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Her dad grunted with impatience as he leaned next to her against the front of his desk. “I didn’t want to get involved with Brett, but I needed someone with his connections. He swore he didn’t hold any hard feelings over Jace, and fuck, that was three years ago.”
“So he screwed you.”
He nodded. “I think all of this was to screw me. Why he waited so long I don’t know.” He covered her hand with his. “Honey, everything I do is to protect you. You should know that.”
“Everything you do is to make money,” she countered.
His gaze flickered around her face. “After your mother died, I couldn’t live life the same again. Money and work are all I have besides you and your brother. I don’t know who else to be without her.”
Savannah’s heart softened. She’d spent so much of her life resenting him for controlling and using her to better his business, but he was the only father she had. Memories of how he’d suffered when her mom died struck her. Things weren’t the same after the car accident. She’d never seen him so bereft. He’d spent days in his home office, drunk and sobbing.
She and Lach had pulled him out of the rut he’d been in, and although he’d kept his chin up since, he clearly still struggled.
“I told your mom I’d protect you and your brother at all costs. I might’ve done a shit job at everything else, but all that matters to me is keeping my promise to her.” His voice broke.
Tears welled in her eyes. “I—”
Bang!
Goosebumps rose on her arms and nausea tossed the bile in her stomach. “Dad, something’s going on out there.”
But he’d already straightened. He placed his hand on her shoulder. “Stay here.” He rounded his desk and pulled a Glock from the drawer.
Bang!
The office door bounced open and two men stormed in wearing black ski masks.
“Savannah, get down!” her dad bellowed, as he aimed and fired at the men.
Shots blasted. She screamed and dove to the floor. Glass shattered and bullets whacked into wood and drywall, sending debris flying everywhere. Fear, hot and pungent seared the back of her throat as she scampered around the desk for cover.
Her dad cried out in pain, and a body hit the floor with a thud. For a moment, she heard only silence. She looked at the ground next to the desk. Blood blossomed from his chest. Everything moved in slow motion.
“Dad!” The squeak ripped from her heart.
She crawled across the distance that separated them and clasped his outstretched hand. She placed her other palm on his cheek. “Dad, please,” she sobbed.
His eyes locked on hers. “Shoot,” he croaked. He shakily passed her his gun. She rose up on her knees from her crouched position allowing the desk to cover her, aimed at one of the men advancing on her dad, and fired.
The shot struck his neck and blood spluttered out to spray the carpet. The man clapped his hand over the wound and dropped. She watched him grapple with his gun and aim as blood gushed through his fingers. She ducked behind the desk. Bullets ripped into the wall behind her.
“Don’t fucking shoot—we need her.” The stomp of boots sounded behind her. Thick fingers snagged a handful of her hair and yanked her to her feet. Another hand tore the weapon from her fingers. Terror climbed up her spine and pinched her nerves. Tears blurred her vision.
She let out a howl as the man dragged her from her father and out of the room. “No!”
He lifted her over his shoulder. “Don’t fight. No one’s coming for you.”
Her wide eyes spotted the man she’d shot, his vacant stare on the ceiling.
The man carrying her didn’t stop to assess his friend. He stormed down the hall, and her gaze took in Mark and Frank. Mark nodded at whoever carried her while Frank mopped blood from his nose and mouth with his sleeve. Two men were on the floor. One she recognized from the card game earlier. Her attention drifted to the other man. Gray T-shirt, built shoulders. Blood oozed from his temple to roll down the familiar chiseled jaw. Despair washed over her and fresh tears burned her eyes.
No!
“Toth!” The scream ripped from her lungs as the man carried her through the warehouse and out the back door.
God, please don’t let him be dead.
***