Page 36

“So why would Lionsgate put a hit on you?”
She jerked her head back and then snorted. “They didn’t.”
“You sure about that? Because Rami found out that it wasn’t Red Eyez who’s after you—it’s Lionsgate.”
“Uh-uh.” She shook her head. “That’s impossible.”
He tilted his head. “Why do you say that?”
She closed her eyes for a beat. She’d come this far in the conversation. If he was going down the wrong path, she had to set him straight. “Because the leader my dad dealt with is... dead. My father killed him three years ago.”
Toth’s face remained passive. “If your father killed one of their leaders, maybe that’s why they’re after you.”
Appetite gone, she placed her food on the small table wedged between their chairs. “That’s all I want to discuss right now. But rest assured, there’s no one alive within Lionsgate who wants anything to do with me or my father.” She straightened in her seat and locked her gaze on his. “My turn.”
***
Toth polished offhis lunch. The heavy meal solidified in his stomach, and he rubbed a napkin over his palms to keep his mouth from going off. She’d said she was done, and he’d respect that if it killed him—for now.
He’d share the little information she’d provided with Rami. It was doubtful they’d find any more breadcrumbs on their own, but maybe if Savannah started to trust him, she’d divulge more. He’d get her a burger every day if it meant she’d talk to him. Confide in him.
Don’t go there, dude.
“I’m all yours,” he said smoothly.
She chewed her bottom lip and appeared deep in thought, seemingly unfazed by his comment. He’d have to rein in his flirting. She clearly didn’t care.
“You said your brother didn’t know about you. What did you mean by that?”
He blew out a breath. “Goin’ right for the gold, huh?”
She tucked in the corner of her mouth but not quickly enough to hide the smile.
“My parents abandoned him and my other three brothers before I was born.” He stated the words as the simple fact they were, but like a current, memories of his childhood threatened to sweep him away. For so long he’d wanted to meet them. To have siblings and family who cared. But his efforts at a reunion had been wasted. He’d never have that. A small ache formed in his chest.
“Wait.” Savannah bounced her knees. “You havefourbrothers?”
“Yeah.”
“That you didn’t know about?” Incredulity raised her voice several octaves.
“I knew about them. They didn’t know about me.”
She waved a hand in the air. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. I don’t get it. Your parents abandoned four kids and kept you? They told you about them? Admitted what they’d done?”
The pain in his chest expanded, stealing his voice. “I heard them arguing and things like that.” He pushed a memory of his mother crying out for his brothers from his mind. He worked his jaw. “My mom admitted it when I confronted her. I hired a PI a couple years ago, when I left the Marines.”
She whistled. “That’s talk-show-worthy.” Her eyebrows screwed together. “So when did you meet them?”
“I’ve only met two. Nash and Cole. Nash is the youngest of the four of them. Cole’s the oldest and has a twin.”
“Do you have a big age gap? I mean, did she have them all really young and then was more mature when she had you?”
He gave one firm shake of his head. “Not really. I’m twenty-nine, so Nash is about six years older than me. She must’ve got pregnant right after they gave them up.”
Savannah’s eyes clouded. “You’re not close with your brothers now?”
Again, he shook his head.