Page 22 of Sinner’s Game

Ronan straightened, fighting irritation. “We’re not asking you for help. We would never draw you into anything.”

“You’re not drawing me in. I’m walking. You’re family, remember? You’re like a brother to Devlin, and he’s like a brother to me. And that means that things are different. I thought you understood that.”

Ronan’s gut twisted as he glanced between Brandy and Ellie, the latter of whom was looking at her friend with something like love. His gaze bounced next to Devlin, who was nodding slowly. Everybody was fully on board with Lamar. Everyone except Ronan, and he felt like the world’s biggest heel for doubting this man they all trusted.

But that was the hard thing, wasn’t it? The people you trusted the most could betray you. Honestly, it was a wonder he and Devlin were as close as they were. But they had a shared history and knew at least some of each other’s secrets. Over the years, he’d come to trust Devlin with his life. But not everybody could be in that circle. Ronan had learned that one the hard way.

Maybe it was time to drop his guard around Lamar, too. “I can’t think of a reason why anyone with any connection to Saint’s Angels would kill Brandy’s landlord.”

“Then why the hell is the man dead?” Lamar retorted.

From where he stood leaning against the kitchen island that doubled as a breakfast bar, Devlin laughed. “You’d be surprised how many dead bodies pop up in the world that we have nothing to do with.”

To his credit, Lamar chuckled. “Can’t argue with that. But it’s damn odd.”

“Especially considering the way he yelled at you earlier,” Ellie said, her eyes on Brandy.

“I know,” Brandy agreed. “But that doesn’t have anything to do with Saint’s Angels.”

“Wait, wait, wait.” Lamar held up a hand. “What the hell are you two talking about?”

“It was really bizarre,” Brandy said, releasing Ronan’s hand as she took a step closer to the dead man. Ronan watched as she studied his face, her posture going stiff as if to keep herself in control.

Finally, she looked up at Lamar. “Remember when I told you I was meeting Ellie at the property manager’s office? Well, he was coming out when I arrived. And he totally went off on me.”

“Went off? What does that mean?”

She relayed the whole story, and when she was done, Lamar stood there shaking his head, looking as baffled by the incident as the rest of them.

“Weren’t supposed to be there?” Lamar said. “What could that mean?”

Brandy shrugged, then glanced back at Ronan as if for support.

“Neither one of us has a clue,” Ronan said as he fought the urge to move closer and take her hand. She was relying on him to help her through this, and the cold, hard truth was that he liked it—and he hated it, too.

Because with every glance—with every brush of her hand against his—it was getting harder and harder to keep his distance.

He shook the thoughts off, turning his focus to Devlin and Ellie. “What about you two? Got a theory?”

“Nothing,” Devlin said. “It’s definitely odd, but I can’t see any way that this ties in with Saint’s Angels. If you get a hint that it’s otherwise,” he added to Lamar, his eyes boring down on the detective, “let us know. Otherwise, thank you for understanding why we needed to at least be here initially. And for understanding why what we do needs to stay in the shadows.”

“I don’t know that I do understand it,” Lamar said. “But we’ve been through a lot together, and Brandy’s alive because of your team. So you can trust that I will never break your confidence. But you’ve got me walking a hell of a tightrope, guys.”

Ronan grimaced. That was damn true.

Lamar looked between Ellie and Brandy. “You know how much I love you two, and that I tolerate the both of you,” he added, returning his focus to the men with the slightest of grins. “But I’m working without a net. And we all need to realize that if I fall, there will be some serious shit hitting the fan.”

He was right. One misstep, and this one detective could bring down an entire organization. It was a terrifying realization, but a reality they would have to live with. And the truth was, so long as he stepped wisely, Lamar Gage could be a hell of an asset.

“We know,” Ronan said, not waiting for Devlin. “Guess that makes you an unofficial member of the team.”

For a moment, Lamar didn’t react, and Ronan feared he’d moved too quickly. Then the detective grinned. “So when do I get my secret decoder ring?”

“We’re backordered,” Devlin said dryly, and they all laughed, the lingering tension fading. About Lamar’s role, anyway. There was still the matter of a body in the living area.

“I need to call this in, and I don’t want you staying in this house tonight,” he added, turning his attention to Brandy. “You can stay with me at the condo.”

For a moment, sweet relief flooded Ronan from the simple knowledge that he’d be far away from temptation. But that also meant that Brandy would be away from him. That he wouldn’t be there to watch over her. And there was no one he trusted to do that more than himself.