Finally something. Excitement floods me. “We going?”
Moses shakes his head. “Not tonight. It’s way easier and safer to break into a place during the day when most everyone’s at work.”
I stretch my neck and knead the knot forming there. “You sound like you know plenty about it.”
He shoots me a sideways smile. “This ain’t our first rodeo. Sometimes ... shit gets crazy in our line of work, but we gotta do what we gotta do.”
“All right, there isnothingon a Tony or Anthony in this phone. He could be one of these nicknames, though. I just have no clue which fucking one.”
“Is there a Ghost?” I ask, partly joking and partly not, because that’s what this new fucking asshole really feels like now.
“Not one of those either. Sorry, Mags. I’ll find something, though. Just give me more time to work my magic.”
* * *
An hour later, all we know for sure is where Ricky lived, that he watched a fuck-ton of porn on his phone, and he really fucking liked knives. His eBay purchase history was full of antique ones and crazy blades. What we didn’t find is any evidence of family who might be out for revenge, and I have to admit that I’m disappointed as hell.
To distract myself, I check my cell, hoping to find a text from Desiree. She promised she’d check in when she refused to leave with the girls who were all thrilled to be getting paid to head to Gulf Shores and lie on the beach, but I haven’t gotten anything from her yet tonight.
I shoot her a message, reminding her to let me know when she gets it so I can stop worrying about her. When the telltale bubble with the dots doesn’t pop up immediately, I set the phone aside and lay my head across my arms on the table.
Moses notices immediately. “All right, mama. I’m taking you to bed. Time for you to crash.”
I hate being the weakest link, but the past few days have worn me down. Arguing, I murmur, “You’re not done.”
“I know, but you are. No need to stay awake and fuck with this shit. You need sleep. You don’t get enough as it is. Come on.”
He holds out a large, inviting hand. I take it, letting him help me rise from the table.
“I can stay awake for days at a time, Moby. I’m no wilting flower here.” I would have sounded a lot more convincing if I didn’t yawn mid-sentence.
Moses’s eyes go soft. “I bet you can, mama. You’re as tough as gator jerky, but even badasses need to get sleep when they can.”
“Fine. Only because I want to and not because you’re telling me to.” I lumber a few steps, my feet heavy. “Night, guys,” I call to Trey and Jules as I walk toward the hallway.
“Night, Mags,” Trey replies.
“We’ll see you in the morning,” Jules says with a chin lift. “I’ll have coffee on around six.”
“That’s too fucking early,” I say with a shudder.
Jules’s laughter follows us down the hall.
When we reach the bedroom, Moses pushes the door open and then shuts us inside.
I turn around and let my head rest on his chest. “Please tell me we’re going to find this guy.”
He smooths my hair away from my face and curls his palm around the back of my neck. “We’re gonna find him. This’ll all be over soon.”
I raise my head to gaze up into those green-gold eyes. “And then what happens?”
“You mean with us?”
I’m too tired to nod, but my brows lift to answer.
“You decide what kind of life you want, and I’ll figure out how to give it to you.”
I blink twice. “It can’t be that easy.”