Page 124 of Contentious

“I’m not leaving anything to chance.”

“Fine. Be that way.”

“You’re very cute when you don’t get your way.”

“I’m never cute.”

“Um, yes, you are. Can I get you anything before I go?”

“No, thanks. I’m fine. Just hurry back.”

“I’ll be as quick as the LA traffic allows.” She leaned over to kiss him. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

“I am, too. Thanks for having me.”

“Least I could do after my ex stabbed you.”

His handsome face became even more so when he flashed that devastating grin. “Maybe I ought to thank him for helping me to further ingratiate myself with you.”

Cresley frowned. “Too soon, Carson. Far too soon.”

She left him laughing when she went to comb her hair and find some shoes.

Richie, one of Carson’s guys, drove her to the school.

Ty would be so excited to see Carson, and she couldn’t wait to get home to him.

* * *

After she left, all the life went out of the place, Carson thought. He moved carefully to get up to find a bathroom and brought his laptop back to the chaise when he returned a few minutes later. Moving around was still excruciating, but less so every day. By the time he was settled back on the comfortable chair, he was sweating and breathing hard.

Being injured fucking sucked.

While the laptop booted up, he called Anthony, looking for an update on the search for Beckett. In the hospital, the police had interviewed him and Cresley. They’d told the officers everything they knew about Beckett, his friends and associates, hoping for a quick apprehension that hadn’t happened.

“What’s up, boss?”

“That’s what I want to know. Where are we with finding this son of a bitch?”

“No closer, unfortunately. He’s disappeared into the ether.”

“Which leads me to think he’d planned to hide out if needed.”

“That’s probably true.”

“Have you guys reviewed all the video I took when I was following him?”

“All of it, multiple times. We’ve tracked the plates of everyone he met with, and no one has any idea where he is. Or if they know, they’re not talking.”

“He doesn’t have the means to go far. The cops impounded his truck. Let’s take another look at any vehicles reported missing in Cresley’s neighborhood.”

“We’ve been watching that, and only two cars were reported stolen in the last ten days. Both later turned up.”

“How can a guy this stupid, without a dime to his name, just disappear this way?”

“It’s crazy, for sure.”

“I’ll talk to Cresley again later and get a list of every friend and acquaintance he’s ever mentioned to her, going back to the beginning. I’ll get back to you if she comes up with anyone new.”