Page 77 of Embracing the Beat
“Because if so, I’ll rip your balls off and shove ’em down your throat before I beat you to death.”
Well, that’s…graphic.
“I haven’t done anything. Not that I know of, anyway. I’m worried she’s only home because she has nowhere else to go.”
“What do you mean?”
I tell him the entire story I coaxed from her. My anger spikes again with every detail, a red haze encroaching on my vision when I relay the texts Michaela let me read.
“Motherfucker.”
“I need your help,” I tell him.
“I’m already on it.” There’s a staccato tapping of keys and a deep breath. “I have a contact from one of my old COs. Another special ops guy who ran security for Reverb. Fuck, I knew I should have done more research into that fucking label rep when they assigned him to her. I did a full background check on the first guy, and he checked out fine. Figured that was the end of it.”
“Do you know why the other guy left? Why she got assigned to this douchebag?” I ask.
“Has she talked to you about everything that’s happened over the last year and a half?” His question is hesitant.
“Of course.”
I still feel like an ass for assuming the worst about her and Tucker.
“I assume Reverb was tired of taking a hit to their reputation. They were in a big enough shit storm when Jax Bryant left their label to start his own.”
“How the hell do you know all this?” I ask.
“You live in LA, you hear things. Especially if you keep your ears open.”
“Something you’re good at.”
“You don’t do what I did in the military without being good at it.”
He’s never told me exactly what that entailed, so other than knowing he went to basic training and deployed a half dozen times, I have no idea. I don’t even know where he deployed to, only that when he came back, he was hyperaware of his surroundings and had a knack for knowing if something was going on, even when no one else did.
With his unexplainable ability, Sawyer’s security firm—although brand new—has been extremely successful from day one.
“You need to use those skills and find out what the fuck has been going on.” I’ve never seen Michaela more distraught than she was this afternoon.
“Bro, trust me. I’m going to get answers, and then I’m going to go pay a little visit to Brad.” His knuckles crack, and I shake my head.
“Don’t get yourself arrested. I’m not there to bail you out.”
“I got this,” he assures me. “When does Mikey need to be in California?”
“According to the texts? Now. But we’re going to ignore them. I’m not letting her get within a hundred feet of that asshole. It’s only a matter of time, though, before he ups his game.”
“Yep. I’m almost done with this current job and should be in LA next week. I’ve already sent a couple of emails and will gather whatever data I can before I get back.”
I breathe a sigh of relief.
“Thanks, man. I appreciate it.”
“No thanks needed. Mikey is my baby sister.”
“Are we cool?” I ask, worry eating at me since he is now aware I’m sleeping with his sister.
“Like I said, West. I’m good if Mikey is good. But if you hurt her, you won’t be able to run anywhere I can’t find you.”
