by Nova Drake
“Really smoking hot guy, got a dark, moody edge to him. Not much of a talker. I assume he doesn’t scare the hell out of you, nothing scares you, but damn there’s something about him.” A shudder ran down Kat’s spine.
“Anyway, he came in and got a coffee the other day. When I asked him how he wanted it, he told me it was for you.” Her grin widened. “Soooo, hot guy in here first thing in the morning, getting you coffee… Sounds like you had a fun night.” Her eyebrows lifted a few times suggestively.
“Actually, I had a pretty shitty night. I got in a little over my head, and Ezra helped me out. I don’t know him well. He’s a little like me. People like us tend to keep our distance so that no one around us gets hurt.”
Kat smiled. She knew what Jess was suggesting. “Well, maybe there are some people who think it’s worth the risk to be your friend.”
Jess frowned. In a world where it was every man for himself, it was hard not to admire Kat for knowing the risks and wanting to stick around anyway – even after she’d turned down Jess’s help.
“It’s dangerous. I have a lot of enemies.”
“Instead of pushing me away, you could teach me how to defend myself. I’ve never seen anything like what you were able to do. You took out two guys with guns by yourself, unarmed. I mean, I always knew you were pretty great. I always admired your confidence and fearlessness, but it’s so much more than that. You’re incredible.”
Kat was staring again. Looking at Jess like she was a good person. Except she wasn’t. Jess didn’t have any delusions about that. The awe on Kat’s face was giving Jess that urge again - the one that told her to bolt. And for once she ignored it.
Jess shrugged. “I’ll think about it, okay? It’s probably not a bad idea for you to know how to protect yourself anyway. Maybe Zain, too.”
Kat’s face lit up. She’d clearly been expecting more of a fight. “Okay.”
“I have to get going. I’ll see ya later.”
“Don’t be a stranger, Jess.” There was an edge of warning to Kat’s tone, and Jess knew she meant it.
Chapter 25
Jess smiled to herself as she made her way around the building. Things were good with Kat for the moment. She was no longer coffee deprived. It almost made having to deal with Cash next a little less shitty.
She stalked casually around the corner into the back alley. Cash was already waiting. His huge frame rested against the building one leg bent with his boot planted on the brick. His muscles were on full display with his arms crossed over his chest.
Jess stayed back, not wanting to exaggerate the height difference between them. Plus, while she was feeling better, she wasn't at full strength. It was safer to keep her distance, just in case things went south.
“Hey, beautiful. I wasn’t sure if you’d show.”
“Why’s that?”
“Last time I saw you, you took off instead of sticking to the plan.
“Oh, that. Yeah, I don’t trust you,” she answered plainly with a shrug of one shoulder.
A smirk lifted one side of his scruffy face. “I got word that there is one Nick Barrett currently occupying the morgue.”
“He didn’t survive?”
Cash raised an eyebrow. “Not many people survive a snapped neck. I assumed it was you.”
Ah. Yeah, that made sense. “It was a friend of mine.” The words felt strange on her tongue. “I didn’t get the chance to finish him off.” Jess tried hard to still the shiver that ran through her at the memory. She shifted and shrugged her shoulders in an attempt to hide her reaction.
Cash nodded, eyeing her closely. “I have your files. I went through them, and there are a few things I noticed.” He held up the hand-held device and motioned for her to come closer.
Jess paused. The turn of nervousness in her stomach kept her from marching up to him without a second thought like she normally would have. That was not an option. She’d worked way too hard to develop her fearless reputation. Even if she wasn’t sure she could take Cash at the moment, she couldn’t let him know that. She tromped up to his side and peered over his massive arm at the file.
He winked. “I knew you’d want to be closer.”
Jess rolled her eyes. He’d backed off with his flirty bullshit after he found out about the cop that attacked her, but apparently, his restraint only went so far.
Cash pulled up a file on his device and scrolled through the report. Her stomach tightened with emotion that she refused to show.
“Most of what you told me matches up. They estimated at least a dozen intruders based on the damage within the home and the injuries to your father. No reliable witnesses on the kidnapping of Ryker Koste. The lead detective originally suggested that it was most likely gang activity due to connections that turned up during his investigation.”
“Connections?” Jess interrupted. “There were no gang connections within our family.”
Cash flicked the file on the screen aside, and it settled as a small icon out of the way. He pulled up another file and scrolled down the page.
“Murder investigation for Feris and Colt Koste,” he explained. “Initial assessment of the scene indicated two victims. One found on the scene of the crime, another missing without a trace except for the large amount of blood. One witness located the body of the first victim before she died, and was questioned by the authorities. Witness reported that Mrs. Koste mentioned her son before she lost consciousness. It was assumed he was the second victim. That was later confirmed by the victim’s husband Flynn Koste.”
“The crime was suspected to be gang-related due to the nature of their death and similar crimes within the same territory. Later investigations show that the witness reported that the victim’s mention of her son was in response to him asking ‘who did this?’ This launched further investigation into the possible death and, or whereabouts of Colt Koste.”
Jess’s blood ran cold at the accusations. “That doesn’t mean anything,” she snapped. “She wasn’t answering his question. She was probably trying to find out if he was alive.”
Cash nodded. “That’s a possibility.” He flicked the file to the side and pulled up another. This one was just on Colt. “I looked up your brother and found no criminal charges. However, the investigation they launched showed that he is linked to a few gang members. In particular, he was found to be a known associate of a few very well-known names within Death’s Disciples. People that would make for a rather impressive resume in that line of work. However, since he never showed up on the radar again after the incident, and since the amount of blood spilled at the scene would have been difficult to survive, his death couldn’t be ruled out either.
“The case went unsolved, but the working explanation was that Colt crossed the wrong person and an opposing gang took care of him and got rid of the evidence. Your mother probably just had the misfortune of getting caught in the middle of it.”
Cash dragged Colt’s file away and pulled up the first file again.
“Your father was made aware of the possibility of Colt’s involvement in your mother’s death. When he didn’t get the answers he wanted, he started his own investigations. Sounds like you two are a lot alike.”
“As I’m sure you can imagine, his methods of extracting information from gang members put him on the bad side of a lot of nasty people. For whatever reason, he lived a lot longer than most people do in that situation. Typically, once you piss off the wrong person, there’s a price put on your head and you don’t live to see the next month. But your dad made it years. That’s unheard of. Anyway, if you’re keeping track, that’s gang connection number two.”
Jess was trying to wrap her head around everything she was hearing. At the moment, the only thing that was registering was anger. It was kind of her go-to reaction.
“Are you going to tell me my fourteen-year-old brother was involved with a gang too?” she growled.
Cash’s face softened. “No, I’m not. Do you know someone by the name of Jett Marsh
all?”
Jess tensed, on the defensive before Cash even finished explaining. He had his answer with her reaction.
“Mr. Marshall became well known for his gang affiliations soon after your brother went missing. His record associates him with Death’s Disciples on more than one occasion, though it’s mostly low-level shit.
“Given the circumstances surrounding your mother’s death, the detective working your case reported that he found the timing of your absence that day suspicious. He claimed that he went to your home to question you on the connection and your relationship with Jett Marshall and you attacked him. He was treated for a gunshot wound, and a warrant was put out for the arrest of Justice Lyn Koste.”
Cash examined Jess, looking for some kind of reaction but she had none. Her face was completely devoid of any emotion.
“Do you understand what I’m telling you? The detective claimed that you and your boyfriend set your father and brother up. Jess, the lead suspect on the case is you.”
Chapter 26
Ice flooded Jess’s veins at the connection of Jett to the gang that killed her father. Could it be coincidence, or did she get played? Then there was also the issue of this rather large cop standing right in front of her with a warrant for her arrest for conspiracy to commit murder, on a day she wasn’t sure she could take him. Not to mention the added insult of being accused of her father’s death, and her brother's kidnapping. Somehow those sarcastic comments that usually covered her every reaction were nowhere to be found as Cash stared her down.
Jess took a few cautious steps back and lowered a hand to hover over the hidden sheaths in her pants.
“What do you want for Jett’s file?” Why hadn’t she suspected him earlier? Her life went to hell and he’d disappeared. She’d been so wrapped up in mourning her family that she’d barely managed a passing anger at Jett over the fact that he’d bailed on her when shit got real.
“Jess, I can’t keep going around protocol to bring you information on open cases. These were on your family, but Jett has open cases and sealed information. Not to mention the fact that I’m here associating with a wanted felon.”
And just like that, the ice in her veins went hot with rage. Jess’s eyes narrowed into a glare that could have burned right through him.
“Is that right, Cash?” She hissed, her tone laced with venom. “That’s how the system works now? Innocent sixteen-year-old girls are automatically branded as felons when they don’t allow themselves to be violated by a cop? Is there some legislation somewhere that lets girls know that in exchange for their bodies and their dignity they can avoid bullshit charges? Or is that something you creeps keep on the down-low?”
Cash shook his head and stepped closer. Her anxiety heightened. There was only so far she could retreat before looking weak.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it that way.” He stepped closer again, then froze and pulled his gun.
“That’s close enough.” The familiar voice came from behind her.
Jess spun around, surprised for only a second before she turned her glare on the intruder. “Why the hell are you here?”
“A friend of yours?” Cash questioned with his gun still trained on Ezra. “Why do I not find that comforting?”
“Put the gun down, Cash. He’s not going to hurt anyone,” Jess snapped.
Cash looked Ezra up and down. He appeared unconcerned, despite the gun pointed directly at his head. Cash would never admit it, but the guy gave him the creeps. He gave off a distinctly bad vibe, and Cash was trained to use his instincts.
“That true?” he asked.
Ezra shrugged like he hadn’t decided yet.
“Why are you here?” Jess demanded again.
Ezra didn’t answer. His eyes settled on Jess in his typical absent way. Cash perceived it as a threat, and he lowered his gun but stepped closer still. Seeing Cash closing in, Ezra stepped closer as well.
“Unbelievable,” Jess mumbled as she stepped out from between the standoff. “The file, Cash. What do you want for it?”
Cash glared at Ezra. He clearly didn’t like having a witness to their collaboration. “I’ll go through it and see if there’s anything helpful in it.”
Jess didn’t like that answer, but she didn’t exactly have the means to threaten him at the moment. The back door to the diner opened, interrupting the snarky comment she was about to make.
Kat had frozen mid-step on her way to the dumpster behind the building. “Oh! Jess, I wasn’t expecting to see anyone back here.”
“Shit,” Jess mumbled. “And now it’s a party.”
Kat eyeballed the three of them suspiciously before her eyes settled on the badge emblem on Cash’s shirt. “Everything okay?” Kat stepped closer, casually placing herself between Jess and Cash as though she could protect her from the police.
Jess’s whole demeanor changed as she sighed and stepped forward. It was a bad idea to show weakness in front of them, but she couldn’t bring herself to act coldly toward Kat. “Yeah, everything’s fine, Kat.” Both Ezra and Cash were giving her the same shocked expression. She responded by flipping them off as she moved closer to Kat so she could lower her voice. “I was just talking to some associates back here real quick. You should get back inside.”
Kat nodded and glanced behind Jess at Ezra and Cash. Jess watched as Kat shook off a shiver and waved at Ezra. He gave her a short nod in response. Cash noticed the interaction and his eyes narrowed.
“Hi Kat, I’m Cash,” he said charmingly as he approached her in two long strides. He reached out a hand and flashed her his scruffy dimpled smile and a wink.
“Hi,” Kat answered politely, though suspicion was still clear as day in her expression. Cash played it up, placing a kiss on her hand. Jess narrowed her eyes and wrinkled her nose at his antics.
“It’s so nice to meet you, beautiful.”
“No, Cash. Go sprinkle your bullshit somewhere else,” Jess interrupted, moving herself in front of Kat.
Cash smiled even wider. “Jealous, Sweetheart?”
Jess gritted her teeth and grabbed Kat’s arm, pulling her back to the door. Kat grabbed Jess’s hand. “You can come in with me,” she whispered. Her eyes roved over Jess’s face, and she frowned at the tension she read there.
Jess shook her head. “You know I’ve got this. Don’t worry.” She forced a snarky smile and a wink of her own.
Kat hesitated, clearly not buying the act, before finally relenting with a sigh. “Stop in before you leave,” she warned as she disappeared inside.
Jess turned to see Cash and Ezra staring. Cash was grinning like an idiot. “Looks like the infamous Justice has a soft side.”
Jess took an intimidating step forward, her voice deadly. “Mess with her and you’ll find out wrong you are.” It was already taking everything in her not to blow up over the shit in her files. The cop going anywhere near Kat would surely put her over the top.
“Are you threatening me, Jess?”
“Consider it a friendly warning. There’s one more thing I need. You can name your price. Zeke and Hazel Bridges. They were killed, but no one was ever arrested. You guys have quite the track record, by the way. I want the case details and leads on the case.”
Cash hadn’t moved. He stared like he expected to extract answers from her just by looking. When he didn’t find any, he shook his head. “God, you're a pain in the ass. I’ll look into it and see if there’s anything useful. How should I get in contact with you?”
“I’ll find you.” Jess headed around the corner, noting that Ezra had already left, or disappeared.
Jess couldn’t bring herself to face Kat again. She would take one look at Jess’s face and just know. Because that’s how Kat was. And God, Jess had to figure out how to stop letting her in, because as it stood, going back to avoidance was her only option. And the more Jess thought about her part in what happened to her family, the better off she decided Kat and Ezra would be if she wasn’t around.
***
It was her most frequented safe house, mostly because of its proximity to Kat’s coffee. Jess slipped into the first-floor window and made it three steps into the room before dropping down and wrapping her arms around her knees.
Were her father and brother dead because of her? She pressed her head onto her arms and held her breath until the pain became easier to deal with, or the threat of tears lessened. Her lungs ached, and her eyes burned, and still, that point never came. She’d only succeeded in making herself lightheaded.
Jess never got the chance to recover. A noise behind her had her on her feet, releasing a throwing knife at the intruder as she spun. She had another pulled, ready to throw by the time she realized it was Ezra standing in front of her.
