Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 67966 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67966 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Sharpe stood toe-to-toe with him, not backing down, nor was he the slightest bit intimidated by Lincoln’s anger.
Lincoln hated that saying the bastard’s name—Sharpe—made his dick harden.
It was the kind of name that belonged in a whispered groan or shouted in a fight—he didn’t know which he preferred yet.
Thorn disrupted their dick-measuring contest when he spoke. “I have no problem answering. I was home working all evening.”
“Is there anyone who can corroborate that?” she asked with her pen poised.
“Me,” Lincoln chimed in. “I was home all evening as well.”
Sharpe sucked his teeth. “Anyone else besides your lover to back you up?”
Lincoln clenched his jaw.
“Are you calling me a liar?” Lincoln felt his cheeks get hot as he balled his fists at his sides.
Fuck, this bastard was getting a serious rise out of him, and by the cunning smirk on his face, Detective Sharpe had done it on purpose, merely for his enjoyment.
Lincoln swore under his breath. It had been a long time since anyone had gotten under his skin this fast. Not since…
He shut down that thought. Sharpe didn’t deserve a place in his memories…at least not yet.
“Evan Scott’s apartment was ransacked last night, there’s clear evidence of a struggle, and he’s considered missing,” she said almost mechanically, then paused as if she were judging their reaction. “His blood was found in the alley behind his building.”
Lincoln stared as Thorn clamped his hand over his mouth, his eyes wide. He went to Thorn’s side and put his arm around him.
“Oh god.” Thorn squeezed his eyes closed as he clutched Lincoln’s shoulders.
“My partner and I don’t think anyone can lose that much blood and walk away.” Detective Kelly paused, as if to gauge their reaction. “We’re treating Evan Scott’s case as a homicide.”
Thorn flinched.
Every time Evan’s name was spoken, Thorn’s composure cracked a little more.
“Do you know a Lucas Brewer, Mr. Blackwell?”
Thorn froze, his gaze darting between the three of them.
Lincoln was confused. He was waiting for Thorn to answer as well, but he just stood there with his lips parted, no words coming out.
Ahh shit.
“Mr. Blackwell, would you mind coming down to the station and talking with us there?” Sharpe came toward them as if he hadn’t actually given Thorn a choice.
“Absolutely not.” Lincoln gripped Thorn tighter. He still appeared shaken by the news of Evan’s death…or was it the mention of Lucas Brewer? Lincoln didn’t recall ever hearing that name before. “If they ask, that means you don’t have to go.”
“Where the hell did you get that from? An episode of Law and Order?” Sharpe mocked him.
“You know what motherfucker…fuck you. You can take your—”
Thorn placed a finger gently over Lincoln’s lips. “Lincoln, stop talking like that. I’ll go.”
“But—”
“No. They said Evan could be dead, Linc,” Thorn repeated as if he couldn’t believe it. “I don’t want to cause delays by declining an interview with the police. Once I’m cleared, then they can find out who really did it. That’s all that matters.”
“We appreciate your cooperation, Mr. Blackwell,” she said, moving toward the door. “I’m sure we’ll get this matter resolved quickly. You can follow in your own vehicle.”
“Thank you,” Thorn whispered.
“I’m going with you,” Lincoln demanded.
“Are you his attorney?”
Lincoln gritted his teeth as he glared into Sharpe’s rum-brown eyes.
“No. But I have watched all eight seasons of The Practice, smartass, so I’m going with him. Besides, he’s in no condition to drive. Someone he used to love very much is gone.” Lincoln tucked a lock of Thorn’s hair behind his ear. “I’m not leaving his side.”
Just like he wouldn’t dare leave any of theirs.
Lincoln saw something flash across Sharpe’s stern face, but he wiped it away too fast for Lincoln to recognize what it was.
He was damn good at reading a man’s thoughts, but the detective had shifted Lincoln’s mind someplace he hadn’t been in a long time—someplace dangerous and forbidden.
The opposite of how Belladonna gentlemen were supposed to think.
Damn this fucking guy.
Lincoln had let the detective get to him so easily…and what was worse was that it had all happened in front of Axel and Thorn.
“We’ll wait outside.” Kelly cleared her throat when her partner still hadn’t moved. His hard scowl was directed at Lincoln’s arms around Thorn’s trembling body.
He waited until the door locked automatically behind the detectives before he took Thorn’s bristly cheeks in his hands.
“Are you okay, babe?”
“Lucas.” Thorn spun and ran to his office, leaving Lincoln standing there confused. “I have to call him now.”
Lincoln stood in the doorway of Thorn’s office, wondering what the hell his mentor had gotten himself mixed up in.
Belladonna Mansion
Casey’s Condo
Virginia Beach Oceanfront
1:35 a.m.
His boy dragged his fingers across his chest after their embrace, as if reluctant to release him.
The notes from Mendelssohn’s ballad still hummed in the air between them, mingling with the low hush of the ocean filtering through the open balcony doors.