Rising Bounty Read Free Page B

around and glared up at the sexiest man she had ever seen. Her eyes couldn’t help but go straight to the kilt he was wearing. His strong muscular legs peeked out. She licked her lips. Who knew she had a thing for men’s legs.
    “Eyes up here, lass.” Abe smiled at her and winked.
    She blinked, looking up at him in embarrassment for having been caught ogling him. “What are you doing here?”
    Abe leaned his hip against the bar counter crossing his ankles and folding his arms across his chest. “Vic called some of us in to help look for clues to who broke into the club.”
    “Shouldn’t that be the authority’s job?” She hated how small she felt next to him. It wasn’t his fault; he was just tall and muscular while she was short and petite. She had some curves and was pretty even with the dyed black hair she had. Men and even some women often hit her on but she always turned them down. She just didn’t see how she could allow someone else into her life who could possibly jeopardize her daughter’s safety.
    Lexi knew enough about her past that it put her in danger of getting in trouble with the authority for aiding Roxanne. Roxanne still kept her at a distance to protect everyone. It had to stay that way, or it would be time for her to move again. She didn’t want to do that to Cici, not now that she was finally settling into school and had friends for the first time. Cici deserved this chance to have a normal childhood.
    “The authority didn’t find anything. They’re useless to help. Vic knew we would be able to find out more. What did ye tell the authority when they questioned ye?”
    “I didn’t talk to the authority.” She looked away and bent down to pick up a bottle that had been broken. Other than a few broken bottles and tables turned on their sides, there really wasn’t much damage done to the club at all. Nothing was stolen either. The safe in the office was untouched.
    “Why didn’t the authority demand a statement from ye?”
    She shrugged her shoulders. “I wasn’t here when the authority came.”
    He reached for her arm, grabbed her, and pulled her to the office behind the bar. He closed the door. “Where were ye? Who were ye with? Did ye hear something?”
    “I don’t have to answer to you.” She pulled away from him circling around to the other side of the desk keeping it between them.
    “Ye do have to answer to me, since Vic asked me to help him investigate this break in. Where the hell were ye and why would ye leave your kid?”
    “I didn’t leave my child. I took her and my mother with me to a hotel.”
    “Why?”
    She shook her head. She couldn’t tell him the truth even though a part of her wanted to. He seemed to see through every untruth and she was sick of all the lies. All she wanted was to confide in someone she could trust. “We just wanted to get away for a night.”
    “Ye are lying to me. I hate when people lie to me.”
    “Tough. Get over it.” She started toward the door but he blocked her.
    “Did ye have anything to do with the break in? Is that why ye took yer family away so that ye all wouldn’t be witness to yer boyfriend coming and robbing the place?”
    “That’s ridiculous! I don’t even have a boyfriend and I would never steal from Lexi. She’s my best friend.”
    “Maybe yer boyfriend has a drug problem or gambling debts. People lie and steal for a lot of reasons.”
    “I—don’t—have—a—boyfriend!” She took a step closer and jabbed her finger in his chest.
    “Then why weren’t ye here in yer apartment during the break in?”
    “I was here!” Shit, she just admitted to being here.
    He raised his eyebrow at her. “Then ye left during the break in.”
    She sighed. “The alarm to the club went off. It took me off guard but once I realized what was happening, I called Lexi.”
    “You called Lexi instead of the authority. Then ye took your family to a hotel—why?
    “I didn’t steal from Lexi.”
    “It’s a moot point, lassie,