Gypsy king

“What?” Dash’s jaw went slack.

“She’s the new reporter in town.”

Dash’s face whipped my way. “You are the new reporter? I thought they hired a man.”

“Yeah, I get that sometimes. It’s my name. It always causes confusion.” I shrugged. “Bryce Ryan, Clifton Forge Tribune.”

Dash’s nostrils flared. My invite to The Betsy for a beer had just been revoked.

The garage’s office door flew open and the two officers came out with Draven Slater handcuffed between them.

I fought a smile, casting up a thank you to the journalist angels who’d blessed me today.

“Call our lawyer,” Draven ordered Dash, his jaw set in an even angrier line than his son’s.

Dash only nodded as Draven got shoved into the back of the cop car.

A woman with a white pixie cut came ru

I hurried to snap a picture with my phone before the cruiser reversed and sped away. We didn’t keep a full-time photographer on staff at the newspaper, not that we really needed one when smartphones were so convenient.

The moment the cruiser and Draven were gone from view, Dash whirled on the chief. “What the fuck is going on?”

“Dash, I’d like you to come down to the station for questioning.”

“No. Not until you tell me what this is about.”

The chief shook his head. “At the station.”

The pause that hung in the air was as stifling as the tension between the men. I didn’t expect Dash to budge, but finally he nodded.

“The station,” Marcus repeated, shooting me another one of those frowns before walking to his cruiser.

“What’s going on?” The woman from the office touched Dash’s arm. “Why did they arrest him?”

“Don’t know.” Dash stared at the chief’s taillights as they disappeared down the street, then he turned his attention to me. “What the hell do you want?”

“Your father is a suspect in a murder investigation. Do you have a comment?”

“Murder?” The woman’s mouth dropped as the bulky mechanic cursed, “Fuck.”

But Dash only hardened at my question, his expression turning to stone. “Get off my property.”

“So you don’t have a comment to the fact your father might be a murderer?” The might was generous. “Or did you know that already?”

“Screw you, lady,” the woman spat while Dash’s hands fisted at his sides. His expression remained stern, but behind his icy stare, that mind was whirling.

“I’ll take that as no comment.” I winked and turned for my car, ignoring the angry glares that prickled my neck.

“Bryce.” Dash’s voice boomed across the parking lot, freezing my steps.

I looked over my shoulder, giving him only my ear.

“I’ll give you one.” His voice was hard and unyielding, sending chills down my spine. “One warning. Stay out of this.”

Bastard. He wasn’t going to scare me away. This was my story. I was telling it, whether he liked it or not. I spun around, meeting his level gaze with my own.

“See you soon, King.”