The Price We Pay by Alora Kate Page B

kidnapped. I had a gun to my side and I really didn’t want to give you my friend’s name and have her at risk. Even though someone tried to kill her. But I think, and so does Sofia, Harper, and Randy that Sofia’s thing is a separate incident then whatever it is you think I’m involved with.”
    “You all discussed this over Tequila?”
    “Yes,” I said softly as my heart raced in my chest. “Sofia is my roommate, not my boss. She’s not a boss of anything. She’s about to graduate college and then she’s getting married.”
    “To Kennedy.”
    I nodded even though he still wasn’t looking at me. He leaned forward in his chair, elbows on his knees and he loosely held his hands together.
    “Sofia noticed you at the condo a few times and was worried you were a bad guy. She said you didn’t fit in with the kind of people who lived there. She asked me to keep an eye on you that day. It was silly really.”
    He slowly swung his head to me. His face and body were more relaxed and he just stared, so I kept talking.
    “We can see you from our window so I was watching you for a little bit, prior to you leaving. She never asked me to follow you, I did that on my own. It wasn’t planned, I wasn’t hired, and I had no clue what I was doing.” I shrugged a shoulder. “I know nothing about what’s going on with you and Jaxon. Randy wouldn’t say anything but Harper said she thinks it has to do with her, and some motorcycle guy she thinks killed her brother.”
    That got a reaction.
    He stood and put both hands behind his head.
    I also stood. “I’m sorry. This is all my fault. I should have told you yesterday and none of us would be here. Kennedy wouldn’t have been shot…”
    “You should have.”
    “Again, I’m sorry, Latch.”
    “My grandpa…” he muttered and dropped his hands. “Latch is a nickname. My grandpa used to call me that when I was young because I was short and couldn’t reach the latch on the barn door. He’d teased me about it, but in a good way, and the nickname stuck.”
    “What’s your real name?” He paused for a long time, I could almost see him deciding whether or not to reveal that to me, He lowered his chin, twisted and looked at me. “Another time.”
    “Right.”
    “Jaxon and I are undercover,” he forced out. “I’m only telling you this so you’ll understand the situation you’ve put yourself in. I had no clue who you were yesterday, or who you worked for. We were on our way to a meet and you fucked it up. You could have been killed.”
    “The meet that Harper was at?”
    “Jesus Christ,” he roared.
    “We were drinking Tequila,” I countered sheepishly, knowing I’ve just made it worse for my friends inside the house.
    “I’ve heard.” He walked down the steps. “Let’s go,” he ordered.
    “Please don’t be mad at her.”
    He ignored me and I rushed to keep up with him. He was on a mission.
    “Latch.” I reached out to him, to stop him or at least try to slow him down, and I tripped over my own two feet. I gripped his arm during my fall, but it wasn’t enough. I hit the ground. Hard. The pain shot through the back of my head forcing my eyes shut and my arms flew around my head. I couldn’t make out what he was saying but I felt him pick me up. I passed out before we got in the house.

Chapter 7 - Jaxon & Harper
     
    Jaxon
     
    “What the fuck did you do?” I roared, charging towards Latch who was holding Marvey. She hung, passed out, in his arms.
    “It was an accident, you asshole.” He sat down on the couch with Marvey on his lap. “Get some ice!” he yelled at the room.
    I kneeled in front of her listening to her mumbling incoherent words. At least she wasn’t completely out of it.
    “She hit her head,” he paused. “She grabbed my arm when I was trying to turn around. She fell.” Latch cradled her head like a baby. “I tried to catch her. Fuck!” His frustration oozed in each of his words. His anger clearly had not improved and I