In Seconds (Bulletproof #2)(58)
Author: Brenda Novak

“And how did she get involved in that?”

“They were trying to get to us through her and the kids, and some shit happened.”

If he thought he could get away with such a short summary, he was mistaken. “Maybe you could explain what shit.”

Besides being ill, Rex was clearly anxious, agitated and eager to get back to Vivian. “Shots were fired. People died. Others were hurt permanently and will never forget.”

Myles couldn’t imagine Vivian associated with any of that. But he’d never expected her to be associated with someone like Rex, either. “And how did you and her brother come in contact with this prison gang?”

Rex’s chuckle held no mirth. “How do you think?”

It was as he suspected, then. “You’re an ex-con.”

He didn’t confirm or deny it, but he didn’t have to. His silence spoke for him. “She’ll have to tell you herself. I can’t stay. She won’t be happy that I came over here. I just…couldn’t leave town without knowing I’d done all I could for her.”

“You’re leaving Pineview?” Myles couldn’t believe how glad he was to hear this. Evidently he felt more threatened by Rex and Vivian’s history than he wanted to admit, even to himself.

“Yeah. Tomorrow morning. I’m taking Jake and Mia with me. They’ll be staying with their uncle for a while. They’re not safe here.”

“If The Crew’s trying to kill Vivian, she’s not safe, either,” Myles pointed out.

“She won’t leave. That’s why I’m depending on you.”

“Why won’t she go?”

“This place matters to her.” Rex’s gaze flicked over him again. “She’s not willing to give it up.”

Was Rex intimating that he thought Myles played some part in Pineview’s appeal? And, if so, was it true? “So…let me get this straight. She’s planning to defend herself?”

“She’ll have to if she stays. And she’s aware of that. She knows what these people are capable of. She’s seen it before. I gotta go.”

Myles followed him to the door, stopped him at the last minute. “But you still love her, right?” In the midst of everything else, Myles wasn’t sure why he wanted to know this, but he did.

“I wouldn’t be standing here if I didn’t.”

At least he was honest. Myles had guessed correctly, but that only confirmed everything he’d been telling himself. He’d been stupid to get mixed up in Vivian’s love life. For his own good, and Marley’s, he needed to stay out of it in the future. But now that The Crew had come to his community, there was a lot more at stake than protecting his heart. “Where does her brother live? How will I be able to reach you?”

“You won’t.”

“You’re asking me to look out for her, but you don’t trust me enough to tell me where to find you?”

“The less you know, the better. Just in case.”

Myles shook his head. “You don’t have much confidence in me.”

“I could say the same.”

There was no answer to that. They regarded each other with equal distrust.

“You’re a small-town cop who’s probably never come up against people like this,” Rex added. “The odds aren’t in your favor.”

Myles stopped him once again. “Before you walk away, tell me what you know about the men who’re coming after her.”

“I’m guessing there’re two. They busted out of a California prison ten days ago.”

“What makes you think they’re coming here?”

“That Realtor dude who was killed, for one.”

“What connection does The Crew have with Pat?”

“None. Except for how senseless the killing was. Whoever did it was probably looking for a place to stay or money or something else and negotiations didn’t go as planned.”

“You said, ‘for one.’ What else makes you think they’re coming here?”

“Besides the fact that they’ve sworn to see us all dead?”

“Yeah.”

“They’ve already started to make good on that promise. They stabbed Vivian’s mother to death sometime in the past week.”

Myles felt his eyebrows jerk up. “They killed her mother?”

“Neighbor found her.”

Shit… This was serious, all right. “And Vivian knows?”

“About her mother? As of this morning, she does.”

How was he supposed to react to that? Vivian was caught up in something bigger than he could ever have imagined. “And the names of the men who broke out of prison are…”

“I only know one of them. He’s called Ink. Spent a lot of time with him back in the day but don’t remember his real name because I never used it. All I know is that he’s a crazy son of a bitch.”

“What does he look like?”

“He’s got tattoos—”

With a scowl, Myles pulled his shirt out of his pants in preparation for removing his uniform once Rex left. “Let me guess. Those tattoos are all over, including his face. Lightning bolts for eyebrows?”

Rex stopped trying to make his escape and actually advanced toward him. “You’ve seen him.”

He recalled the uneasiness he’d felt in the presence of “Ron Howard” and his younger buddy. “Yesterday. With a kid maybe nineteen, driving a stolen truck. Only I didn’t know it was stolen at the time, or I would’ve arrested them.”

This news seemed to infuse Rex with enough adrenaline to overcome the physical symptoms of his addiction. He quit shaking, became extremely focused. “Were you alone?”

“Yes.”

“Then it’s a good thing you didn’t try. Where are they now?”

That was the million-dollar question. “I wish I knew.” Especially because he was pretty sure that Rex was right. These escapees had killed Pat. Two men fresh out of prison would need to buy some regular shoes. They might even buy the same shoes. And those shoes would likely be cheap, common and brand-spanking-new.

Rex cursed, paced and cursed some more. “You have to find them before they find Laurel. You realize that.”

“Who’s Laurel?” This was getting more complicated by the minute.

He waved impatiently. “Vivian. Of course I’m talking about Vivian.”

“Her real name’s Laurel?”