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SEVEN

MADDOX

“HOW’S SHE DOING?” Savannah’s voice is sweet and soft as it comes through the speaker of my phone.

“I think she’s as good as can be expected considering the situation she’s in.

” At the very least, hopefully Audrey’s better than before I showed up.

I’m working hard to help her feel as happy and safe and protected as possible.

“I’m pretty sure she wasn’t eating well, so I’m trying to feed her as often as I can. ”

At first, I thought maybe I was misremembering, but the more time I spend around her, the more confident I am that when my path first crossed Audrey’s, her figure was fuller.

Her cheeks were rounder and her frame carried an appealing amount of softness.

Enough a man could sink his fingers in when he—” I look up from the cutting board I’ve been staring at while chopping vegetables.

What the fuck? My brain never goes off the rails like that. And certainly not about a client.

“You should make her a batch of those cookies you love.” Savannah offers up a suggestion I’ve already considered. “I can send you the recipe.”

“That was part of the reason I called. Could you also send me your recipe for those little cheese pancakes you make?”

Savannah’s a great cook, and she played no small part in making sure I had enough caloric content to rebuild my body. I’d like to do the same for Audrey. She’s going to need her strength. I’ve experienced just how healing good food can be, so I plan to fill her mouth every chance I ge?—

“Fuck,” I swear under my breath as I drop the knife to the board and take a step back. Using one forearm to rub at my eyes, I try to scrub away the vision of Audrey on her knees, greedily taking my?—

“I’m glad you’re learning to make this shit yourself.” Zeke’s voice is glaringly loud compared to his wife’s—thank God—and it pulls me out of the inappropriate spiral I’m caught in. “Maybe then you’ll stop coming over to steal mine.”

I smirk, feeling a little better as I go back to the green pepper I’m halfway through dicing. “You know that’s not going to happen.”

In its own way, living next door to Zeke and Savannah these past few months has been one of the best times of my life.

Was I a little depressed I couldn’t work?

Sure. But after growing up with a family who doesn’t understand me at all, it was nice to be so close to people who got it. People who got me.

And it was enlightening to see the way Savannah accepts Zeke. Understands what makes him tick and considers the scarier parts of him an asset instead of a flaw.

“I’ll give him all of your cookies if he promises to take good care of Audrey.

” Savannah’s been worried about her friend.

They bonded when we helped Audrey escape her ex, and have kept in touch since.

When she found out Audrey had been struggling this whole time and hadn’t said anything, it broke her heart.

Made her feel like Audrey didn’t think she could be trusted.

Now, I know that’s not true—Audrey’s simply not the kind of person who would burden her friends, even to her own detriment—but at the time, Savannah was heartbroken.

“I’ll keep her safe, but this situation is more complicated than we initially believed.

” I’ve already briefed Isaac, so I’m guessing Zeke knows what I’m about to share, but I want to tell Savannah directly what I found out.

“It turns out Savannah’s ex-husband hired a private investigator out of Chicago to follow her.

He and I had a conversation this afternoon, and he’s got some concerns about Trevor’s motives.

Is worried he’ll start looking for a way to get rid of her. ”

Savannah’s gasp tells me Zeke has not yet filled her in, and I’m grateful. I wanted her to hear directly from me. I don’t want anyone else to apply their filter to the situation thinking they need to shelter her from the truth.

And that’s what Zeke would do. Not maliciously or with bad intentions, but because his primary objective in this world is to protect her. To keep his wife from anything that might cause her pain.

And what I’m about to tell her is going to cause her pain.

“Just because she got away?” To my surprise, Savannah doesn’t sound broken, she sounds angry. “What is it with these men who treat women like possessions to be acquired? I swear, if I ever see him?—”

“I don’t think that’s what this is about, Savannah.” I lower the knife in my hand to the counter, because if I hang onto it, I might decide it makes sense to march my happy ass to Trevor’s mansion and end this all right now. “At least not entirely.”

I lay out the list of accusations Audrey gave me. Then I explain how she tried to anonymously report most of them, but nothing seemed to happen.

“Sounds like it’s possible he has connections in the department there.

” Zeke’s comes to the same conclusion I did.

I haven’t shared my suspicion with Audrey—it would only scare her—but it’s part of the reason I wanted to speak with Zeke directly.

“If that’s the case, maybe getting her the hell out of here is the best plan of attack. ”

Normally, I’m a stick-around-and-fight kind of guy, but I don’t want to risk Audrey. I don’t want her to suffer any more than she already has—physically or mentally. And sticking around here, waiting for someone to find her, is definitely wearing on her.

Savannah scoffs. “And then what? You’re going to make sure this prick gets in trouble for what he’s doing, right?”

And there’s the third reason I wanted to talk to Zeke and his wife—my best friend—directly.

I knew Savannah would go to bat for me. Zeke can get tunnel vision when it comes to the jobs we’re brought in to do.

I understand that. Once you start looking too hard at the gray, it can be easy to question what you’re doing.

But I’m not ignoring this gray. This son of a bitch hurt Audrey and countless other people. I want to make sure he goes down. For all of them.

But mostly for the woman showering while I make dinner.

“Let me make a few calls. See what I can find out.” Zeke’s offer is exactly what I was hoping for. His connections reach far beyond mine. I’m just a worker bee, doing what I’m told and loving every minute of it. I have no one to call and no strings to pull.

Zeke continues, “But if she runs, it’s going to look suspicious. If we want to take this guy down, him getting suspicious is our worst enemy, because he’ll start doing everything he can to cover his trail.”

I know it’s the truth, but I don’t like hearing it. “Then send me backup. They don’t have to be right on top of us, but I want to have someone to call who can be here quickly if shit goes sideways.”

“He’ll make sure someone comes down there ASAP,” Savannah answers for Zeke, and it makes me smile.

Savannah and Audrey have a lot in common. They both have sweet temperaments, but beneath the soft smiles and gentle demeanor, there’s a tiny hint of an edge. And it can be cutting when you don’t expect it to be there.

It’s what makes both of them survivors. And maybe it’s what makes both of them so understanding of the life Zeke and I lead.

“Something smells really good.”

I turn to find Audrey standing in the doorway of her small kitchen, wrapped in a pale pink robe, her blonde hair tousled and damp.

“Is that Audrey?” Savannah’s voice is now just as loud as her husband’s. “I want to talk to her.”

I turn off the speaker and hand over my cell. “Dinner will be done in a few minutes, but take your time. I’ll keep it warm until you’re finished.”

“Thank you.” Audrey gives me a little smile as she takes my phone and disappears down the hall.

I spend the time while she and Savannah talk finishing up our simple meal.

Since I couldn’t do much for a few months, I had plenty of time to learn how to cook.

And I’m glad I did. There’s not a doubt in my mind all the meals and treats Savannah fed me made a difference in my recovery.

I’m hoping they’ll do the same for Audrey.

When she returns with my phone, I’m plating our food, dishing out a generous portion of one of my childhood favorites for each of us. It’s not fancy or fine dining by anyone’s stretch of the imagination, but goulash—the American version—is hardy and simple to make. Comforting and rich.

Audrey’s eyes widen when I hand over the shallow bowl filled with macaroni noodles, ground beef, diced onions and peppers, and chunks of tomato. “What is this? It looks delicious.”

I angle a brow at her. “You’ve never had goulash?” I thought it was a staple for our generation.

She shakes her head. “Never heard of it, but it looks really yummy.”

Audrey carries her portion out into the living room, and I follow.

We ate breakfast separately this morning, so I wolfed mine down at the small dining table, but if she wants to be comfortable while she eats, I’m not going to argue.

Savannah and I shared more than a few meals piled on her sofa or mine, watching television while Zeke was out working.

I grab a couple drinks from the fridge and carry them out, sliding both on the coffee table as I settle onto the sofa beside her.

Her furniture’s nothing fancy, but it’s pretty freaking comfortable.

And when she puts her heels up on the coffee table, I do the same, settling in for a relaxing evening.

After switching on the TV, she peeks my way. “Anything specific you want to watch?”

I had plenty of time to watch anything I wanted while I was down, so I shake my head. “Dealer’s choice.”