Free For the Bond (Romantic Suspense) (Beyond Blood, #3) by Nora Flite Page B

talking to Kite. Holy shit, maybe the murderer really was here.
    The guy was drying himself off, looking more embarrassed than angry. “It's fine! Uh, it's fine. No worries.” His stare flicked to my chest. Inwardly, I rolled my eyes. This was ridiculous, but it had worked. Jacob had snatched his ID and left the scene.
    “Guess I'm just clumsy,” I laughed. Reaching out, I offered my hand. “I'm M—elony, by the way.” Don't give him your real name. That was close.
    Beaming, he dropped the towel and shook my fingers. “Juice.” Was that his name or... what he was offering me? “Here, let me get you a new drink, Melony. On the house.”
    I didn't want a drink. I wanted information. “Thanks,” I beamed, grabbing the glass and sniffing it. After the weird encounter with the guy that had tried to drug me at the charity event, I was hesitant to put my lips on the cup. Sure, I'd watched him pour it, but still. “Listen,” I said, peering over my shoulder to make sure Jacob was gone. “I wanted to ask, that guy you were talking to...”
    “Dennis?” Juice blinked, following my eyes dejectedly.
    “Right. Dennis .” Yeah, I was on the right track. This was why Jacob had looked so nervous. “How do you know him?”
    The skinny kid was getting cagey. Avoiding my eyes, no matter how close I leaned, he cleared his throat. “Uh, listen. I just got this job, and I'd rather not... I don't want to lose it. You feel me?”
    I didn't. “Sure. I just want to know about him, why can't you—”
    Lifting a hand, he cut me off with a sharp motion. On a napkin, he scribbled something down. “How about you call me sometime. You're just my type, I think we'd have a blast.” Juice winked, his angled smirk turning my stomach.
    Shoving the napkin in my purse, I sighed. He was freaking out, clearly this wasn't the place to grill him. “Alright. Can you just tell me one little thing?” Waiting for him to nod, I crooked a finger and leaned in. “I overheard you and Dennis talking. You knew a guy named Frank? Frank Montego?” Juice's eyebrows flew to his hairline. My heart was dancing. “You did. Okay. Who is the other guy you mentioned, Hecko I think it was?” I'd heard him say it at least twice.
    A full body shiver went through his lanky body. “Yo, why does he keep coming up? This is fucking weird.”
    Someone across the bar was trying to flag him down. Juice looked that way, considering ending this conversation here. “Please, it's important. Tell me who that is,” I begged. There was a wild storm in me, it was eager and hungry and god it was praying Hecko was my man. Let him be the other murderer.
    “He was Frank's nephew,” Juice mumbled. His skin was fading into chalky white. “Fucking emphasis on the was. Guy is dead, now. They found him the other day in an alley behind a dumpster.” That rang a bell, I didn't know why. “Look... this shit aint fit for where we are. You got my number, sweetie. I gotta take this.” Nodding at the customer, Juice turned his back and started ignoring me.
    Deflating, I watched him go. Mixed within my moment of frustration was a hot, bubbling optimism. He had more information, he just wasn't willing to talk about it here. Fine. I was walking away with the phone number of the first person who was able to give me a lead.
    Tonight had been a good night for me.
    ****
    W hile I waited an hour in the club, it became clear that Jacob and Kite weren't coming back. That also meant my target wasn't showing. My gut warned me that this had been some sort of set-up, but I was too elated from meeting Juice. It helped soften the blow.
    They weren't at Kite's when I got back. Determined to confront them about what had happened, I headed upstairs. The two men were waiting for me when I pushed open Jacob's front door. Both of them sat on the couches, drinks in hand.
    Again, Jacob wore the face of a man who'd been expecting me. “Welcome back,” he said, sipping from his glass.
    Slamming the door, I