Page 59 of Brutal Savage

Maybe I can give him a taste of the truth without giving much away. That has to work or I’m gonna end up dead, and I’m not sure if it’ll be Jerry or Tynan who kills me.

After work, I make it home for a quick shower and a change of clothes before heading to Tynan’s.

My stomach is in knots just thinking about what I’m going to say to him. He needs to believe it so he can let go of whatever suspicions he has.

Slipping into a pair of skin-tight jeans and a simple black tank top, I figure out what to do with my hair. Should I wear it down? In a ponytail? I have no idea.

Ugh! Why am I worrying about how I look anyway? I’m trying not to make him want me.

Ha! Who are you lying to? You want him to eat his heart out just so you can tell him to get lost.

I groan. Why am I like this?

Fuck it, hair down it is. Curling the ends a little, I run my fingers through them, then add some mascara and blush.

I look at my arm, the wound appearing much better. Retrieving a large Band-Aid from the bathroom, I stick it on the best way I can.

When I stroll out, I find Rogue, my new bodyguard, standing against the passenger side of his car.

“Ma’am.” He nods in greeting.

“Hey. Do you want something to eat or drink? I feel bad having you out here every day.”

“Not necessary, but thank you.”

“Okay, well, if you change your mind…”

When I start toward my car, he interrupts me.

“Mr. Quinn instructed that I drive you to his estate.”

“I can drive myself.” I open the door just as he places a hand on it to stop me.

“He insisted. Should we call him?”

I drag in a long, annoyed inhale. “Fine. Let’s go.”

He heads back toward his SUV and opens it for me, helping me up before getting into his side.

Thirty minutes later, and we’re pulling up into a massive gated estate, acres of land beyond, more than I can even see. There are some homes in the distance and a few towering mansions that come into view as we drive past.

These people are loaded. Rich is an understatement. I wonder how it feels to live like this, never worrying about money.

We pass another mansion—pale brick walls with black shutters, a terrace on the first floor—and this time, Rogue slides into the driveway. I can just imagine what the inside looks like.

Rogue exits first, and before I can open my door, he’s doing it for me, helping me out and following me to the front.

Two guards stand on each side of the heavy double doors, and fear prickles across the back of my neck. They stare intensely, greeting me with curt nods before they’re letting me through.

When I step into the foyer, a large crystal chandelier sparkles from the high cathedral ceiling. The pale gray and white marble flooring glistens below my feet. The place is immaculate.

From somewhere in the house, I register a dog barking and immediately smile.

Must be Bubbles.

“They’re this way.” Rogue leads me to the right, past a kitchen where a woman with her gray hair in a tight bun looks up from the tomatoes she’s cutting.

As soon as she sees me, she grins, wiping her hands on her pink floral apron. “Hi! I’m Ruby. You must be Elara! Tynan’s told me so much about you.”

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