Reckoning and Ruin by Tina Whittle Read Free Book Online

now.”
    â€œWho is it?”
    I hesitated. Despite what I’d told Hope, Trey couldn’t detect shit over the phone. He’d either do what I told him, or he’d launch into emergency protocol, and I didn’t really want SWAT cops helicoptering into my parking lot. Again.
    Trey’s voice was insistent. “Tai?”
    â€œIt’s Hope.”
    â€œShe’s supposed to be in jail.”
    â€œEarly release, she says.”
    â€œYou don’t know that. I’m calling—”
    â€œNo cops.”
    â€œBut—”
    â€œI’m serious. We’re just talking.”
    Across the lot, Hope stared. The post-adrenalin crash had me buzzed and cranky and a little confused, but I knew one thing—if things got official, Hope would bolt. And I didn’t want her doing that until I’d figured out what was going on because there was no way in hell her sudden appearance wasn’t a part of the mess Ainsworth Lovett was stirring up.
    At Trey’s end, I heard murmured conversation, the ding of the elevator. I gripped the phone tighter. “Trey Seaver, do not—”
    â€œI’m coming up there.”
    â€œNo, you are not. For one, you’ve only got one good arm. For two, you’re hopped up on painkillers, and for three—”
    â€œI’m not driving, Gabriella is.”
    I felt a cold knot in my stomach. “Gabriella’s there?”
    â€œShe came to check on me.”
    I bit back my response. Now was not the time to argue about his way-over-the-line ex. But the time was coming. Like a freight train it was coming.
    Trey’s voice was steady. “Did Hope come alone?”
    â€œAs far as I know.”
    â€œHave you checked the car?”
    â€œWhat car?”
    â€œThe one out front. I assume it’s hers.”
    Crap. I’d forgotten to examine all the angles on the security feed.
    â€œI’ll do that in a second,” I said.
    â€œNo, go inside the shop. Take Hope with you and keep her in sight at all times. And keep the surveillance channels open. I’ll monitor them on the way in.”
    â€œOnly if you promise that we’ll handle this without official interference. No 911.”
    â€œTai—”
    â€œI’m serious. Promise.”
    He was being even bossier than usual, and I felt a prickle at the small of my back. Eric had diagnosed this prickle as oppositional defiant disorder. I’d told him to shove it.
    Trey exhaled gruffly. “Copy that. I promise. No 911. I’ll be there in forty minutes. Don’t let her out of sight, understand?”
    â€œI understand. But—”
    He hung up. Despite my annoyance, I was relieved to know he was on the way. I was capable of taking care of myself, but Trey was SWAT-trained and situation-ready, and with Hope, I needed all the back-up I could get.
    Hope glared. “He’s coming up here, isn’t he?”
    â€œOf course he is. He saved your life once, and he’ll do it again if he needs to, but he will tolerate no nonsense. Neither will I. Are we clear?”
    She started to say something, then bit it back. She looked like the only thing keeping her pilot light lit was pure anger, and now that it was burned up, her engine was running dry. I realized then that she’d wanted to find John here. That the alternative was too awful to comprehend.
    â€œWhat’s it gonna be, Hope? Deal with this all by yourself, or come into the shop and tell me what’s going on?”
    Hope hesitated for two seconds, then shoved past me toward the door. I caught the smell of sweat and stale fast food and knew she was truly desperate. Because out of all the people on the planet, I was the very last person she wanted to ask for help. Which meant she had no other place to go.
    I picked up her pistol and followed her inside.

Chapter Nine
    I unlocked the door and switched on the lights, keeping one eye on Hope the whole time. She was strangely