Page 32 of Savage Knight
He wanted to erase the sudden pall over their evening.
“Jeremiah bought Blackmeadow so we’d never be without a home again,” he told her.“He would go to casinos and use his eidetic memory to hustle them.Then he’d take his winnings and bet on himself as he fought in the underground ring.A few years later, he bought his first casino.A dump off The Strip, and within a year turned it into a thriving business.Then he sold it and used the lucrative deal to acquire the Monarque which was run-down at the time.Great location but in serious need of revamping.”
“He sounds like a smart man.”
“He is,” Evren said.“He’s self-taught and worked hard to get to the top, and I’m proud to call him my brother.”
She smiled.“What about you?”
“What about me what?”
“What’s your part in this story?”
“I did my damnedest to make sure he and Aera didn’t kill each other.”He leaned a little closer.“You know, I’d never admit this to the others, but I kind of miss all of us in one city.Aera’s a dickhead, but he’s still my brother.”
She reached out and took hold of his hand.“I envy the closeness you have with them.Your family.”
He cocked his head.“Remember what Jeremiah said.You’re part of this family now.”
Chapter Twelve
His Lamborghini SUVidled while the brothers said goodbye.Lowen held back, allowing them to talk freely without her underfoot.Another habit from her previous life.Scias trained her well, making sure she knew her place every time they went somewhere.Nausea rose as memories rolled through her mind, each one worse than the one before.How long would it take before she could face the past and not want to throw up?Would she ever be normal?
“Everything okay?”
Lowen jerked her head up.Jeremiah stared at her, his resting bitch face still invoked her fight-or-flight impulse.She was about two seconds away from turning tail to run away, when he suddenly held up a manila envelope.Lowen blinked at the abrupt change.
“This is your new identity,” he explained.
She swallowed down her fright and took the package, happy when her hand didn’t shake.Inside, she found a driver’s license, a credit card, and a passport.She grabbed that and read the name he’d given her.
“Marie,” she mused.“That’s why you wanted to know my middle name.”
Jeremiah shrugged.“Seemed better to stick with a name you’re familiar with.”
“That was smart thinking,” she mused, smiling.“Thank you.”
