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O dessa hated waiting. It didn’t matter that she knew a small army had gathered around Thane’s house. Or that they’d been told Grant had left his house.

The seconds ticked by in what seemed like hours.

She sat on the sofa, watching some dumbass movie, snuggling into Thane’s strong body. But it didn’t help. Not one bit. All she could think about was all the things that could go wrong.

Thane and Odessa had spoken openly about some of the intel they had come across, though they hadn’t mentioned how they got it. They discussed how they knew about Leslie Anne. About how he’d stolen money from Odessa and taken out a life insurance policy.

They had her admit that she never scheduled the therapy session and that she saw Heath and her doctor.

It was all a game to get Grant to Thane’s front door.

But did it work?

It had to.

Grant would need to get rid of those who threatened him.

Thane leaned forward and scribbled on a piece of paper, resting it on her knee.

Grant is pulling into the neighborhood. Heath and Rufus are with him. Remember what we talked about. Follow my lead and if they pull a gun, you stay behind me. Do not make me push you to the ground.

Thane cocked his head.

She nodded.

He wadded up the paper and tossed it into the fireplace. Then he removed his earpiece. Five minutes later, the front doorbell rang.

Odessa’s heart dropped to her feet like a cement brick. She thought she was ready for this. But she wasn’t. She wanted to crawl under the sofa and hide.

You can’t hide from me, Odessa. I’ll find you. And I’ll finish you.

Those words. That voice.

She rubbed her neck.

Flashes of Heath showing up at the campsite and interrupting her and her friends. He’d come to collect her. To bring her back, even if he had to take her kicking and screaming.

Or better yet, drugging her.

“It was Heath,” she whispered, clutching Thane’s shoulders. “He was the one who came to the campsite. He was dressed as a park ranger.” She swallowed. “I was at the bathroom. We’d all been fighting over the texts and how I should handle them. I saw him. I saw Heath. He killed?—”

“Shhhh, babe.” Thane turned and held her by the forearms. “I’m so sorry this is all coming back right now,” he whispered against her cheek. “Can you hold it together for a little while longer?”

“Yes, but there are things that you need to know about that night… that Weston needs to know.”

“Feel free to improvise when you see the right moment.” He kissed her cheek, turned, and opened the door where she came face-to-face with the man who killed her friends.

And the man who came back and tried to finish the job.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” Thane didn’t have to fake his disgust. Hearing the tremble in Odessa’s voice a moment ago rattled Thane’s resolve.

Making her face down the men who killed her friends was one thing, but now that she remembered the gruesome scene—Thane wanted to kick himself. How cruel.

Grant didn’t waste any time showing his hand. He pulled out a weapon, and so did Heath. “I’d let me in if I were you and I wouldn’t try anything funny.” Grant jerked his free hand over his shoulder. “I’ve got a few other friends with me. Tell your buddy across the street to stand down.”

Thane stared at Rufus, who held a weapon at Jett. “Take a hike, Jett,” Thane called. “We’re fine.”

“Are you sure?” Jett called.

“I’m sure.”

This had all been expected. However, Thane wished it was Rufus on his front porch, not Heath. But as long as Rufus was on his side, things should work out fine.

It meant Rufus could redirect the other men that Grant brought, giving Thane’s men the upper hand.

Thane just needed to give everyone enough time to do it.

“Now let us in.” Grant didn’t wait for Thane to step aside; he muscled himself across the threshold, shoving Odessa aside.

“Fucking touch her again, and I’ll kill you with my bare hands.” Thane sidestepped Grant and tugged Odessa close.

“No, you won’t.” Grant laughed. “Ever since we were kids, you’ve acted like you were better than me. As if your shit doesn’t stink. Like some holier-than-thou asshole.” Grant raised his weapon, aiming it dead center at Thane’s chest.

At least it wasn’t toward Odessa.

But Thane didn’t expect this to go south so quickly. Now that it did, he might as well go for the jugular.

He stepped in front of Odessa.

Heath strolled around the family room and into the kitchen as if looking for something. Or someone. Well, he wasn’t going to find the listening devices. And none of Thane’s buddies were inside the house.

Not yet anyway.

If things went according to plan, someone would be climbing through the upstairs window once the outside was secure.

“You know what, Grant? It’s because I am better. At everything. You sucked at football. You had to buy your way into college. You had to manipulate to get Odessa to give you the time of day, and then to keep her, you had to kill.”

Grant laughed, a full-on hard belly laugh. “Only, I don’t want to keep her anymore. She’s too much fucking work. Not worth the effort.” Grant leaned forward. “She’s not even a good fuck.”

Thane would not be goaded into the response that Grant wanted. But Thane would give him a response. “Maybe that’s because you don’t know how to satisfy a real woman.”

Grant charged forward. He raised his weapon and smacked Thane across the face.

Crack! Thud.

Thane groaned.

Odessa stifled a scream.

Blood dripped down the cut on Thane’s cheek. He wiped his face. “Does that make you feel like a man?” Thane squared his shoulders, preparing for another blow. As long as he didn’t get trigger happy, he’d take a few punches.

“I’m more man than you’ll ever be.” Grant shifted his stance. He pressed the hard metal into Thane’s gut. “Have you found all those bugs yet?”

“They aren’t where?—”

“That’s because I found them.” Thane waggled his brows and smiled. “They’re obviously still in the house because you’ve been listening, but I moved them.”

Grant’s mouth drew into a tight line. “So, tell me, how much of your conversation was a ruse to get me over here, and what was the truth?”

“Babe, would you like the honors?” Thane wasn’t sure he should give her the floor. But if she didn’t want it, or couldn’t take it, he’d deal with the situation. He’d make sure Grant paid.

That he’d spend the rest of his life in prison.

While Thane spent the rest of his making sure Odessa knew at least one person loved and adored her.