Page 88 of The Last One You Loved

I went down a rabbit hole, hunting down the serial numbers on the burner phones calling McK and hoping the store had surveillance of some kind.

I was pulled from my search by a call from Agent Salazar.

“Hatley,” I greeted.

“Want the good or the bad news?” he asked.

“I’m not sure I can take much more bad, but hit me with it first so I can revel in the good.”

He laughed.

“Confirmed there are two high-level Lovato members in Tennessee.”

“That’s only bad for me if they’re in Winter County,” I said, rubbing my eyes and glancing at the clock. Bruce was due any second to take over for me.

“They’re looking for the million or two Chainsaw owes them but hasn’t paid.”

“Fuck,” I breathed out, and I wasn’t sure why, but Sybil’s jewelry and expensive clothes flashed in my mind. If there was missing money, the Lovatos would tear up my town trying to find it. “Your good news better be something about knowing where it is and having the Lovatos in lockup, or I’m going to think it isn’t so good.”

He gave a small laugh. “Good news is, if you let it play out, you might not have to worry about Chainsaw anymore.”

A bitter taste filled my mouth as my stomach churned. It was bad enough that I wasn’t sure I’d ever step in front of a bullet for Sybil, but what did it say about me that I wanted Chainsaw gone, too? What kind of officer of the law was halfway to glad someone might end up dead?

“You have a way to keep tabs on the Lovatos?” I asked.

“We do.”

“You’ll let me know if they show up on my doorstep?”

“Sure.”

It didn’t instill a bunch of faith. I knew the drill. He wanted the Lovatos. He’d do whatever was least likely to screw up his case.

“Thanks for the heads-up.”

We hung up as Bruce was walking in my door. I spent a minute catching him up and letting him know about McK and my plan to go see Trap. His face was as grim as I felt when I walked out the door. We both wanted this shit as far away from our town and our families as possible.

There was no sign of the sun yet, and the black skies and quiet streets gave the town an otherworldly feel as I headed home. The heaviness of the job resting on my shoulders lifted just a hair as I remembered I had McK waiting for me in my bed. I could take the bad, the worries, if I got to get lost in her embrace at the end of each day.

But would I be able to keep her this time?

As always, as soon as I walked in, I looked in on Mila first. She was still sound asleep, but I’d only get maybe two or three hours of rest before she woke up and barreled into the room, bouncing on the bed. For the first time ever, I wondered if I should lock my door.

When I got to my room, McK was passed out on her stomach, legs spread, taking up a good chunk of my king-sized bed, and it made me smile. I ditched my clothes, kept my briefs on, and slid under the covers. She grunted, eyes fluttering when I slid myself under her so one of her arms and a leg were over my chest and thigh.

“Hey,” she said sleepily, a small, gorgeous smile taking over her face as her lashes continued to flutter. “How’d it go? Wanna talk?”

I kissed her forehead. “Go back to sleep, McK. I’ll be here in the morning.”

But I had to wonder how many mornings I’d have left with her.

If Gregory was proven guilty, McK would get her job back. She’d be able to return to Davis and her residency. Where would that leave Mila and me? The thought of not having McK again shot a sharp pain through my chest that I kicked myself for. I had to have faith. I had to believe the words she’d said about her Hippocratic Oath and doing no harm.

I had to believe we’d found our way back to each other for a reason and that she wouldn’t rip herself out of my world all over again. Then, the tightness in my stomach left because I knew the truth. Even if she did leave, I wouldn’t just let her this time. I’d chase her down and convince her where she belonged was right here where she was loved most.

CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE

MCKENNA