Page 166 of Menace in Vegas

And not in a surprise-cake-and-champagne kind of way.

More like “danger is creeping up and I don’t want you to panic” kind of way.

I open my mouth to push because I deserve to know. Ineedto know what he’s protecting me from.

The front door slams open, ricocheting off the wall like it’s possessed.

Gram storms in, windblown and sun-kissed, waving a small object in the air like it’s the goddamn Holy Grail. “I FOUND HIS TOOTH!”

Connor groans and drops his head into his hands.

I blink. “What—whose tooth?”

“Captain Jimmy’s,” she says proudly. “He popped it out showing me how he used to open beer bottles back in ’78. Told me I could keep it. Said it was the first thing he ever lost that he didn’t want back.”

She beams. “Romantic, right?”

“Gram…” I say, slowly. “Did you just bring someone’s tooth into our bungalow?”

She drops it into a shot glass like it’s a perfectly normal souvenir.Clink.

“I’m thinking of turning it into a pendant,” she adds casually.

Connor lifts his head, eyes full of rage and trauma. “You’re not putting a man’s front tooth around your neck.”

Gram winks. “Oh, honey. If all goes well tonight, I might be wearing a whole necklace by morning.”

I choke. “I—Gram—please?—”

Connor’s already on his feet, muttering something about crime scenes and cursed jewelry as he walks into the other room, tension rolling off him in waves.

He’s hiding something.

And for the first time since this ridiculous, chaotic honeymoon began… I’m scared whatever it is won’t end in a punchline.

72

CONNOR

Idon’t like being left in the dark.

Yet here I am, standing in it, eyes wide open, fists clenched, waiting for something or someone to strike.

I’m pacing the back porch, phone in hand, restless as hell.

Inside, Allie’s stuck with Gram, who’s currently giving a monologue about Captain Jimmy’s sea shanty tattoo and whether it’s spelled correctly in Old English.

I can’t focus on her chaos right now.

Not when Daltyn’s still MIA.

Not after seeing Peyton look around like she was being hunted.

Fuck this.I need answers.

I open my messages and text the one person who doesn’t ask questions, just gets shit done.

Need a location ping on Daltyn Guyer. Been radio silent since Vegas.

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