Page 20 of Sizzling

“Jameson is injured, but he’s not dead. You’ve got maybe a week before he’s moving around again.”

I felt the blood drain from my face as I stared at him. I hadn’t thought this was what he’d come to say. Jameson being alive was something I’d stopped worrying about. I had been sure that they killed him.

“But he shot at you,” I said, my voice giving away my fear.

Storm shook his head. “No. He shot at you. That’s not reason enoough for us to kill the heir to one of the biggest whiskey distributers in the South and Sol Mercer’s fiancé.”

Panic was rising in my chest. Dovie wasn’t safe. I had to get her out of this town, this state, now.

“I thought the Mafia wasn’t afraid of anyone,” I blurted.

Sure, I wasn’t their concern, but didn’t they kill people and ask questions later? Why let Jameson live?

“We aren’t. We just know when a battle is worth it. This one isn’t.”

Ouch. Okay, that was fair. No reason to bring on that kind of attention over me. Someone they didn’t like or trust.

“Right,” I muttered as my mind raced as to what I needed to do next.

I couldn’t go back on that stage. Not with Dovie at home, alone.

“Is that all then?” I asked him when he didn’t move to leave or say more.

He nodded. “Yeah. I felt like you should be warned.”

“Why?” I asked before I could stop myself.

When he didn’t respond right away, I started to think he wasn’t going to, but he lifted one of his large, tanned hands and ran his thumb over his lower lip as he studied me. That one move, although my life was in danger and I had to go save Dovie, made my body tingle. Especially the area between my legs.

“I don’t like you, but that doesn’t mean you deserve to die. I debated not coming. Letting your fate lay where it might. But unlike you, I do have a conscience. I wouldn’t be able to look at myself in the mirror, knowing I did nothing. I’ve warned you, and now, it’s on you what you do next.”

It wasn’t like this was the first time that Storm had said things to me that stung, but it didn’t make it any less painful. I said nothing, but nodded my head. I didn’t trust my voice. I needed a moment alone to regroup and make a plan. The blond Greek god could leave now.

As if he’d read my mind, he turned and walked back to the door. I watched as he opened it and closed it. Not once even glancing at me again. Reaching into my back pocket, I pulled out my phone and texted Dovie.

Are you good?

That was my typical question. I didn’t want to alarm her with, Put a chair in front of the door, go get my spare gun from under the floorboard in my room, and hide in the closet. That would have been a little dramatic, but right now, I’d feel better if she did just that.

Yep! Watching season four of Never Have I Ever.

A small smile tugged my lips. I didn’t care for the show. I thought it was silly, but I was glad Dovie was watching something age-appropriate for once. When she’d been on a Sons of Anarchy kick, I had hated it and felt like I was failing as a … whatever I was to her. The stepsister who had stolen her from abusive parents and kept her on the run to protect her. Not really a title you could share with people.

I’ll be home soon.

I paused my finger, hovering over the keys, wanting to tell her to finish packing up her things, but knowing that would have her asking questions that I wasn’t going to answer with her there alone. She’d be terrified.

I thought you worked until closing.

I was supposed to. But not anymore.

Change of plans.

The dots appeared immediately, telling me she was typing.

Why? What happened?

Smart girl. She’d been on the run with me for too long. She knew the signs.

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