Big White Lie (Storm's Soldiers MC) Read Online Free

had any idea it would force me to talk to someone like you, I would have been even more careful.”
    His eyes burned like coal, but it just showed he was no threat. Carroll cut in. “Can your father verify this account?”
    “He wasn’t home. I went over to fix something for him while he was out.”
    “Out preaching?” Wallace asked.
    “It is a Sunday.”
    “And your father’s no minister.”
    “Wallace,” Carroll said. “Focus.”
    “I am,” he said. “I don’t buy this one bit.”
    I said nothing.
    “Is there anything else you want to add, Mr. Black?” Carroll asked. “Anything at all that we should know.”
    “Remember your safety,” I said. “If it could happen to me, it could happen to anyone.”
    Wallace looked like he wanted to spit on me. I just watched my blank TV. If he wanted me as an arch enemy, he’d have to wait in line.
    “Alright, then,” Carroll said. “I’ll leave the precinct number if you think of anything else. We’ll run ballistics and be in touch. Thank you for your time and thank you for your service.”
    I shot up as the two made for the door. “Ballistics?” I said.
    “That’s right.” Wallace turned around with a cancerous smile. “You know, on the bullet fragments they pulled out of you?”
    I chewed my lips and thought through things fast.
    This wasn’t the end of me. The bullet caliber matched my gun. If they traced the make, they would find it to be an army munition.
    But not everything was covered. I couldn’t rule out some unknown they could find with a test. It was a small risk, and one that I could handle personally. At worst, I might get discharged and do light time.
    But if they got me, they might trace this thing all the way back. They could take down everyone in the Soldiers. Potentially, they could even indict my father.
    He had led me astray on this matter. That didn’t mean I would ever let him fall.
    I decided to try something.
    “That’s not your call,” I said, right before the officers walked out.
    “All gun injuries are ours to examine, pretty boy,” Wallace said.
    “Sure, if you got here first. But you didn’t.”
    His smile cracked.
    “What?” Carroll asked.
    “The Military Police already stopped by,” I said. “You want the bullet, get it from them.”
    It was a long shot. But it was the only play I had lying here.
    Carroll turned on Wallace. “I thought you were watching the room.”
    “I was in the waiting room. The guy wasn’t going anywhere.”
    “You didn’t see two giant-ass guys with helmets go past you?”
    Jesus, it was working. These were Atlanta’s finest. I hoped neither had ever been affiliated with the US army.
    Wallace itched the back of his head. He threw a glum look at me.
    “What you so happy about?” he said. “Those guys are going to tear you a new one.”
    “I’ve dealt with worse,” I said.
    I had no idea what I’d get at the base. There was no reason they’d have heard yet, but they’d ask questions when I showed up with a bandage and a limp.
    The cops shot each other another disappointed look, then stormed out of the room.
    The sun was setting outside. A heavy curtain weighed on my eyes. Blood loss has its way of making you exhausted.
    I dozed for a bit and woke to the smell of boiled beef. Some brown stroganoff type thing had been set out for me. It looked like shit, but army life had prepared me well. I shoveled it down without even holding my breath.
    The curtains at my side rustled. I clenched my fork like it was a combat knife.
    A head peeked in. I loosened immediately.
    “Hey, there,” Rosa said. “I just wanted to pop in and see how you’re doing.”
    She was out of her bland, loose uniform. This might have been the opposite. A tight red T-shirt covered her body. A light navy sweater hung open on top, falling away from the swell of her chest. Her legs were wrapped tight under tan capris.
    The only skin she flashed was her long neck. But I needed very little imagination to picture