Gypsy king

“I’m sorry. And I’m so sorry for your wife.” Finding a dead body would leave scars for anyone.

“Thanks.” He fisted his hand on the counter. “I wish I could say I was surprised.”

My ears perked up. “You’re not?”

“That club has never done anything but cause trouble.”

My heart began to race but I did my best to hide my excitement. Cody Pruitt might be the first person in Clifton Forge who would willingly give me information about the Tin Gypsies instead of warning me away. “Have they caused you trouble here before?”

“Not lately. But I went to high school with Dash. He was an arrogant son of a bitch back then. Same as he is now. Him and some friends rented out a couple of rooms from my parents after our senior prom. Trashed them.”

“You’re kidding.” I feigned shock when inside I was doing cartwheels. Finally I’d found someone who wasn’t warning me away from Dash or a founding member of his fan club.

“Nope.”

I waited, wondering if he’d say something more, but Cody’s eyes drifted out the office window, toward the room marked 114. When I’d driven by yesterday, there’d been police tape over the front. Now, it was gone. Unless you knew where it had happened, you wouldn’t guess a woman had been killed across the courtyard.

“Did you see Draven here on Friday?” I asked.

He shook his head. “No. My mom was working that night.”

“Did she—”

I was cut off by the rumble of an engine outside. Both Cody and I whipped our heads to the other window in time to see Dash roll into the parking lot on his Harley.

Shit. Great timing, Slater.

Dash parked next to my car and swung his leg off the motorcycle. He was wearing a black leather jacket today and a pair of faded jeans. Just the sight of his long legs and his unruly hair made my heart jump. Damn him. Why couldn’t he have been blond? I’d never had a thing for blonds.

I did my best to keep my breaths even as he strode our way. The last thing I wanted was to have him come in here and see me panting. The flush in my cheeks was bad enough.

I turned my back to the door, keeping my attention on Cody, who was practically seething.

The bell chimed as Dash came inside. His stare burned my backside as it trailed down my spine, yet I refused to turn or acknowledge him as he came to the counter. From the corner of my eye, I saw him slip off his sunglasses.

“Cody.” Dash’s heat hit my shoulder as he leaned his elbows on the counter. “Bryce.”

My name in his voice gave me goose bumps on my skin. I pulled my arms to the side, hiding them from his view. Did he have to be so close? He was less than an inch away and the smell of leather and wind filled my nose. And, damn it, I inhaled a deeper breath.

To hell with you, pheromones.

“Kingston,” I drawled, daring a glance at his profile with my best unaffected stare.

A growl formed deep in his chest, but he didn’t utter any other response. He held my gaze for a moment too long, and then he dismissed me, giving Cody a nod. “How are you?”

“How am I?” Cody’s voice shook. “You have some nerve coming here, Slater.”

“I’m not here to cause trouble.”

“Then leave.”

“Just want to ask you some questions.”

Get in line, pal. “Cody was just telling me that he’s given all the information to the police.”

“That’s right.” Cody pointed to the door. “I have nothing else to say. So unless you want to destroy another room or two, I think it’s best you leave.”

“Look, I’ve said it a hundred times. I’m sorry about prom. My dad and I paid for that and then some. I was a stupid kid. If I could go back in time, I’d undo it. But I can’t.”

They’d paid for it? Interesting. I’d pegged Draven and Dash as men who wouldn’t make amends for something like petty vandalism. As leaders of a dangerous motorcycle gang, they could have made some threats and gotten away with it. Taking responsibility was not something I’d expected.

And something Cody had conveniently left out of his story.

“I have nothing to say to you,” Cody snapped. He was a good four inches shorter than Dash and at least thirty pounds lighter. But I got the impression this wasn’t so much about the murder or prom as it was a less-popular kid taking a stand against an old nemesis.

Good for you, Cody.

“I only want to find out who killed that woman.” There was vulnerability in Dash’s voice. I didn’t like how my heart softened.

Cody huffed. “You Slaters are all the same. Your dad takes a knife to a woman in my motel, stabs her from head to toe, and you’re here to pin it on someone else. Guess it’s a good thing Bryce is here. Otherwise you might try to say I killed her.”

“That’s not—”

“Get out,” Cody snarled. “Before I call the cops.”

Dash blew out a long breath, then turned his attention to me. “You put my dad’s name and picture in the paper.”

“Well, he was, in fact, arrested for murder. You might remember, I was there.”

The corner of his lip curled up. “You make a habit of printing lies? I can’t wait to shove them down your throat.”

Lies? No. No one questioned my integrity as a journalist. “What I printed was the truth. A woman was murdered. Truth. She died here at the motel. Truth. Your father was arrested as a suspect. Truth. Are those the lies you’re going to shove down my throat?”

He inched closer, looking down his nose at me. “Maybe. But I’d rather shove something else down that pretty throat instead.”

“Weak.” I rolled my eyes. “If you think threats laced with sexual i

“Harder. You’ll beg for harder.” He came closer again, the smooth leather of his jacket brushing against the thin cotton of my tee. I’d worn a sports bra to the paper last night, opting for comfort instead of lift. I’d chosen one without padding and when his eyes drifted lower, I knew he saw my nipples peeking through.

I could step away. Or I could call his bluff. Was Dash a bad-boy playboy? Absolutely. But was he a misogynistic womanizer who’d force himself on me? No. Which meant he was pushing to see how hard I’d push back.

Game on.

I took my own step forward, pressing my breasts into his chest. “I doubt that . . . King.”

Dash hissed as I dragged my nails up the side of his jean-clad thigh. My entire body was braced, waiting to see his reaction. If he touched me, I’d probably have to knee him in the balls. But it didn’t come to that. Calling his bluff worked.

In a flash, he stepped away, his frame strung tight, and marched out the door. The bell filled the air and my breath came back in heaves, the sound drowned out by the noise of Dash’s Harley as it raced away.

Cody’s grin stretched ear to ear. “I like you.”

“Thanks.” I laughed, my heart rate settling.

“What else would you like to know?” Cody asked. “I’ll tell you everything if you’re out to get Dash.”

Now it was my turn to grin from ear to ear. “Do you happen to know the victim’s name?”