There were functional pieces and others that were only meant for art, a sculpture that was going to stand eight feet tall and a big wall piece that someone wanted to hang in their living room.
Pride thrummed as I took it in.
All except for the car that still sat like an omen in the far bay.
Cody rounded a workstation, running a shaky hand over the top of his head, and he blew out a sigh as he gave voice to what had really brought him here. “This is fucked, man.”
I swallowed. “Yeah. Don’t like it at all.”
“And Ezra doesn’t have any hunch of who this prick is?” He leaned against the table opposite me, crossing one ankle over the other, his beefy frame taking up the space.
My head shook. “He told me the only thing they got was a partial print out at one of the new builds. So far, they haven’t been able to pull it up against anyone in the system, but he’s confident it’s going to lead to something.”
Anger rippled from Cody, and he gnawed at his bottom lip. “And so what? That’s just it? We have to sit around and wait for that to happen?”
“Guess so.”
Only I was feeling the exact thing that was clearly rolling through Cody.
The need to hunt.
Track this fucker down.
End him before he had the chance to taint the beauty that was Dakota.
“That’s bullshit.” His words were shards.
I huffed out a raw sound. “If I had any idea which direction to look, you could bet your ass I’d be looking.”
His nod was tight. “Know you would. Always can trust you to have Dakota’s back. Her best interest at heart.”
He was back to looking at me the way he’d been in her office the other day. Like he might be speculating there was something that went deeper than that.
“Pretty cool of you to let her stay at your house until this blows over.” How he made it both come out as gratitude and a threat, I didn’t know.
“You know I’d do anything for her.”
He barely nodded, but there was something disbelieving behind it. “She looks at you like you’re a fucking saint walking on water.”
I tried to ignore the insinuation. Refusing to take it in as truth. But I’d be a liar if I denied it. The way she did look at me. The way she felt. The way she’d let me crawl all over her if I asked. The way she’d let me take.
But I wasn’t worthy of that, and Cody never hesitated to point that out.
He didn’t know the details.
But he knew I was dirty.
And I would never be fucking good enough for his baby sister. I was well aware of it myself without him needing to remind me.
I scrubbed a palm over my face. “No, man. We’ve just always been close. You know that.”
Air puffed from his nose, and he pushed from the table. “Just keep it that way, and we won’t have a problem, yeah?”
Fuck.
“Don’t have to tell me, Cody.”
He gave a quick nod and released a heavy breath. “Sorry, man. I’m just…twisted up over this. Can’t stand the idea of something bad happening to her.”
“Neither can I.”
That time, his nod was accepting. “I appreciate you always being there for her. For always being there for me.”
“Of course. You’re my best friend. We’re family.”
At least that’s what I’d always considered him. All of them.
“All right, I’ll let you get back to work. I just needed to see if you had any different thoughts.”
“If I hear anything different, I’ll keep you posted.”
He stepped forward and gave me a quick hug with a clap to the back. “Love you, brother,” he said.
“What’s not to love?” I had to get in the ribbing.
Cody laughed. “Always so fucking cocky.”
I pucked him a grin before I returned his hug, voice turning low. “Love you, brother. Always.”
He clapped me on the back once more before he turned and weaved back through the shop.
I scratched at the back of my neck as I watched him go. It wasn’t like it was the first time we’d shared words like this.
But it might have been the first time I wanted to tell him to fuck off. Tell him he didn’t have the first clue what I would really do for her.
I glanced at the car sitting in the third bay.
What I needed to remember was he was right. I couldn’t have her. Not when I’d already given it all away.
My heart thudded an erratic beat.
Not unless I could fucking get it back.
SIXTEEN