Justice Inked (Cowboy Justice Association 7) (37 page)
Read Justice Inked (Cowboy Justice Association 7) Online
Authors: Olivia Jaymes
Tags: #Contemporary, #Romance, #Fiction, #Forever Love, #Adult, #Bachelor, #Single Woman, #Violence, #Law Enforcement, #Romantic Suspense, #Thrillers, #Suspense, #Crime, #Protection, #Safety, #Action & Adventure, #Mystery, #Cowboy Justice, #Sheriff, #Bad Mood, #Teenage Sister, #Killer, #Workaholic, #Tattoo Shop, #Skin Art, #Someone Special, #Adversary, #Dead Body, #Building, #Murdered, #Dangerous & Deadly, #Western, #Cowboy
Evan’s connections had finally paid off and he’d found Moulson’s girlfriend, who had gladly spilled the beans on her lover and his friends between bouts of crying. Apparently Moulson didn’t like the nine to five grind and was always looking for shortcuts.
He sure as hell found one.
“So Moulson hid the money before he was killed?” Seth asked, grabbing an apple from the bag on the table and shining it against his button-down shirt. “Greed did them all in.”
“How in the hell was the girlfriend supposed to know what that tat meant?” Griffin asked. “Experienced lawmen didn’t even know what it meant in the beginning.”
“She said that Moulson told her he would find a way to communicate with her,” Dare replied. “Personally, I think he could have just sent her a text or something. It sounded like they were really into the subterfuge of it all. That somehow being a bank robber was a romantic thing to do.”
Knox snorted into his coffee. “Nice girl. She didn’t care her boyfriend was a criminal. Her parents must be proud.”
“I bet her parents have their hands full with her,” Tanner replied with a chuckle, taking up the story, much to Dare’s relief. “So once Moulson was dead the other two panicked. They met at the old mine to put together a plan to get rid of Duke but he was one step ahead. He followed them and shot them both. Now he only had to share the money with Tim.”
Reed shook his head, clearly disgusted with the story. “Poor Sophie. She really got the shaft with this one, finding out her boyfriend was a bank robber. How is she holding up?”
Amazingly well, with Rayne’s help. Dare’s sister was stronger than he’d given her credit for.
“She’s doing good. She’s planning to start school in Denver in January and she’ll live in the dorms. A change of scenery will be good for her.”
Evan refilled his coffee. “And Rayne? How is she doing?”
Dare felt the smile he couldn’t suppress spread across his face. It happened every time he thought about the sexy pixie with the purple stripes in her hair.
She filled him with joy.
“She’s fine. She rented her house out and the shop is cleaned up and back in business. She usually has a full roster most days of the week.”
Dare’s hand automatically went to his left bicep where her latest artistry had created a tat just for the two of them. Their initials were entwined in a fancy scroll along with a couple of strategically placed raindrops. Hers was located on her ankle.
“You should marry that girl.” Tanner slapped Dare on the back and grinned. “She’s a keeper.”
They’d get there. It was only a matter of time and Rayne definitely wasn’t the type to push for a ring and a wedding. While some girls had spent their adolescence playing bride, she had spent it drawing and dreaming.
The remainder of the meeting was spent on smaller crimes, mostly drug related. By the time they adjourned Dare couldn’t wait to get back to the woman he’d left curled up under the covers. He hurried back to his truck but paused as Evan stood on the sidewalk unlocking his own vehicle with a key fob in his hand.
“Hey Evan, I wanted to thank you again for chasing down Moulson’s girlfriend. It helped that she was able to shed light as to why the guy would want to ink what basically amounted to a treasure map on his arm. I do appreciate your help.”
Evan smiled briefly and nodded. “No problem. I just made a few calls.”
He’d probably done far more than that but Dare didn’t contradict his friend. The fact was Evan looked more unhappy with every passing day. Not being a US Marshal was eating away at the man. He wasn’t yet forty but today he looked ten years older.
“Is there anything I can do for you? You look…well, you look like shit, my friend.”
Evan was a straight shooter himself who didn’t take offense at Dare’s bald statement. Instead, he actually smiled. “I think that’s a step up from how I looked last week, which was ‘like hell’ if I remember what my sister said correctly. I’m afraid you’re going to have to stand in line, Dare, because there are others worried about me as well. My sister thinks I need a woman and my brother thinks I need to go back to the Marshal Service even if all I can do is sit at a desk. What do you think? I’m taking a poll.”
The bitter edge of the words weren’t lost on Dare but he didn’t take the bait. “I think you’re a grown man who should do whatever the hell he wants.” Dare leaned against the hood of the truck. “But a good woman doesn’t sound too bad. Got one in mind?”
“I do not,” Evan retorted, slapping his cowboy hat back on his head. “But you’re right. I should do whatever the fuck I want. I’m tired of doing whatever people expect me to. Following the rules. I want to live a little bit.”
“You sound like Logan and I’m afraid to ask what you mean by living. Should I be scared?”
Evan grinned and pulled open the driver’s door. “Everyone should be afraid. Have a good one. Go home and kiss your woman.”
Saluting, the lawman climbed into the truck and reversed out of the parking lot before driving away. Dare did the same, heading in the opposite direction. He hoped Evan could pull his life together and find some kind of happiness. He’d been through so much and he was a decent guy, always helping others. But life didn’t come with guarantees. If Evan wanted something he had to reach out and grab it.
But he had one terrific idea. Find Rayne and give her a kiss.
He planned on doing that every day for the rest of his life.
Thank you for reading Cowboy Justice Association – Justice Inked
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Olivia Jaymes is a wife, mother, lover of sexy romance, and caffeine addict. She lives with her husband and son in central Florida and spends her days with handsome alpha males and spunky heroines.
She is currently working on a series of full-length novels called The Cowboy Justice Association. It’s a contemporary romance series about lawmen in southern Montana who work to keep the peace but can’t seem to find it in their own lives in addition to the erotic romance novella series – Military Moguls and the romantic suspense series – Danger Incorporated.
Visit Olivia Jaymes at
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