Page 45 of Deadly Revenge

“On the condition I buy next time.”

“Gotcha.”

“I’ll be outside.”

Max was quiet as they drove out of town. She knew better than to push—he’d talk when he was ready, and he didn’t get ready until they pulled into her drive.

“Can I come in?” he asked.

Her spidey sense tingled. Something was wrong. “If you’re about to tell me some bad news, I need a cup of coffee. How about you?”

“Good idea.” He followed her inside.

“Kitchen is back here ... oh, wait, you’ve already been in mykitchen today.” She couldn’t stop rattling off and busied her hands making coffee. Use a pod or make a whole pot? Her coffeemaker did both. She settled on a pot. “Strong?” she asked over her shoulder.

“Just regular.”

It seemed to take forever for the coffee to brew, but finally she handed him a cup. “Sugar or cream?”

“Black is fine.”

“You want to drink it outside on my patio—it’s not in the sun?”

He nodded, and they headed out to the patio.

“This is nice,” Max said, looking out at her view of the mountains, and she nodded, waiting for him to tell her whatever the call had been about.

Finally he sighed.

“That phone call ...” He sat opposite her and raised his gaze to meet hers.

A shiver ran down her back.

“It was from a friend who works in the prison system.”

“Okay ... and?”

“When was the last time you checked on Rick Sebastian?”

“What’s to check? He’s at Pikeville—”

“Sebastian isn’t at Pikeville.” He leaned forward. “He was released a month ago.”

23

“What?” Jenna couldn’t believe what Max had just said.

Why hadn’t she been notified that he’d been released? Rick Sebastian had stood in the Hamilton County courthouse after his conviction and threatened to kill her once he got out. Granted, he’d only stared straight at her and mouthed the words “You’re dead.” She’d reported it but didn’t think anyone believed her.

“How could they release him? He was supposed to serve at least half his five-year sentence, and it hasn’t been that long yet.”

“Overcrowding in prisons. Evidently, he’s been a model prisoner, and they needed room for what they deem ‘more dangerous criminals.’”

“At least tell me he’s on parole.”

Max shook his head. “Walked out a free man.”

How was this possible? Jenna frowned and rubbed the scar in the soft part of her shoulder where the bullet entered. If the drug dealer followed through on the threats he’d made to kill her, would he then be considered dangerous? Like being the boss of the Scorpions wasn’t enough?

---