“I fucking hate you right now.”
“She’s the one that has Connor asking after a Bill?” Tristan asked, moving on as if Brent hadn’t spoken.
“Yes, he’s hassling the girl.”
“Walk away from this one, Brent. Bill is not your problem.”
Brent sat down. He didn’t like taking orders.
“He’s a problem to Zoe.”
“She hasn’t reported a problem. Take my advice and back the fuck down. Bill is not a Law Castle problem. If you don’t listen to my advice, you’ll be in a whole shit-load of trouble.”
Brent’s anger was beginning to rise. He didn’t like being told what to do.
“You know we can’t accept that, Tristan. Why are you really here?”
“Out of courtesy to an old friend. The Law Castle Bad Boys are good for business. The women come for a piece of the bad boy pie, and it brings business to a potentially dying town.”
“What’s this got to do with Bill and Zoe?”
“All towns have their bad parts, Brent. Bill is simply the bad piece in a puzzle.”
“You’re not going to give me more?” Brent asked.
Tristan shook his head.
“Then I won’t take your advice. If this Bill oversteps his place, he’s going down.”
The other man smiled and got off his seat. “That’s why I like you, Brent. You’re always prepared to do the right thing.” Tristan patted him on the back and then left.
Brent was way too confused.
He left his seat and made his way out to the front of the club. The whole parking lot was packed with cars and trucks. He hoped none of them were drinking.
Brent dialled his home waiting for one of the other two to pick up.
“Hello?” Connor answered on the fifth ring.
“Where’s Jake?”
“Painting in his studio.”
“What did you say to Tristan Carmichael?” Brent asked.
“What? I told him about Bill. Why?”
Brent stared up and down the road. “Because I think I got a warning and confirmation to go after him if he makes a move.”
That got Connor’s attention. “Where are you?”
“Outside The Dugout.”
“Shit, why didn’t you guys wake me?”
“Because you’re not a superhero. You still need your sleep.”
“Whatever. I’ll be down in a few minutes.”
Brent closed his phone and took a deep breath.
“What’s going on?”
Brent froze at the question. He turned around to see Zoe with her arms folded underneath her breasts. She looked concerned. “What do you mean?”
Zoe lifted up a card. “It’s not every day I get a guy’s number or a note on the back.”
He took the card from her. Tristan’s details were on the front, his personal numbers along with the sheriff’s numbers. “There is no note.”
“Turn it over,” she said.
Brent flipped the card over and cursed. “I need more info on Bill. I can help you get out of Law Castle.” He read the words written on the back of the card.
“What’s going on, Brent? Bill is a sleazy drug-dealing guy who lives near my apartment. Why would a Sheriff think I have any other information?”
“Were you in the system?” Brent asked.
“What? How do you know that?”
He got his answer. “Tristan said only two types of people were afraid of the law. Criminals or runaway foster kids.” He saw her take a deep breath.
“I’m not afraid of the law. I just don’t trust it.”
“Why?”
“None of your business.”
Brent had had enough. He pushed Zoe up against the wall. “How far are you going to test us, Zoe? We want you. All three of us. Let the fuck go and give us what we want.”
“Are you kidding me? You think because you want to fuck me, I should just give in and let you have what you want? Screw you, Brent, and screw the rest of you.” She pushed at his arms.
He didn’t move. Brent stared down at her lush mouth and knew the temptation before him was too hard to resist. Fucking his fist every night was starting to wear thin. His stories were becoming too erotic in content. He needed to feed the hunger inside him.
Brent cupped her cheek and slammed his lips down on hers. Zoe gasped. He felt one of her hands rise as if to hit him. The blow never came. Instead, her fingers tugged at the hair at the base of his neck.
He let up to gaze into her eyes. She looked dazed. Noise alerted him to company. Taking hold of her hand, Brent took the lead and escorted her round the back of the bar to where they wouldn’t be disturbed. He needed her lips once again.
Zoe didn’t form any protest when he pushed her up against the wall. Her arms circled him without argument. She gave in to him. No words spoken, only action.