Page 84 of Shattered Pieces

“Would have been weeks ago if I’d been allowed,” he muttered under his breath, handing his phone over. “I don’t think it was her, but someone fed her the information and she’s the scapegoat.”

Hunter read it over, seeming confused. “The academy chick Matteo’s been screwing?”

“Yep. Don’t know how you’ll make her vanish, she’s a noticeable missing person, so have fun with that,” I chuckled, his eyes lifting to mine.

“Ah, so you’re only telling me this because it means I get to handle your rat problem?”

“Basically.”

“We’re creative, don’t worry,” he scoffed, handing the phone back to Diesel. “Thanks for this. I’ll get her out in no time once Mandy’s dealt with. There will be no body or witness, but we’ll need to get rid of the gun too, if it even exists. Hopefully, Rory will be home in the next couple of weeks.”

“If you need help, let me know,” Diesel offered, earning a dirty look from me that they both ignored. There was no way Diesel was getting more involved with this shit.

They shook hands, then Hunter turned to me. “Have you gotten your head out of your ass yet?”

“Trust me, you can have her,” I scoffed, the thought of them together making me more murderous than I already was.

Hunter looked amused, sitting on his desk and crossing his arms.

“I think we can share, right? I’m okay with it.”

“You’re one of the reasons he’s turned on her, you know? Stop being an ass. The only person you’re hurting is Rory,” Diesel snapped, and Hunter winced.

“I already told him we weren’t together or anything. It’s just so easy to rile him up.”

“She was in your bed,” I grumbled, making him snort.

“Which I already explained. She killed her fucking dad and the only reason she was sad was because you never answer the phone. You’re the one who betrayed her, asshole. If you can’t see that, then I’ll happily have her. She knows she can rely on me.”

“I never did a damn thing⁠—”

“You’re the most unreliable dickhead on the planet. You can still fix it though because that girl’s still stupidly waiting for you to show up,” Hunter continued, his tone serious. “That’s all she’s ever wanted from you. For you to actually show up when she needs you.”

The door opened and Tyler appeared, his eyes flicking between us. “Are you talking about Rory? Did something happen?”

“She’s fine,” Hunter assured him. “Diesel and Skeet came through with the witness.”

Hope filled Tyler’s eyes as he looked at me, and I sneered. “I didn’t help, I’m just here as backup. Diesel was the one to get the information.”

The little fucker moved so fast.

One second he was watching me, the next, he was hugging me.

“Thank you,” he mumbled, and I managed to pry him off me.

“I said I didn’t do anything. Are you deaf?”

“You did,” he insisted, looking at Hunter. “You’ll deal with it and get her out fast, right?”

Hunter grimaced, knowing it wouldn’t be on the rich prick’s schedule.

“It’ll take a couple of weeks. Dealing with the witness takes planning, then they’ll have to look over what they have on Rory’s case before dismissing it. I know she’s supposed to go before the judge soon, so hopefully once the witness is gone, it moves fast. Can’t promise it though, and we can’t let her know either. We need to keep suspicion away from us.”

“We have to let her think she’s stuck in there?” he asked with annoyance, making me huff.

“You can’t exactly go into the prison and let her know you’re handling the witness, man.”

He deflated a little, but nodded. “Just get her out. She doesn’t belong in there.”