Page 72 of Burn the World Down

“The security team I have watching Snyder’s club sent some photos.”

Beside me, Georgie straightened. “I want to see.”

Bastian was still and silent for a moment, then he nodded. He rose and strode into the living area. It was dominated by a curved, black couch and the huge TV on the wall. He tapped on his phone and the TV flared to life.

I wondered if Bastian ever just sat and watched television.

The others walked over, too, and I stood behind Georgie.

Photos appeared on the screen, taken with a telephoto lens. Snyder, Bruno, and a few of his other goons were entering the club. They were laughing.

Tension wafted off Georgie. She stared at the screen.

The next photo showed a sleek BMW sedan pulling up. A woman exited the vehicle.

Georgie sucked in a breath. “She went back.” She squeezed her eyes closed. “That idiot. She’s Viv’s replacement. A singer. Her name’s Shandy.”

“Snyder is good at manipulation,” Bastian said quietly. “He’s holding her dreams in his hand. That’s a powerful temptation.”

Georgie leaned back against me. Her hand reached back and gripped my thigh, her fingers digging in. I wrapped my arm around her.

“The next photos are after the club closed,” Bastian said carefully.

Hell. I knew that tone. It wasn’t going to be good.

I saw Snyder hauling the woman outside. I stiffened.Fuck.

Georgie stiffened too, her body turning to steel.

Shandy’s lipstick and mascara were smudged. Her lips were swollen, her dress askew. There were bruises on her arms.

She’d been crying.

I didn’t need three guesses to know what had happened to her.

“It’s happening again.”

The dull pitch to Georgie’s voice made my attention snap to her. I saw the pain and grief on her face. She wasn’t seeing Shandy, she was seeing Viv.

“I can’t save her. I can’t do anything.” Her hands balled into fists.

I spun her to face me. “Wewillstop him.”

Bastian and the others nodded.

“Together,” Bastian said.

But Georgie couldn’t hear them. She was staring, distraught, at the woman on the screen.

“Georgie?” I pressed my hand to her shoulder.

“It doesn’t matter how I fight, how hard I try, people get hurt. I lose the people I love.” She tried to pull away. “Mom died, Elliot died, Dad died, Viv died. I’ve tried so hard to be strong.” She shook her head. “I haven’t cried since Elliot’s funeral. I just…I can’t…”

I grabbed her shoulders. “You don’t have to be strong every second of the day, Georgie. You aren’t alone anymore.”

She stared up at me with the saddest eyes.

“I’ve got you. Let it go.”