Page 7 of Savage Revenge

“That’s right, Jordyn. Derek is my cutie patootie. With a cute patootie, if you know what I mean.” She winks at me, then shrugs like she didn’t say something totally inappropriate. “Then again, I think I might have fallen in love with someone else today. Actually, four of them.” She holds up four crooked, ring-adorned fingers. “I dropped my keys on the sidewalk when I was walking Sparky a little while ago, and a group of fine-looking gentlemen came to my rescue.”

My shoulders shake as I bite my lips to keep from laughing. I swear, the people in my building are some of the most entertaining neighbors I’ve ever had.

“Four of them, huh?” I finally get out.

Mrs. Duffy nods, her cheeks wobbling with each movement. “Oh yes, dear. They were certainly a sight to look at. I never liked that bad-boy look before, but maybe I’ve changed my mind. One of them smelled like cookies, and he winked at me. Poor thingmust have been flustered being around a woman of my stature because he didn’t offer to telephone me.”

I nearly burst out cackling in the middle of the lobby while Derek covers his face with his hands as he silently laughs. I’ve got to get out of here before she really starts getting inappropriate.

“Aw, shucks. All right, well, I better go. I need to grab some things and head back to the office.” I wave at them as I head toward the bank of elevators.

“You work too much, dear. You’re never going to meet a nice young man if you don’t slow down,” Mrs. Duffy says. “Don’t want to wait too long between gents. You’ll start getting some cobwebs in there, and it’ll scare them away.”

I pause mid-step, my mouth hanging open as her words sink in. I’m not sure if I should laugh or cry or both. Because what the fuck? Cobwebs?

“Um, thanks for the advice,” I manage to reply.

Derek struggles to stay silent, his face bright shades of red. I give him the middle finger and smile at the older woman, who gasps. As I step into the elevator, I hear her talking to Derek.

“Well, see that right there is why she’s not getting the men. She’s so vulgar, don’t you think?”

Rude.

Besides. I have a date.

I smile to myself as the elevator car moves up to the penthouse.

On Wednesday evening, Elliott is taking me to dinner and mentioned possibly going hiking next weekend. I’ve been antsy all afternoon since he texted me. Which might have also prompted the beauty treatments. I should have told Mrs. Duffy there’s definitely no cobwebs in there because my waxer removed them along with about twelve layers of skin, too. Theold woman probably would have fainted, and then I’d be in jail and miss my date. Definitely don’t want that to happen.

When I arrive on the top floor, I dig out my key from my purse and slide it into the deadbolt. As soon as it’s unlocked, I turn the knob and step into my apartment. I need to change and freshen up before I head back to work at one of our casinos for the evening.

I set my purse on the table in the center of the small foyer and head to the living room and my bedroom. As I move, a fresh aquatic aroma reaches me. Hm. Maybe my housekeeper got a new diffuser scent. I like it. Kind of reminds me of the beaches in Mexico, my favorite vacation destination.

A smile pulls at my lips at the thought. I’m overdue for some time off. Maybe I’ll take a trip when my father returns and lie in the sun all day while some gorgeous bartender serves me drinks and nachos.

The scent grows stronger as I move deeper into the apartment. A shiver runs through me, and the hairs on my arms stand on end. Is it chilly in here?

The hallway into my living room opens up at the end, and before I get there, I slow down. Something doesn’t feel right. Something is off. The large painting of the Las Vegas skyline to my right is crooked. Not just a little. A lot.

My mind doesn’t catch up with my body quick enough to make me stop, and when I step into the living room, my gaze locks with a set of cold, steel-gray eyes. Eyes I recognize but don’t actually know. And there are three other familiar men standing near him, staring at me like they’re ready to attack.

Shit!

Why are they here?

Ohmygod. Ohmygod.

What do I do?

I don’t know what to do because this has never happened to me before. In a parking lot, I’d have my taser out. Or pepper spray. Where the hell did I put those now that I really need them?

What I do know is that it’s not good that they’re here. Especially with the news that broke recently about their father. If this were a business meeting, they would have called my secretary to schedule it. This is personal. Really damn personal.

I try to take a step into the hallway so I can turn and run, but before I can, my back hits something hard and powerful.

“Easy, bombshell,” he says, forcefully nudging me farther into the living room.

Two more men on either side of the first one move in, and I’m suddenly surrounded by the four Savage brothers. I’ve never met them. Only seen them in news articles and money magazines. They own over sixty percent of all entertainment businesses here in Las Vegas, making them The Strip’s royalty. They’re dangerous. And they hate my father.

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