Page 99 of Savage Daddies

He shrugs.

“There’s no need to resort to violence, gents,” says another voice.

I turn and see Warren. Just who we fucking need.

“If you want answers, all you need to do is ask,” he says.

“Ask you?Pfft.” Wrangler laughs. “And be fed more bullshit?”

I loosen my grip on the boy. We just came from the police station—we can’t afford to go back.

“I’d take your hands off properly, if I were you.” Warren scowls at me. “That’s no way to treat my staff member.”

23

BULLWHIP

Warren explainsthat he now owns Paul’s casino, along with Felix.

I play along and pretend like I don’t know this information already. I still don’t know what to do. Which side to take. I thought time would clear some things up for me and blow the answer my way, but it hasn’t.

Felix is blood, and that automatically binds you to a person…doesn’t it?

But how would that explain Zoe?

I have feelings for her that I can’t explain.

I take a step away from Warren and the others, and close my eyes to temporarily escape reality. Too much is occurring at once, and I don’t know what to think.

The others are right—Zoe is in danger and we need to do everything in our power to relight the fire in her soul, but doing that would double-cross Felix, and I like having options.

It feels like I’ve been waiting my whole life to meet Felix.

But it also feels like that with Zoe.

And in she struts, like I’ve just manifested her. Her feet fit snugly into a pair of red-and-black Louboutin heels, and they compliment the tight dress that falls to her knees.Black, of course—to pay her respects to Paul. Is that Felix’s doing to play up the sympathy, or her own choice?

“Zoe?” say Wrangler and Poet in unison, both rushing over to her.

I keep my distance.

Makeup brightens her under eyes, but doesn’t eradicate the shadows completely. A few coats of black mascara have been licked over her lashes in an attempt to brighten them, but the actual insides of her eyes look terrible. They’re a blotchy red color, as a result of all the crying.

“You’re beating up the wrong people,” she says. “Felix is gonna kill Fiona.”

“It’s just a threat, darling. Don’t worry about it too much,” says Wrangler.

“Yeah,” adds Poet. “We’re here.”

Then, all three of them turn my way, like they’re waiting for my input.

“He might actually kill her,” I say.

“Wow.” Poet rolls his eyes. “Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

“I’m serious.” I close the gap between us. “He’s a dangerous man.”

Zoe’s dark eyebrows lift as she anticipates my next sentence.

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