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“What if we have it all wrong, and Rick isn’t the one who tried to kill Lyric? He’s obsessed with her. Why kill her when he wants her so badly?”

Nick’s gaze turned grave. “Because if he can’t have her, no one will.”

Mason wasn’t buying it. “But that’s a crime ofpassion. He’d try again to change her mind, then kill her if she refused. It would be in the moment. Violent. Hands-on. He’d want to see her face when she realized her mistake in not accepting him.”

Nick mock-shivered. “Dude, that’s dark.”

“But true. The car thing, it was spur-of-the-moment. It was happenstance that Lyric was in the parking lot at all. So what if Maria was the one who went to the bar that night looking for a chance to get rid of Lyric?”

“Why?” Nick asked.

“Because she knew I was interested in Lyric. I wanted her, not Maria. I shot Maria down every time she flirted with me or asked me to be with her. I told her I wasn’t interested in Lyric, that Lyric wasn’t interested in a guy like me.”

“She didn’t believe you.”

“As hard as I tried to make it sound real, I guess I fucked up.” He’d never forgive himself for putting Lyric in harm’s way.

“It is not your fault Lyric got hurt.” Nick had a knack for reading his mind like that.

He hung his head. “Isn’t it?”

“You don’t even know if that’s true.”

“You work on Maria. I’m going after Rick.” He took a step away.

Nick grabbed him by the arm and halted him. “That’s not your job. The cops will find him. Go find Lyric. Be with her. Protect her from Rick. And if it was Maria who tried to kill her, well, she’s in custody and won’t ever be able to do it again.”

He met his brother’s earnest gaze. “I need to know, Nick. I have to know if it was Maria or Rick.”

“We’ll get the answer.” Nick put both hands on Mason’s shoulders and squeezed. “And it still won’t be your fault.”

Mason knew that it was and didn’t want to see Lyric walk away from him because his job had put her in jeopardy.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Mason walked into the packed bar. The after-work crowd filled the tables, dance floor, and barstools. Gabby Barrett’s “Pick Me Up” blared through the speakers. He wouldn’t mind taking Lyric down some back road, her by his side, them kissing under a full moon.

Lyric was probably working, even though she should be resting. Yes, he’d used the tracker he gave her to find her here, though he’d hoped she’d be tucked away safe and sound at her family ranch.

He wanted to go after Rick but wasn’t sure where to start.

And he’d neglected Lyric long enough. For the job. But that wasn’t an excuse he wanted to keep using.

He didn’t see her through the pass-through into the kitchen and headed to the bar where Aria was serving drinks.

She spotted him immediately. “Hey, stranger. She’s upstairs and pissed off.” She filled six shots, passed them out to the cowboys in front of her, then waved him to follow her.

He walked along the bar and followed her into the kitchen. “Why is she mad?”

“Because we won’t let her in here tonight. She needs to relax, but she’s not good at doing nothing.” Aria started making two plates of food. Sliders and mac and cheese. “She hasn’t eaten. You look like you could use some food and time with her.”

He sighed out his agreement. “It’s been a hell of a day.”

“I heard about you and the other MC guys getting arrested. Since you’re out, I assume my suspicions are right and you’re one of the good guys.” She raised a brow, waiting for his response.

“I am,” he confirmed, able to finally talk about it now that it was over.

“Well, I’ll assume you want to tell her all about it first, so head on up. I hope we don’t see you two for a couple of days.” She gave him a suggestive look he read all too well.