Page 89 of Control Freak

“I want to take Shiloh on a date, but I don’t know where to start.”

“Well, do you want to impress Shiloh, make him hot for you, or just show that you care?” Bailey asked.

“Can’t I do all three?” I replied.

Axel smirked. “I like the way you think. You sure as hell can. All right, so here’s what you should do…”

CHAPTER 22

Shiloh

Jimmie’s bloodwill be on your hands.

I stared at the pop-up on my computer screen, stricken. I’d logged in to the cam site to leave a final goodbye message before forwarding it to Kian’s servers.

I’d intentionally avoided going to my DMs. I didn’t want to give any of my former clients a chance to beg me to stay. I also didn’t want to see another anonymous threat.

The fact that it’d popped up meant it was being sent right now. In real time.

Jimmie’s blood will be on your hands.

Jimmie’s blood will be on your hands.

Jimmie’s blood will be on your hands.

Messages continued to pop up, filling my screen like some sort of horror movie bullshit. Right now, at this very moment, Curtis was smirking at his phone as he spammed me with messages. I knew it had to be him because Brick preferred to speak with his fists.

I tried to close the screen, but my cursor wouldn’t move. The whole site was frozen.

My stomach churned. “No, no, no…”

I should have shut this thing down weeks ago. What was wrong with me, leaving open the one avenue for them to contact me? I shut my laptop. Then unplugged it for good measure. But I couldn’t get those messages out of my mind.

What if Brick and Curtis sent someone after Jimmie in prison? What if he was already lying in a pool of blood after getting shanked?

I pushed away from the computer and paced the room. Jimmie wasn’t my problem. Hewasn’t.But it didn’t feel right to ignore the threats. I’d cared about my ex once. I didn’t want to see him dead.

I picked up my phone and texted Holden.

Are you busy?

No, why?

I’m going to come over, if it’s okay. I need advice.

Okay, sure. I’ve always got time for you.

When I arrived at the garage, Holden was leaning against a worktable while Gray sat on a motorcycle—testing it out, maybe? Axel lounged on a pile of tires in the corner, and Bailey and Flynn leaned against the fender of a station wagon.

“Did I interrupt some sort of meeting?” I asked.

“Nah, we’re just shooting the shit,” Axel said, lifting a bottle in greeting. “Nice shirt, Teach. Want a beer?”

I glanced down at my Riverton T-shirt, complete with the Cornjerker mascot. “We had an assembly, Mr. Fashion Police. But yes, I could use a beer. It’s been a day.”

Axel opened the mini fridge beside him and pulled out a beer. When he looked like he might throw it, Holden jogged the couple of steps to intercept him and took it from his hand.

He handed it off to me. “What did you want to talk about?” He sounded a little nervous. “Is it about us, or…”