Alpha Hayley's Destined Mate novel · Chapter 13 of 32

Chapter 13: Too Long in the Sleeve

I didn't say anything for a long moment.

I looked at the number on the sleeve, and at the burn on the cuff, and at Myra's white face over the top of it.

Then I looked at Torrey.

He had pushed himself up on my couch with his good arm. His jaw was tight.

"Don't," he said.

"Don't what?"

"Don't go down there alone."

"I won't be alone. I'll have the jacket."

"Where's Cleve right now?" I asked Myra.

"Where do you think? His car's still sitting wrecked in turn two. The tow boys wouldn't touch it without your word."

"Then he'll come for it."

"He's banned, Hay."

"He's banned from driving it. He can come drag it off my clay."

I told the old tow driver to leave the #7 where it was.

"If Cleve comes for it, let him in," I said. "Then call me."

He called at two.

Myra drove. The jacket rode in the garbage bag between us on the seat, and the cab filled with the smell of silver.

Cleve was in the pit lot with a flatbed and three of his friends.

They had a chain around the #7's front axle and were winching it up the ramp, and they were laughing about something.

They stopped laughing when my truck pulled in.

A few of my crews were out on the infield, dragging the track smooth after last night.

I got out with the bag.

"Cleve."

He turned around.

"I'm going," he said. "I'm going, okay? I'm just getting my car."

"Where were you last night?"

"What?"

"At ten o'clock. Where were you?"

"Why do you care?"

I pulled the jacket out of the bag and held it up by the collar.

The red hung down almost to my knees.

The #44 on the left sleeve faced him.

One of his friends swore softly and took a step back from the flatbed.

"Somebody shot Torrey Ossler with silver on the river road last night," I said. "A big man in a Kern River pit jacket. Myra pulled this out of the dumpster behind turn four this morning."

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