Page 102 of Lucky Strike

“What about the meeting you went to on Halloween?” she asks, twisting her ring around and around. If Tristan’s tic is messing with his hair, the ring is Bria’s. She’s been messing with it since we were kids. “Did your dad have any ideas about that?”

“He reached out to the Murphys, but they still vouch for Tilly. I don’t know.” I put my glass on the counter and, against my better judgment, draw her into my arms. With her bruised ribs, I have to be evenmore gentle with her than I am with Liam. “It’s like I have some of the puzzle pieces, but not all of them.”

Later, when Bria’s hair is dry, I tie it in a ponytail. I’ve been on ponytail duty since the first night, when I offered to help after her shower. She told me to knock myself out and was shocked when I actually did it. Tonight, I pull her hair through the elastic just twice, not wanting it to be too tight. She smiles at me in the mirror, leaning back against me when I’m finished. “Thank you.”

“Any time.” Wrapping my arms around her, I kiss the top of her head.

“I miss you, Lucky,” she says quietly. We gaze at each other in the mirror. I miss her, too. I turn her around, holding her close. “Stay.”

I kiss her head. “I can’t.”

“You’re doing it again. Being distant.” She wiggles out of my embrace. “I thought we were past this.”

“It’s not the same.” My heart dips as I pull her back to face me. “This is just until we can figure out who’s after me.”

“I hate being here without you.”

I tilt her chin up and kiss her, sliding my tongue into her mouth. She resists at first, but then her hand snakes up into my hair. And then my phone vibrates from the pocket of my sweatpants. Probably for the best. It’s nearly impossible to kiss Bria without wanting more. I’m already so hard it hurts. Pulling away, I leave one last peck on her lips before checking to see who’s texting. It’s Tristan.

Alex and I found Shelby.

My heart leaps, the pressure that’s been suffocating me from the inside out lifting a little. My hands shake as I text back.

Is she okay?

Looks like it. Just skinny and dirty.

No Bacon?

Not yet.

I deflate a bit, but I shake it off. This is a victory. Answered prayer.

“What is it?” Bria asks, grabbing my arm. Another message comes through, a picture of Shelby in the backseat of Alex’s Jeep. I turn the phone so she can see it, and she claps a hand over her mouth, her eyes filling with tears. “Oh my God! Shelby?”

After my car was totaled,my godfather insisted on lending me his baby—an armored Genesis GV 80. It’s the sweetest car I’ve driven in a long time … Donovan’s gonna have a hell of time getting it back from me. I push it to its limits tonight, making the trip to Tristan’s condo in minutes.

Shelby nearly knocks me down with her enthusiasm the second my brother opens the door. My eyes burn as I grab her in a hug, relieved beyond belief that she’s okay. I’ve had Shelby and Bacon since they were puppies—they’re family. After our reunion, I stand up and hug Tristan, too. “Where was she?”

“Wandering around Boston Common. I’m wondering if someone had her and then dropped her off? I don’t know how we would’ve missed her before, or how she didn’t get picked up.” He shakes his head, gazing at Shelby. “She’s limping a little.”

Alarmed, I sink to my knees again. “C’mere, Shel,” I call, patting my leg. She jumps on me again, but not before I see the way she’s favoring her front left paw. Taking it gently in my hand, I examine the pads underneath. “I’ll take her to the vet, first thing tomorrow.”

“Want a beer?” Tristan asks from the kitchen.

“Sure.” We sink onto the couch in the living room, Shelby settling at my feet with a treat Tristan must’ve bought her. “I can’t believe you found her.”

“Me neither. The whole night’s been weird as hell.” Frowning, he sits forward, elbows on his knees. “The only reason I was even over there is ‘cause of Anya Sokolov.”

I freeze, the bottle halfway to my mouth. Anya is Ivan and Ilya’s cousin, the married woman our guy Ryan got caught with a few years back. “Please tell me you’re not?—”

“I’m gonna stop you before you say something stupid.” He cuts mea mild glare. “I was sparring at Callaghan’s when Marcello said I had a phone call in the office. It was Anya. She said she knew I’d be there, so I’m guessing she remembers me from before.”

“Yeah, Ryan used to train there, didn’t he? I forgot about that.”

“Me too, but not her I guess.” He sips his beer. “Anyway, she said she had info for me and wanted to meet.”

“And you trusted her?”

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