Page 117 of Pretty Vengeance

A summons from C. That’s bound to be a reckoning.

Sawyer’s brows pinch together. “What’s wrong?”

Putting my arm around her shoulders, I kiss her temple. “Not a thing.”

She settles against my side, which feels right. But I realize I may have miscalculated. Trick wouldn’t do anything to scare Sawyer. That’s not his style. But his partners are hard men, and they scare people without even trying. Bringing her to the heart of C Crue territory right now might not have been the best idea after all.

* * *

SAWYER

Jamie’s cousin’smodern gray-and-white house looms above a stone enclosure. Ash puts her thumb on the security keypad. The tall gate slides open, revealing an Asian-inspired front landscape with smooth dark stone borders curving up to the front door.

We emerge from the car, and Jamie grabs the suitcases while Ash and I take the handle bags that have wrapped presents for the little boys.

The front door opens, and a pretty woman with long dark hair waves at us. She’s wearing wide-legged black trousers with a jade-colored cashmere sweater. She belongs in a J Crew ad.

“Hey,” Ash says, hurrying up to the door and raising the bags. “We need to sneak these inside.”

From behind the woman comes the sound of children playing, and a small blond head appears from around her legs.

“Too late,” the dark-haired woman says with a smile.

Seeing the boy from the picture on my dad’s computer gives me a jolt.

Spotting Ash, the boy makes an excited sound and darts around his mom’s legs, trying to get outside to us.

Ash bends down and scoops him up. “Hey, where are you going without shoes, mister?”

The boy talks excitedly while trying to get into the shopping bags.

“I missed you, Finn,” Ash says, giving him a kiss while deftly handing off the bag as she enters the house. “Wanna meet my friend?” Ash turns to the mom as I approach. “Laurel, this is my roommate, Sawyer.”

I extend a hand and marvel at the woman’s practically translucent green eyes. They’re like sea glass.

“Hi, Sawyer. Really nice to meet you. Come on in.” She opens a front closet and sets the bags with the presents inside and then hangs our coats.

The adorable brown-haired brother stands at the end of the hall, watching us.

“Hi, Sean,” Ash says, walking toward him. “What are you doing?” She bends so she can hug him.

“Want cookies?” Sean asks.

“Definitely.” Ash gives him a kiss and lets the squirming Finn escape her arms. “Did you help Chef Chris make them?”

“Yep,” Finn says, darting away.

“Come on.” Sean takes Ash’s hand to guide her. “Three flavors.”

“Hi, Jamie,” Laurel says, giving him a one-sided embrace since he’s got the luggage. “You can put your bags up in the guest rooms and then come through to the kitchen.”

“Grand. Sawyer, go ahead with Laurelyn. I’ll be right there.” He heads down the hallway and breaks right.

Laurel offers me a warm smile as we go through stunning rooms to an open kitchen with bright white walls, stone counters and glossy navy cabinets. There’s a thirty-something guy with a blue bandana tied around his forehead who appears to be the chef. He’s manning a panini grill.

On the island, there’s a spread of veggies and hummus, cheese, crackers, and mustards, and a three-tier serving stand of cookies.

“Ash texted that you hadn’t eaten yet. We’re making paninis.”