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“One second, please,” he called. Not bothering to put on a shirt, he grabbed his gun from the table and tucked it into his waistband at his back. Then he moved to the door and checked the peephole. A woman dressed in a black uniform held a tray with silver platters. He cracked open the door. “Sorry ’bout that.”
“Not a problem,” the woman said with a smile. A pink blush touched her cheeks as her gaze swept over his torso.
He accepted the tray then set it down on the table near the door. He pulled out a few bills from his pocket and handed them to her.
The young woman’s eyes widened, and she hesitated.
He thrust them forward. “Appreciate it,” he added, with a note of finality.
She curled her fingers around the money. “Thank you.” She bowed her head and stuffed the money in her pocket.
He let the door click shut then fastened the lock. A second later, Savannah exited the bathroom. She’d put on a white tank top and gray yoga pants that coated her figure like a second skin. Her hair was pushed over one shoulder. Her gaze zeroed in on the tray. “Oh my god, that smells amazing. I’m so hungry.”
He scooped up the tray and led the way to the dinette table tucked against the wall of the living room. “Good, ’cause I ordered a lot.”
She took one of the chairs and he sat next to her. He opened the lids and passed her the pasta and salad she’d asked for. He’d gotten a burger and fries but had ordered a side of sweet potato fries in case she wanted more food. He took a bite of his burger and the greasy meat, salty cheese, and sweet pickle hit his tastebuds.
Savannah unrolled one of the napkins filled with cutlery and took out a fork. She twirled the fettucine around the prongs and brought it to her lips then closed her eyes and moaned. “So good. Okay, so what did you want to tell me?”
His food hardened in his esophagus, and he grimaced. “You should probably eat first.”
Her eyes widened. She set down her fork. “Toth. Tell me what’s going on. Now.” Reproach bit her words.
He wiped his fingers and mouth on a napkin then covered her hand with his. Her eyes shifted, and panic made her sit forward.
“It’s about Lionsgate.”
Her shoulders slumped with relief. “Oh jeez. I thought you were going to say something happened to my dad or Lach. You scared me,” she said, with a light laugh. “What about them?”
“Do you know Brett Schlueter?”
She blinked. “What?”
“My brother Dare found out he worked for Lionsgate’s drug division around the same time your dad worked with Jace.”
All the color drained from her face, and she lifted her shaking fingers to her lips. “Oh my god. Brett was Jace’s best friend.”
Hell. That made things worse. More convoluted. “Would Brett come after you to pay back your dad for killing Jace?”
She swallowed and looked away. Doubt contorted her features. She let go of his hand and pressed her fingers to her eyes then got up to pace. “Jace and Brett were childhood friends, and Brett and I didn’t like each other much, so yeah. I could see him trying to get back at my father. I just don’t understand why he’s been silent so long. Why wait until now?”
Toth shrugged. “Who knows. He could’ve been hiding. Could have been in jail.” He snorted. “If Brett was such a problem, your dad probably should’ve killed him too.”
He stood and caught her arms. “I’m going to find out if Danny knows more about Brett.” He rocked his jaw from side to side. “As it stands, it looks like he’s the one who’s after you.”
Her eyes grew small. “Brett’s a nasty human being. He’s hurt women. Gets a kick out of torturing people. I can only imagine what he’d do if he got me.”
His grip on her arms tightened. “He won’t come within one hundred yards of you. I can fucking promise you that.”
So help him, he’d kill the bastard upon seeing him.
CHAPTER 19
Revulsion gurgled aroundthe creamy pasta sauce inside Savannah’s stomach. She wanted to scream. To lash out. To tell her father how much she hated that he’d brought this upon her. Jace might have pushed her down the stairs, but he’d been high on her father’s product.
Memories of being in the hospital flooded her. Jace sitting next to her bed, his eyes bloodshot from crying, the gravity of what he’d done so clear on his thin face.
Even as she’d lain there, empty and broken, hating him for what he’d done, she’d felt sorry for him—he’d carry his guilt for the rest of his life. She’d known in that moment that once she had the strength, she’d tell Jace to leave and never come back. But she’d been too deep in grief, having just had her lifeless baby girl taken from her arms. Jace had comforted her because no one else had been there.