Page 109 of Impulse

“Don’t need it, dear.”

His mother was one scary woman.The next calls didn’t go so smoothly.His siblings wanted answers he couldn’t give them—when he met Jillian and why he was keeping her secret.It was as though they’d discussed him, because each and every one of them asked the same questions.

Lex was happy to terminate the last call.He pulled up outside Jillian’s childhood home.During their last visit, kids were home from school.Today, the street appeared deserted.Parents were probably at work.

He stepped out of the car, buttoned his coat, and started for the front entrance.A few feet from the porch, the door opened and the muzzle of a gun preceded an old man.

“One more step and I’m blasting you to hell, you bastard,” he said.

Lex froze.The man’s pallor was grayish, and he looked ready to keel over any minute.“Mr.Daniel Finnegan?”

“Who are you?”He stepped closer, cocking the rifle, eyes darting to the Phantom before locking on Lex.“You don’t look like Petrosian’s thugs.His lawyer?You think I’d treat you any differently just because you’re wearing a fancy suit and driving a fancy car?”

“I donotwork for Petrosian, Mr.Finnegan.I’m Jillian’s…” What was he exactly?Boyfriend?Lover?Fiancé?

“Her what?You people disgust me.Mira died a long time ago, along with her child.They’re both gone.Dead.Let them rest in peace.Take your stupid feud back to New York before I blow a hole through you.”The nozzle jerked.

Lex tried to make sense of the old man’s rambling.A feud between Petrosian and who?Who the hell were Mira and her daughter?“You don’t understand, Mr.Finnegan.My name is—”

Finnegan aimed to the left and pulled the trigger, hitting the ground a few feet from Lex.Lex raised his hands and stepped back, his ear ringing.The old man was nuts.

“I’m leaving,” Lex said.

“Good,” Finnegan said.“You have no reason to fear dead people, but if you dirty my doorstep again, I’ll make sure you meet them and your maker.Damn bluebloods.”

Fear dead people.Bluebloods.Petrosian.New York.A feud.Lex made it to the car and gunned the engine.Tires squealed as the Phantom shot off, his knuckles white on the steering wheel.Finnegan watched him with a smirk, his gun still trained on him.Future father-in-law from hell.

Lex didn’t relax until he hit the highway.Who the hell were Mira and the daughter?Did he mean Jillian and her mother?Why would he tell someone both were dead?Because no one searched for dead people.Finnegan was trying to protect Jillian from both Petrosian and someone from New York.Why?

Lex glanced in the rearview mirror and spied a familiar black SUV.Petrosian’s men, the same ones he and Douglas had humiliated outside Jillian’s house.He stepped on the gas.They picked up speed and stayed with him, weaving in and out of traffic, too.Lex made a call to the one person who’d always had his back since college.

“You still in town?”he asked.

“Yep,” Dom said.“I’m having a few meetings before heading home.What’s up?”

“I want you to contact Douglas, pick up Jillian, and take her somewhere safe.”

“Why?What’s going on?”

Lex glanced behind them.The SUV had inched closer.

“Fitz!”Dom snarled.“What the fuck’s going on?”

“I’m trusting you with the most precious person in my life, Dom.Do not let her contact her father.Do not let her anywhere near Petrosian.Get her to safety and wait until you hear from—”

The impact jerked Lex backward, the detonated airbag slamming into his chest.The car spun and veered to the right.He struggled to control the car and get it off the highway.

The attack hadn’t come from the SUV behind him, but from the one he hadn’t seen in front stopping suddenly.Petrosian and the bluebloods?To the onlookers, he’d hit the car in front of him.

Lex ducked as the one behind him hit the Phantom, completely pushing it off the road.The windows of the car shattered and glass rained on him.

His ears were still ringing when the car jerked to a stop.Someone yanked open the door.Before he could react, something hard connected with the back of his head and blackness sucked him under.

~*~

Jillian didn’t get a chance to talk to Chris until after they were done with the first scene.She left the wardrobe and almost bumped into him.“Hey.Can I borrow your phone?”

He peered at her.“What happened to yours?I tried calling.Ricky and Cian tried.Finally, I called Fitzgerald.”