Page 92 of Diamonds in the Mud

I exchanged a glance with Rayne, knowing that there was no point in hiding the truth from our friend.

“Bobby and Earl Dupont jumped us,” I replied, my voice grim. “We were just leaving the bar.”

“They’re running a drug ring in their father’s county,” Rayne said, her voice low but determined. “And it appears they’ve been selling stolen vehicles on the side. They’re the ones who jumped…” She stopped and looked at me. I nodded, assuring her that she could tell Randy everything.

After she quickly ran through what had happened to me the other night in the hotel, Randy’s eyes widened in disbelief, and his jaw slacked with shock. “Damn,” he muttered under his breath. “That’s some serious shit.”

I nodded, my thoughts racing as I tried to make sense of everything that had happened in the past few days. “We need to figure out our next move,” I said, my voice determined. “I have a feeling those two aren’t going to stop. And when word of last night gets to the Reapers, my cover will be blown.”

Rayne took my hand under the table. “We’ll deal with what comes next,” she said to me.

We ordered food and ate in silence after a group of people came and sat in the booth beside ours.

I wanted to spend more time with Rayne, but when Randy stopped in the parking lot a few blocks from my place, I knew we wouldn’t have time. Besides, I had to get back to work and assess the damage last night had caused.

“We’ll talk,” I told Rayne and slid out of the car. “Thanks again,” I said to Randy.

The moment I stepped through my door, I knew just how deep of shit I was in.

Felix lounged on my sofa, sipping a cup of coffee.

“I heard you and that pretty little detective went and had yourselves some fun last night,” Felix said, glancing me up and down.

I took one step into the room and then Ben appeared out of nowhere behind me.

“I told her that I’d been jumped after crashing my bike. She told me she had a lead on my shit and was trying to help me get my phone back,” I said, trying to relax.

Felix’s eyes narrowed. “Funny thing,” he said, setting his cup down on my coffee table. “I thought we were your family?”

“You are,” I said, taking another step. I was still armed but there was no way I’d pull a gun on Felix. Not yet. He was trying to make a point. I fucked up and I knew it.

“Then why the fuck are you running to some cop for help?” Felix’s voice rose.

“I didn’t run. She offered and, well”—I smiled—“I was horny.”

Felix’s eyes narrowed. “That may have played a month ago.” He stood slowly. “You cut us. Cut us deep.” He nodded to Ben, who had moved behind me.

Ben grabbed my arms and held them. I knew what was coming, so I relaxed into the first of Felix’s blows. To be honest, the Dupont brothers and the cops who had locked me up had hit harder.

It was obvious that Felix was going easy on me.

When I was kneeling on the ground, gasping for air, Felix hovering over me, he added, “Cut your family out again and we might just cut back,” Felix warned as he yanked my hair. “You’ll have your shit back, including your bike, by nightfall. If you need a fuck, use Izzy or one of our other girls.” He dropped his hold on my hair and walked out.

“Clean yourself up. We have a job to do,” Ben said once Felix was gone.

I glanced up at Ben. “For real?”

Ben’s eyes narrowed. “Since it appears you’re healed enough from getting jumped, Felix wants us to take a drive.”

I stood up and nodded. “I need a shower,” I said motioning towards my bathroom.

Ben nodded. “I’ll head downstairs and grab us some sandwiches and coffee.”

“Thanks,” I said, disappearing into my bathroom.

Shit. What in the hell did I just get away with? More importantly, what was I heading into?

Was Ben taking me out to get rid of me? Was this some ruse to lower my guard? Did they suspect me?