Fractured Fear (The Devils of New York #1)

Chapter 26

CHAPTER 26

ASHER

W hen I park my Camaro next to Zane’s travel-size car, they don't even notice me. Idiots. They’re usually more aware.

I walk over to the passenger window and bang on it, surprising them both. Zane looks chastised without me saying a word. Rio looks ready to kill me for interrupting their Peeping Tom session.

Rio rolls down his window and greets me with, “Get in, hijo de puta .”

“I’m not cramming myself into the clown car. Let’s go home.”

“No can do, Wolf.”

“Fine,” I huff out. Opening the back door I shove myself in the pint-size backseat. “Okay, I’m fucking here. Let’s talk—'' I'm cut off when Rio bursts out laughing. Zane’s laugh isn’t audible, but I know he’s laughing by the way his shoulders are shaking.

“Got enough room back there?” Rio asks through his sniggering.

“Ha. Ha,” I deadpan. “Focus, shitheads. We need to get on the same page.” They don’t need me to clarify.

They sober their expressions, and Zane says, “I want to believe it’s Cain and his men, but I don’t think this one is them.”

“Same. The fact that it was one guy instead of two or three and the car was completely different,” Rio explains.

“She’s convinced it’s her ex, but I’m not so sure,” I add.

“I’ll dig into him real quick and see what I can find.” Before Zane is even finished with his sentence, he has his laptop out and is pounding away on the keys.

“The guy was strong enough to lift her off her feet and carry her almost the whole way to his car. So he’s fit,” Rio mutters.

“He had no problem hitting her. He cares enough that he wants her, but doesn’t care enough what state she’s in when he has her. I would venture to assume he intended on hurting her,” I say. Rio nods his head as I continue. “If Anthony wants her back and is in love with her, then he would want her safe and unharmed.”

“You’re assuming he’s a good guy. The way she shivers and panics at the mere thought of him tells me he wasn’t much of a gentleman. He probably hurt her,” Zane grits out, a vein in his forehead pulses more and more with each inference.

“But he had confidence. There was no hesitation. I think he’s done this before,” I argue.

“Maybe. Or are you using this situation to fit your narrative?” Rio tosses back.

I clench my jaw. “I’m not. I’m analyzing the facts. She fits the killer’s preferred victim profile, her attacker has done this before, and he sent her purple hyacinths.”

“We don’t know for sure who the flowers came from,” Zane says and stops typing. “I got him. Anthony Cole. Age thirty-four, six foot two, hundred seventy-four pounds, born in Austin, Texas. His parents were old money. They died right after his eighteenth birthday, and he inherited everything. After that, he attended UT and graduated with a degree in accounting, and later a masters in finance and data analytics. He finished all his schooling by age twenty-four.”

“So he’s smart. Good for him,” I spit sarcastically.

“He currently resides in Katy, Texas. Looks like he bought that home eight years ago and he has a summer home in LA,” a few more keystrokes. “He’s big. Not huge. Could be strong enough to carry Spencer.” Zane turns his screen so Rio and I can see him.

“He’s an okay looking guy I guess. I’m hotter though,” Rio criticizes.

“This isn’t a dick measuring contest,” I bark. I scrutinize the photo and commit it to memory. “He’s good looking and he’s probably charismatic. He has to be to have landed someone like Spencer.”

“You got something else you want to share with the class?” Rio asks with a raised brow.

“No.”

“Do you find the sexy artist hot?” Rio pushes.

“That’s not what I said.” I bare my teeth at him.

“You’re not denying it either,” Zane chimes in.

Changing the subject I say, “We’ve been here long enough. Let’s go.”

Instead of agreeing, they exit the car. Rio stretches his arms above his head. “No thanks. Time for some B catching a killer, stopping the skin trade in New York, and keeping my family safe.