Defending Serenty by Elle Wylder Page A

here?
    “It’ll never work. Not with your job.”
    “That won’t be an issue after the fifteenth.”
I can’t believe I tell him that. He cocks an eyebrow.
    “So it is serious.”
    I shrug. I have no idea what it is.
    “And Monroe?”
    “What about him?”
    “Does he know he’s history?”
    No he doesn’t. But he will soon enough.
    “Be careful, Lynn. He’s dangerous,” he warns
me.
    “You know if y’all would help instead of
warning me off, I might actually get to lock him up.”
    He gives me a stern look. “You know I can’t
do that.”
    “Honor among thieves, huh?” I ask
sarcastically.
    It’s a mistake to taunt him but I don’t care.
Fortunately before he can retaliate, Trace climbs out of the ring
and joins us. He’s perfected an indifferent mask and I have no idea
what he’s thinking. He doesn’t touch me and only glances at me
briefly.
    “What’s up?”
    Hunter and I stare at each other a minute. I
get the feeling he doesn’t want to answer that anymore than I
do.
    “I was just asking about a stolen Lexus,” I
say, saving us both from one awkward conversation at least.
    And I really do have a report of a stolen
Lexus on my desk. I know I won’t find any evidence of it in
Walker’s garage. They take care of that someplace else. I mentally
run through the list of properties Hunter owns around the county.
If I can find out where the chop shop is it might be worth a trade
to him. My smile makes both men narrow their eyes.
    “What are you thinking?”
    “You know, Hunter, we could help each other
here.”
    “How?” he asks suspiciously.
    I shrug one shoulder. “I could skip tearing
apart every piece of property you own for a sixty mile radius and
you can tell me everything you know about Tim Monroe.”
    He turns to Trace with a cold furious look
that makes my stomach knot. “You said this wasn’t going to be a
problem.”
    “This has jack shit to do with him,” I snap.
“You and I have been working around to this conversation for
weeks.”
    He glares down at me. “I don’t know anything
about a missing car and good luck getting those warrants.”
    I won’t even try and we both know it. Even if
I find the right property and convince a judge, he’ll have the
place clean. I won’t find shit. Worse, I think I’ve just made an
enemy of Hunter Wallace and that could cause me no end of
headaches. Still, I have to try.
    “Look, Hunter, I know you’re basically a good
guy.” Not on the right side of the law but whatever. “Tim is not.
He’s dirty as hell and he’s a snake. He can’t be good for anyone
else’s business around here.”
    It’s a good argument. He remains stubbornly
silent though. By this point I realize we’ve drawn a crowd. Lake,
Ryder, and Walker are all standing around him. They are a big
imposing bunch and they’re intentionally trying to intimidate me.
It’s not working. Well, much. I sigh and throw my hands up in the
air. I know I’m not getting anywhere, but I glare at Walker and
Trace before I leave. Neither one of them say a word and their
silence makes it pretty damned clear where they stand. Not with me.
I’m surprised how much that hurts.
    “You have my number if you change your mind,”
I say.
    “I won’t.”
    Unfortunately, I believe him.
     
    Trace
     
    I watch Serenity leave and wonder how much
shit I’m in. I’m gonna have to work to get back into her bed and
I’ve also managed to piss off Hunter even though her confronting
him doesn’t have a fucking thing to do with me. Why the hell did
she do that? It’s also clear there’s a lot going on I don’t know
about. With her and with my friends. Is she dating Monroe or
investigating him? And I haven’t heard a damned thing about the car
either.
    “What the fuck is going on?” I ask.
    “Your girlfriend needs to get out of my
business,” Hunter snarls.
    I’m taken aback at both his tone and calling
her my girlfriend.
    “Tell her to back off, Trace,” he continues.
“She doesn’t