“So why would someone in Larks’s group want him dead?” Teresa asked. “Unless they’re trying to pin this on Joey.”
“It might be just that,” AJ said.
“That seems pretty extreme, even for the Fists. Besides, Larks is their leader. He would be in on any scheme to take down Joey.”
“He wouldn’t have been in on this one,” Pax said.
Teresa nodded. “Obviously.”
“Do you know of anyone on the Fists who has it out for Joey?”
She turned her attention to AJ. “Individually? No. Of course, none of them like the Thorns on principal. The whole rival gang thing. And Joey as the leader puts him front and center. But I can’t see how taking Joey out of the equation this way serves their purpose. Because now Larks is out, too.”
AJ shook his head. “And that leaves both gangs vulnerable.”
“Right,”Pax said. “Now you have the Fists’ gang leader dead, and the Thorns’ leader is accused of killing him. Who benefits?”
Teresa clasped her hands together and leaned forward. “I don’t know. This doesn’t make sense. Why would this guy want his own leader dead? That’s the key question we need to find the answer to.”
“Whoa. Who’s this ‘we’ you’re referring to?”
“You, me and AJ.”
Part of him wanted to grin at the thought of the three of them trying to figure this out. The other part of him didn’t want Teresa involved in this at all. “No. Too dangerous.”
“I agree with Pax. This guy who killed Larks—did he see you?”
“No. I was on my way over to put a stop to the fighting. I’d had enough, especially when Larks coldcocked my brother. Joey went down, and that’s when I saw the bald-headed guy pull the knife and stab Larks in the back. I was afraid he was going after Joey next, so I grabbed my gun and ran like hell toward Joey, but the guy who stabbed Larks made a dash out the front door right after that without once looking back. He never saw me.”
“You have a gun?” Pax asked.
She nodded. “I keep it hidden under the bar.”
“Got a permit for it?”
“Of course. And in answer to your next question—yes, I know how to use it. And I would have, too, if that guy had gone after my brother.”
So she was tough. And not afraid to defend the people she loved. “What you did wasn’t a smart move. Someone could have stabbed or shot you.”
“I was aware of my surroundings. I’m not a moron, Pax.”
“I definitely don’t think you’re a moron.” He liked the way her cheeks turned pink and the exasperated look on her face. “So how far away were you when he stabbed Larks?”
She frowned. “I don’t know exactly. Six feet maybe? The whole place was chaos. I just saw Joey fighting with Larks and instinct kicked in. We look out for each other, always have.”
“You could have gotten hurt, Teresa. What were you thinking trying to get into the middle of a gang fight like that?”
She lifted her chin, her gaze skirting AJ’s. “I was thinking I was going to do whatever it took to protect my brother. And when that guy pulled that knife, I was certain he was going to defend Larks and use it on Joey.”
“Would you have used that gun on Larks?”
“On him or anyone else who threatened Joey’s life.”
“You shouldn’t have put yourself in the middle of a dangerous situation like that,” AJ said.
Teresa looked down for a second, then lifted her gaze to AJ’s. “I’ve been in worse and survived.”
“What kind of ‘worse’?” Pax figured that was an opening, and despite AJ’s warning to back down, Pax was going to take the opportunity to ask.
“Nothing.” She stood. “I’m really tired. There are two extra bedrooms where you guys can sleep. Come on, I’ll show you.”
“You need to show us your room,” Pax said.
Teresa stilled, that look of wariness shadowing her face again. “Why?”
“Because we need to know where you sleep so we can protect you.”
Her lips lifted and she let out a short laugh. “You’re not sleeping in my room.”
“Didn’t say that we were. We’ll be taking turns sleeping tonight. We can’t protect you if we’re both asleep.”
She cocked her head to the side and looked at both of them. “I don’t really think I’m in any danger.”
“You let us worry about that,” AJ said. “Just show us where your room is. We’ll make sure it’s secure in there, then we’ll get out of your way so you can get some sleep.”
She took a few seconds to look them both over. Pax wasn’t sure if it was because she didn’t trust them or because she didn’t really believe anything bad could happen to her. Finally, she turned and moved to the end of the hall and opened the door to her bedroom.
She flipped on the lights and AJ stepped in, Pax right behind him. Queen-sized bed covered in a brown and yellow quilt. Windows on either side. Pax took one side and checked the latches, while AJ did the other. “Secure over here,” Pax said.
“Same,” AJ said, then turned to Teresa. “Are there any other points of entry into this room?”
“Just a small window over the tub in the bathroom.”
“I’ll get it.” Pax went in the direction Teresa pointed. The bathroom was small, as was the window over the tub, but the window was big enough to get a body through. He double-checked the closure and came out. “Okay.”
Teresa was sitting on the side of the bed. “You never told me who you two really are.”
AJ crooked a smile. “Well, honey, you’ve known me a long damn time. You know me.”
She rolled her eyes. “That’s not what I meant. All this security stuff, and those badges you flashed at the bar to get past the cops. What do you do for a living?”
Pax moved into the room and knelt in front of her. “We’re agents with the U.S. government.”
Her brows rose and her gaze shot to AJ. “Really?”
AJ DIDN’T REALLY WANT TO GET INTO THIS WITH TERESA, BUT HE knew they wouldn’t be able to avoid it forever. “Yeah. But who we work for is kind of confidential, so we’d appreciate if you didn’t go telling everyone in town.”