Page 28 of Grim Justice

“That sounds ominous,” she joked.

“Babe. I’m taking every precaution. Relax. Enjoy the meal. I want this to be fun for you.”

She smiled, reaching over the table to hold my hand. “I know. I appreciate it.”

We almost had to waddle out of the restaurant an hour and a half later. I swear to fuck; we ordered enough food to feed fifty people. Trish got that chocolate dessert she wanted, and I had my Kobe steak.

I held the door open for Trish and let her through, balancing the containers of leftovers. We definitely had lunch tomorrow.

I led her to my bike, walking toward it when I saw something sticking out of the seat. On closer inspection, I realized there was a fucking knife shoved through the leather, and a single photograph had been stabbed through the center.

Trish.

A photo of her holding my son at the play area the same day she told me she’d gone with Faith and Jessa.

My woman wasn’t paranoid. Someone was targeting her. And I didn’t know who, why, or how they fuck they got to my bike.

A roar left my chest as my Reaper surfaced. I dropped the bags of food, pulling her into my chest. My gaze flicked over the entire vicinity as I scanned for threats. We were alone.

My Reaper sensed nothing. No familiar scents. No strange or dark auras. Nothing that would alert me to danger.

I wrapped my arm around Trish and held her against me as I called Xenon. “Someone just stabbed a knife through my fucking seat.”

“Shit,” he cursed. “You at the restaurant?”

Xenon knew the plan for this evening. I told him to be alert in case that fucker showed up.

“Tap into cameras and find who the fuck did this. I want to know. Drop what you’re doing and find them. Fucking now!”

I hung up without waiting for a reply.

Bodie and Shadow pulled up in the SUV. “Need a ride, pres?”

“Yes,” I growled, opening the door and helping Trish inside.

“Grim?”

“Yeah, baby?” I asked as I joined her.

“I want my chocolate cake.” She sniffled, and I realized she had been crying.

Fuck!

“Yeah, I’ll get it.”

“No, I will, pres.”

Shadow jumped out as I shut the door. He grabbed the bags for us and set them on the front seat. “I’ll ride your bike back.”

“Thanks.” I slapped my keys into his palm. “Try not to rip her any further.”

“I’ll be gentle.” He winked and walked to my Harley, firing it up before following us as Bodie drove back toward Tonopah.

I held Trish against me, fighting every instinct to go hunt this fucker down. She needed me more than I needed his suffering. But that would only last as long as it took to calm her.

The problem was that I still didn’t know how the fuck was messing with her. Now, I knew it wasn’t just about Trish. She was a way to get to me, and this sick fucker knew my weakness.

It still didn’t change the most disturbing news of all.

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