Page 93 of Lethal Vengeance

Me: He didn’t.

Rachel: You’re not just saying that?

Me: The person who did will never hurt anyone else again. Take care, Rachel. Thank you for being her friend and loving her the way I did.

Rachel: Thank you. It’s hung over me for so long. I just can’t…

Rachel: Thank you. I promise I won’t tell. Bye Zoe.

Whether she will or won’t, I’m not sure. It’s a lot to ask. It doesn’t worry me. Very few would believe her, but even if they did, they wouldn’t be able to find me. And I don’t plan on coming back from the dead.

Sophia hadn’t been scared of me, but she had been afraid to tell me. After all the times I told her I would always be on her side no matter what she did… It didn’t matter. She didn’t have enough confidence in my reaction.

The incident in the bar disturbs me. Was his jealousy a one-off? Or did he have a dark side? He was Armando’s twin, and they grew up in a rough neighborhood, fighting for scraps. That had to have an impact on him.

I need to see footage of them together.

41

QUINN

In the early morning hours, we pull into the driveway of a house in Miami. Stunned, I get out of the car to stare at the large modern-looking house. The outside is made of stucco, I think. It’s white with large sections of brown siding or wood. There are lights everywhere, shining up the walls and showcasing the landscaping. The huge front doors are glass with bronze framing and light from the inside is spilling out onto the driveway. Surely this isn’t their home?

“Do you like it?” Raider asks beside me.

“Whose is it?”

His eyebrow raises in confusion. “It’s our house. Zane, Sterling, Cruz, and me. We all live here.” He darts a look at Cruz and a silent message passes between them. “Are you ready to go in?”

I hesitantly nod.

Trailing behind Cruz and Raider, I have time to look around the stunning house. When they said they all lived together, it didn’t occur to me that it would be this nice. Maybe it should have. After all, they’re four grown men in their thirties—I glance at Zane—and forties, who had careers before they came together. Plus, apparently, Sterling is loaded.

It's just so far removed from the small ranch houses and apartments I’d known. I walk past the foyer and stop. The living room is massive, with a U-shaped couch taking up most of the room. The brown leather sofa sits in front of a two-story fireplace and an excessively large television. I think the size is what boggles my mind the most. The room is probably larger than the kitchen, dining,andliving room of the house I grew up in.

Zane and Sterling are sitting on the couch waiting for us when we walk into the house. Now, all four men are staring at me.

“Your house is… big. It makes sense with all of you living here. And none of you are exactly small people. Like me.” I stop blabbering. I suddenly realize big isn’t a compliment. “It’s nice. Very nice.”

“Damned with faint praise,” Sterling says with a chuckle. “Let’s give you a tour around our ‘very nice’ house, shall we?” He walks over and looks down at me. A broad, warm smile graces his face, but there’s a concerned look in his eye. His gaze sweeps over the bruises on my face and the long cut across my cheek.

When he puts his elbow out for me to take, I recoil, unable to stop from remembering Armando doing the same thing.

“Sorry, I just… can’t.”

Smile in place, he changes gears and holds out his hand. “What about holding hands?”

I slip my hand into his and grip it tightly.

“Obviously, this is the living room with Zane’s monstrosity of a television.” He begins the tour, his hand waving at the wall above the fireplace. He swivels around and points to surprisingly comfortable dining room. “This is where we eat together.”

The table is casual-looking, with a vibe that matches the leather couch behind us. A bronze statue sits on the buffet, and a large abstract painting hangs on the wall. It’s minimal but fits them.

He pulls me over to the kitchen. It’s an open floor plan with a huge island.

It includes the usual appliances and stuff that’s contained in a kitchen. Although everything seems higher end with more buttons to push. I note where the refrigerator and microwave are located.

Zane eyes me. “Do you cook?” When I shake my head no, he looks relieved.