Page 130 of Fire Fight

I saw red, and before I could fully think through my actions, I was storming down the hall and into my bathroom. Aspen was getting out of the shower, her lithe, naked body on display, but my cock didn’t so much as twitch. I was too pissed off.

Not at her,neverat her. But at the fact that she’d been shouldering all of this alone. That she felt like she couldn’t share it with me.

Aspen grinned when she saw me, but it quickly fell as her gaze darted between me and the notebook I brandished.

“Where did you get that?” she snapped.

“Figured it was time you officially moved into my room, so I was getting your things and clearing out the guest room. Want to tell me what the fuck this is?”

“I think you know.”

“You’re right,” I nodded. We were past the point of explanations. “Then let me try again: want to tell me why the fuck youdidn’ttell me about all this shit going on?”

Aspen’s movements were jerky as she lifted one of the plush white bath sheets off the shelf in the linen closet and wrapped it around her body. Instead of answering me, she stomped right past me into the bedroom, beelining for the closet.

At least she was taking the whole me moving her shit into my room thing in stride.

Like a little puppy dog, I followed her, leaning against the doorframe with crossed arms as she got dressed in black leggings, a sports bra, and one of my tees, which hung to her knees. Logically, I knew Aspen was her own person and not my property, butI’d be damned if that feral beast in my chest didn’t growlmineat the sight of her in my clothes. The need to claim her was almost unbearable, so I clenched my fists against the onslaught of desire and waited her out.

Finally, she faced me and mirrored my body language, though she lifted her hand and crooked her fingers at me. “Let’s hear it.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because it wasn’t your business.”

“It damn well is my business!” I shouted. “You’re beingstalkedAspen. How is thatnotmy business? At the very least, Lane deserves to know.”

Aspen snorted. “Fuck your brother.”

“I don’t disagree, but heisa cop.”

The fight left her in an instant, like a switch flipped, and she deflated. I crossed the distance between us and pulled her into my arms, where she sagged against me. “I’m tired, Crew.”

“I know,” I murmured, rubbing circles across her back.

I was tired too. Tired of this fucker lurking in the shadows, tormenting my town. Dragging innocent people—kids—into this mess they’d created. Hurting families that had already suffered enough pain to last several lifetimes.

And mostly, I was tired of the defeat lining Aspen’s beautiful face.

Before either of us could say anything else, a heavy knock came at the front door, followed by Trey shouting for me as he pushed inside.

Aspen made an irritated noise and pulled away from me. I chuckled, echoing the sentiment as I laced our fingers together and led us into the living room, where Trey waited on the couch.

“Make yourself at home,” I said with an eye roll.

I had a feeling I wouldn’t be getting sleep anytime soon, so I went into the kitchen to put coffee on.

“What’s yours is mine, little brother.”

“No it’s not.”

Cutting to the chase, Trey asked, “Why am I here?”

Aspen lifted her phone off the coffee table, where it had been abandoned a few hours before when I’d gotten home from work, wisely powered it off, and handed it to Trey.

“We think my phone may be bugged,” she said.

Trey lifted a brow, eyes darting between us. “What makes you say that?”