I was absolutely buzzing by the time Bear left my house. The feeling stayed with me until the next morning when the phone rang. “Hello.”

“Ma?” Morgan sounded weird. It was a mother thing. I could be hundreds of miles away from him and just know when something was off.

I stopped walking. “What’s wrong?”

“We found Johnny,” he said an octave lower.

“Good. That bastard,” I whispered into the phone.

“He’s dead.”

“What?” I screeched, thinking I heard him wrong.

“He’s gone, Ma.”

Nervousness filled me, and I grabbed the sponge from the sink and started cleaning in a manic state. “What happened?”

“Looks like suicide. Shot himself.”

The guilt I felt after calling him a bastard started to eat at me immediately. “I can’t believe it.”

“He left a note. It looks like he wasn’t working alone in the theft of Race’s money.”

My hand stopped scrubbing the black granite counter. “What did it say?” Sometimes getting information out of Morgan was more like pulling teeth than an actual conversation.

“I’ll send it to you via text. The cops are taking it into evidence.”

“Okay,” I said, trying to hold back my tears.

“We’ll be home later today. I’ll stop by when I get a chance.”

“Go home to your wife, baby. I’m fine,” I lied.

“I need to talk to you, though, about Johnny and his circle of friends.”

“I already told Bear everything I knew.”

“I still want to talk with you. I gotta run, Ma. We’re about to leave and head out. I’ll call you later.”

“Drive safely, Morgan. I love you.”

“Love you too,” he said before he disconnected.

Johnny killed himself. I couldn’t believe it. Standing in my kitchen, I stared out the window and clutched my phone.

When it beeped, I glanced down, still in a trance.

I read the note five times, trying to figure out who “he” was and why Johnny felt it was his only way out. The information was too sparse and cryptic for me to really make any type of guess on what the hell was going on.

I couldn’t sit here all day and replay everything in my head. There was only one place I could go to figure shit out—only one person who would talk to me like a person.

I grabbed my purse and headed straight for ALFA PI. By the time I walked through the front door, my stomach had filled with knots, and my shoulders felt like iron bricks.

“Hey,” I said to Angel as she stood from the reception desk and came to greet me. Her auburn hair bounced with each step like a luscious red velvet blanket.

Her dark eyes didn’t meet mine when she spoke. “Hey, yourself.” She backed away and studied my face. “You don’t look so good.”

I waved her comment away. “Have you talked to Morgan?”

“He just called to say he’s on his way back.”

“Is that all he said?” Even though I was standing still, my foot tapped on the floor because pacing wasn’t an option.

“No.” She frowned and stared down at the floor. “No, he told me about Johnny.”

I looked around her shoulder, down the hallway that led to the offices. “Bear around?”

She nodded and stepped to the side. “He’s in his office.”

“Thanks, doll.” I gave her a quick peck on the cheek before marching straight to the man I knew could help me work through the shit in my head.

I knocked softly. “Bear.”

No response.

“Bear,” I spoke a little louder this time.

The door behind me opened, and a smiling Sam stood in the doorway. “Hi, Ms. D. How are you today?”

“I’m well, Sam. Yourself?” I took him in—all his beauty and muscles. If I were twenty years younger, I would’ve taken a run at him. I could’ve climbed that tall drink of water and swung off his vine like a champion.

“I’m well.” His white teeth glistened against his tanned face. His white T-shirt clung to his muscles like it couldn’t get close enough. “He’s inside.” He motioned with his scruff-covered chin.

“I don’t want to just walk inside,” I told him, still eyeing him like a flesh-colored lollipop.

“Just go in. He’s probably asleep. We had a long night.”

If he only knew.

“Thanks, sweetie,” I said and stood on my tiptoes to place a kiss on his cheek. When I planted my lips against his skin, I inhaled his scent like a creeper.

When I came to ALFA, most of the men were my relatives. I was only left with Bear and Sam as eye candy, but they were more than enough to keep my imagination occupied.

“Anytime, Ms. D.”

As I backed away, I debated my next statement in my head a few times before finally blurting it out. “Don’t tell Morgan I was here, please.”

His smile vanished. “Why?”

“I just don’t want him to worry. I need to talk to Bear about the case, and I don’t want to hear Morgan’s shit. Got me?”

He nodded slowly. “Got ya. Whatever you say.”

“Good boy.” I waved and touched the door handle, waiting for Sam to go back inside. Once he finally closed his door, I opened Bear’s to find him on the phone with his back to me.

“I’m working on it. Just get your ass back here and calm the fuck down,” he growled, swiveling around in his chair. His eyes raked up my body before a slow, lazy smile appeared. “I’ll keep her safe. I have to go. Someone is here to see me.” He disconnected the call and leaned back, staring at me.

I shifted on my feet. “Am I bothering you?”

“Come here,” he said, motioning for me with his hand.

I walked around the desk and came to a stop in front of him. “I can go.”

His big hands slid around my waist, and he pulled me into his lap. “You all right, sweetheart?”

“I’m okay,” I told him as I nuzzled against his chest. “Better now that I’m here.” My hand tangled in his white T-shirt, the tips of my fingers digging into his hard pecs.

His hand swept up and down my back, soothing me. “How much did you hear?”

I peered up into his silver eyes. “Not much. I assume you were referring to me in that phone call.”

He grimaced. “Yeah. I’m supposed to keep an eye on you, and Sam’s going to head to the track to be with Race until Morgan gets back.”

I would’ve argued needing to be watched, but I wasn’t in the mood, and it was Bear that would do the watching. “Did you see the note?”

“Yeah.” His hand came to the back of my neck and gripped me gently. “You know it’s not your fault, right?”

My eyes drifted away from his. “Yeah,” I whispered.

“Fran, look at me.” My chest tightened as I directed my eyes to his, and his hold on me increased. “Whatever Johnny got involved in had nothing to do with you. Do not feel guilty for his choices.”

“But,” I started to say, but I lost my train of thought.

“Don’t worry,” he said in the most soothing voice and pulled my head against his chest, cupping my face. “This isn’t your fault.”

“Bear, if I would’ve answered the phone, maybe…” I sealed my eyes shut as my chin began to quiver.

“It wouldn’t’ve changed a thing. He was in too deep. He would’ve just dragged you into whatever mess he was involved in.” His fingers swept my hair away from my face and tucked a few strays behind my ear. “It’s bad enough that you’re this involved. I couldn’t imagine if something happened to you too.”

I listened to the steady thumping of his heart and let his words sink in. I probably couldn’t have changed anything, but knowing I didn’t answer the phone would eat at me for some time.

We sat in silence for a few minutes while I gathered my thoughts. I finally straightened in his lap, staring into his steely eyes. “Well, he’s gone now. There’s nothing I can do to change it.”

“You’re stuck with me for the rest of the day.”

“That’s not a hardship.” I smiled, and the tears that had collected in my eyes spilled down my cheeks.

Using his thumb, he brushed them away. “Want to go see Race? We could spend the day out at the track, and I can talk to some of the workers.”

“Sure. I never mind spending time with my daughter-in-law.”

“Sam!” Bear yelled over my head. His eyes dropped to mine. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to yell in your ear.”

“It’s okay.” I laughed.

“Yo,” Sam said as he opened the door, filling the entire frame.

“We’re heading to the track. Stay here if you want. I’ll keep an eye on both of the ladies.”

Sam chewed on his lip and thought about it before finally replying, “Sure.”

“We’re out.” Bear lifted me off his lap and deposited my feet on the floor. “Ready?”

“Let’s take my car and leave your bike here.”

Bear’s eyebrows drew together. “Although that sounds nice, I’d be more comfortable with you on the back of my bike.”

“That makes one of us,” I mumbled.

“I’ll get your car back to your place, Ms. D,” Sam offered.

“Thanks,” Bear replied before I could protest.

“Call me if you need anything,” Sam said before walking back to his office, leaving us alone again.

“I don’t understand why we can’t take my car.”

“I have nothing against your sedan, baby.” Bear stood and grabbed my chin, forcing me to look up at him. “But I’d rather have you on the back of my bike with your sweet thighs squeezing me like a vise and your hungry pussy pressed against my back.”

“Okay,” I whispered because I liked it too.

---

“Fran!” Race ran toward me with her arms outstretched.

“Hey, sweetie,” I said to her as we hugged.

With her arms still wrapped around me, she said, “Bear. It’s good to see you. I’ve heard a lot about you lately.” She snickered.

I backed away and held her shoulders. “Don’t believe a word of what Morgan says. You hear me?”

Her deep green eyes sparkled. “Sure, Mom. Whatever you say.”

“It’s probably worse than you’ve heard,” Bear said, which earned him a stern look.

“I know you’re a dirty dog.” Race slapped Bear’s chest. “What brings you two by?” She blocked the sun from her eyes with her hand.

“Just wanted to go through Johnny’s office once more, and I thought I’d take you two to lunch.”

“Hmm.” She turned around and glanced down at the track behind us. “I’m sure I can get away for a little bit. We’re shorthanded without Johnny, but we can make do.”

“You’re always working. We barely spend time together anymore.” I felt whiny, but I did miss her. She had been consumed by the track and making it a success, and with Johnny gone, it hadn’t made her job any easier.

“Good. I’ll go with Race, and you check out the office,” I told Bear when I looped my arm with Race’s and started to walk away.

“Meet back here in an hour, and we’ll head out.”

“You got it!” I yelled out before glancing at my daughter-in-law. “When are you going to give me a grandchild?” I asked because it’d been on my mind ever since Janice came to my house with her giant belly. Really, it’d been on my mind since the day they were married, but I’d been waiting patiently.

“We’re working on it, Mom. I promise,” Race said, and I believed her.

I’d learned over the last few years that Race never lied to me. Even when Morgan would complain, she still told me like it was—never sparing my feelings in the name of truth.

We walked toward the maintenance building with our arms still locked. “As long as you’re trying, then I’m happy.”

She looked at me with a quirked eyebrow. “What about you and Bear?”

I smiled so big that my cheeks hurt. “Oh, girl. It’s a long story.”

“It’s a good thing we have an hour, then.”

We gabbed the entire time, mostly about Bear, but also about Morgan. Race told me that he’d complained all week about us growing closer. He worried that Bear wasn’t going to treat me with the respect I deserved.

I’m sure some of the feelings had more to do with his father and the way he treated me and left us, but I knew Bear was nothing like him. Ray was out for one person—himself.

Bear would do anything to shield his friends and family from any pain, even if it meant he’d take a hit to do it. He was that kind of guy.