadpans, looking a little confused.

   I don’t know what reaction she expected to get from me, but it’s her life and I’m always going to support her no matter what.

   “What do you want me to say?” I laugh, throwing a piece of popcorn at her. “Cam is stunning, so are you. Is it just hooking up? Like a distraction? Or is it something more?”

   “I don’t know yet, but I think it might be something more,” she admits, picking up the popcorn I threw at her off the couch and eating it. “It’s confusing. Women are confusing.”

   “Don’t you start,” I laugh. We share a grin.

   “So tell me more about your hot sex with Crow.”

   “I told you it happened, and it was amazing, I don’t know what details you’re looking for, but—”

   “Big penis?” she interrupts, getting straight to it.

   I’m not one to talk about penis size and other things because I don’t think it’s really fair to that person. However, in this case I only have good things to say, so I just smile widely.

   She gets the drift. “Damn, you hit the gold mine with that one.”

   “He’s been my knight in shining armor through this whole thing.” I pause. “Get it? Knight?”

   She shakes her head at me, laughing. “Yes, I get it. Very nice, Bronte.”

   Moving closer to her, I rest my shoulder against hers. “Good things are coming for us, Billie.”

   “Or maybe they’re already here.”

   Maybe they are.

* * *

   “Cross this guy off,” Nadia says to me, pointing to the first name on the list.

   “Why?” I ask.

   “Because he’s dead,” she explains, wincing. “I did a check on all the names, and number one was shot and killed in a drug deal gone wrong a week before your dad died.”

   “Shit,” I whisper.

   “Here’s something else I found: there’s a phone number your dad called a lot. I’m going to track the number, because it’s not you or any other family member.”

   “Maybe it’s one of their work colleagues?” I suggest.

   “Maybe, but it’s worth looking into. He spoke to this number for ten minutes on the day he died,” she says, keeping her eyes on me. “I think it’s the lead we need. We can’t just walk up to all the men on the list and ask them, hey, did you kill Freddy? At least if we find out who he was speaking to so much, it might lead us in the right direction.”

   “You’re right.” I really did have no plan other than just to figure it out on the way, but this at least gives us something to go on.

   When Crow gets home...I mean, to my house, I tell him about the phone number Nadia is tracking. We both agree that it could lead us somewhere, anywhere, and I’m now feeling a little hopeful.

   “You know you can come to me if you need anything, right? We know how to track down numbers and people, too.”

   “I know,” I reply, grinning. “But this is what Nadia does for a living, and the two of us work well together.”

   “I know that, but we’re here if you need anything done...off the record.”

   “If I need something shady, you’re the first person I’ll come to, don’t worry.”

   He simply grins, flashing his teeth. Sitting on his lap on the couch, I straddle him, my hand on the back of his nape. “So you’re pretty and useful?”

   Crow laughs, eyes gentle on mine. “Something like that. I even know how to cook and clean without supervision, can you imagine?”

   “I thought men like you were extinct,” I tease, kissing the tip of his nose.

   “My mom made sure I was self-sufficient,” he replies, then adds in a dryer tone, “Mostly by going traveling and leaving me home to look after Heidi.”

   In the midst of everything that has happened, I completely forgot about his sister. “When am I going to meet her?” I ask.

   “She’s gone on vacation with her friends this week. But when she gets back I’ll introduce you to her,” he says, kissing underneath my ear, slowly tracing lower to my neck.

   “Hmmm.” All thoughts of his sister and whether she is going to like me disappear right through the window.

   “I missed you today,” he murmurs, nibbling on my earlobe. He wasn’t at the garage because he was helping do something at Kamikaze. Or at least that’s where I think he was. When it comes to anything to do with the club and its business, the men are all very secretive. Crow doesn’t tell me, and I don’t ask. I think that’s how it’s probably always going to be.

   “I missed you too,” I admit, arching my neck for him, giving him more access.

   He moans and stands, carrying me in his arms to my bedroom and laying me down. Lifting up my silk robe, he spreads my thighs and starts kissing the soft skin there. At the same time his fingers work the silk tie, opening the robe and baring me to him.

   Raising his head, he watches me for a moment, flashing me a smile, before kissing my lips and working his way down. He pays attention to my breasts, sucking on my nipples, then goes lower, taking his own cool time. Always in control, my Crow.