Page 75 of Small Town Beast

Twelve

Chapter Twelve

Saverin watched Tanya kneel down and hug the ratty animal.

“Do you suppose that critter has a thing for you?”

“He always knows where to find me,” Tanya mumbled, ruffling a hand through the animal’s flea-ridden fur.

“Like Colton?”

The truth spilled out of Tanya in a rush. “Saverin, Colton was at my place the other night.”

“What?”

“I saw him standing at my door through my bedroom window. I was such a coward I didn’t do anything– and he could have killed us both. He could have killed you and it would have been all my fault because I just— I just pretended I never saw him! How could I do that?”

“You should have told me,” Saverin said angrily. “Didn’t you think to call the police? Anybody?”

Tanya laughed bitterly. “The police might be your friends but they damn sure ain’t mine.”

Given how the detective had behaved over Amari, Saverin couldn’t exactly blame her.

“That’s why I asked to spend the night at your place. I didn’t know what to do,” Tanya admitted. “I’m sorry, Saverin.”

“Don’t be sorry. Everything’s gonna be better tomorrow,” he said, though if he had known the man was after Tanya like that he would have taken more measures to protect her. Strong measures. They’d come inches from death and getting murked by a jealous ex boyfriend was not how Saverin envisioned cashing it in.

He didn’t want to die at all.

“What if Colton had something to do with Amari’s kidnapping?” Tanya rubbed her forehead. “I just feel like it’s all related, but I don’t know how.”

“We won’t know for certain yet,” said Saverin.But he would know for certain — tomorrow.

Tanya hung her head. “Can you take me to my friend’s house? I’m guessing I can’t stay here tonight.”

“You can come to my house, Tanya, you know that.”

She touched his cheek. “I need to ask her if she’s got one of those pills.”

He took her hand and pressed it. “You know, Tanya. I meant every word I said. I would never hurt you, and I’d never abandon you.”

“So are we doing this for real?” Tanya whispered.

“For real, darlin’, if you’ll have me.”

“Then let me take care of my business,” Tanya said. “And then I’m all yours.”

The dog followed Tanya to the truck and while Saverin turned to get his keys, jumped in the bed and settled down for a bumpy drive to Gwendolyn’s.

Gwen livedon the other side of Florin in a crumbling trailer park. It seemed to Tanya that as they approached Saverin grewangrier and more tense. When Tanya tried to get out of the truck he locked the doors.

“What are you doing? She lives here!”

“This is Snatch Hill turf,” Saverin said grimly.

“What the hell is a Snatch Hill?”

“Remember the bastards that pulled up on me the night we met?”

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