Page 175 of Brutal Savage

I scoff while still grinning. “Did I tell you I played a joke on him and bought him all these obnoxious-colored suits?”

“No! Do tell.” She arches a mischievous brow.

“When I brought them home…you had to see his face, Gran.” I burst with a laugh, causing her to follow suit. “I swear, I did not think he’d wear them, but he wore this bright yellow one to some important meeting.”

Her mouth pops. “The man’s clearly crazy about you.”

I shrug. “Eh.”

“Don’t ‘eh’ me! It’s true.”

I don’t tell her he was very specific when he told me he’d never fall in love with me, and how badly I wish he would.

And that sudden realization—that I want him to love me—both shocks me and hurts me at the same time.

I never meant to fall for him. I never thought I could or would. Or maybe I was just in deep denial. But all I want is to be with him. To make this marriage work.

Yet telling Gran any of this won’t help matters. She’ll just try to convince me that he’s just a man, scared of feelings, yada, yada. I’ve heard this talk from her before when I was dating my one boyfriend.

It won’t change anything. Tynan has made up his mind, and he doesn’t seem like the kind of man who changes his mind too much.

Though I want this relationship to be real, I can’t read too much into how he’s been with me. It won’t do me any good.

I clear my throat. “Anyway, it’s just been nice, you know. To have some fun. After everything.”

She nods. “You deserve happiness, sweetheart. It wasn’t good for you to keep yourself so closed off the way you were. I’m glad to see some of that spark back in your eyes.”

Gran pats my knee as we pull up into the parking lot of the nursing home. “Come on, let’s go tell your grandpa all about your new husband.”

I shake my head with a laugh, following her out. As we step into the reception area and I start to sign in, the secretary greets us.

“Hi, guys! Are you here to collect the rest of Mr. Hill’s things?”

I jump back a step in confusion.

Then panic sets in.

My heart races like mad. “Wh-what do you mean, collect his things? Is—is…”

No…he can’t be gone.

Gran grabs my arm before I burst into tears. “Where is my husband?”

“Oh, I’m so sorry!” Fear and alarm grip her young face.

He can’t be dead. He can’t be!

“Um, your husband was moved.” Her forehead creases. “I thought someone told you already.”

The hammering in my head intensifies. “What do you mean, moved? Who moved him, and where? I don’t understand what you’re saying right now.”

What if Jerry’s people took him out to lure me? Or to punish me?

Dread hits me again, and when I look at Grandma’s eyes, I know she’s worried too.

The secretary glances at her computer, pressing a few keys. “Let me get the address of where he was relocated. He was just taken there a few hours ago.” She hits a few more keys, peering at us. “I’m so sorry.”

I clasp a hand over my mouth. “Just tell me where he is. We didn’t approve this.”

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