Page 54 of Dark Torment

JONATHAN

“Liv, baby, are you okay?”I ask, my heart racing as I look around us.

I wait, wondering if the attacker is going to make another attempt. But as I look, I can see the shooter running away.

Sadie is drawing too much attention to what just happened. There’s no way they’d succeed in getting another shot off without being caught.

I know I just told my girl I got this dog for her, but fuck. Sadie just jumped to the top of my favourites list, right under Liv. She saved my girl, and possibly even my life.

“Can’t breathe,” Liv croaks beneath me, and I curse.

“Fuck! Are you hurt? Where are you hurt?” I search her body with my hands and eyes, never getting off of her, but I can’t find any blood.

“You’re… crushing my… wind-pipe,” she pushes out, and I feel the shock before I jump off of her.

“Shit! God, baby, I’m sorry!”

She laughs a little as I help her stand up, but I can see she’s visibly shaken.

“What are the chances that was a wrong place, wrong time, kind of deal?” she squeaks out, and I shake my head. “Yeah, thought you were going to say that.”

Her face is white as a sheet as she looks at me. “I think, I think I need you to take me home.”

“Anything, baby. I’m getting answers tonight,” I growl, opening the back seat to help her in. I know she’ll want to snuggle with Sadie for comfort.

Speaking of, “Good girl,” I pat her head, squatting down to scratch her ears. “You saved our lives, Sadie.”

She licks my face before wagging her tail and jumping into the back with my girl.

“You have vodka, right?” she asks once I’m in the driver’s seat.

“Yep.” I nod, starting the car and heading back to my house.

I don’t blame her for needing a stiff drink or two after that. She knew someone was trying to kill her, but until now, it was just a threat in her mind.

Now she’s living with the fact that someone tried to shoot her in broad daylight.

While she calls Shelby to tell her that the shop is closed, and about what happened, I plan my night.

She needs alcohol; I need blood and answers. We’ll both get what we need.

* * *

“You sure you’reready for this?” Devlin asks over the phone.

I sent him a detailed message about everything that happened, and told him to keep an even closer eye on Shelby for the time being. And to always carry a weapon.

Once Liv had a few drinks and started to relax, I carried her to bed and laid with her until she fell asleep.

She has the most adorable snore I’ve ever heard. I wanted to stay there, holding her all night, but I couldn’t put this off any longer.

Her father, or whoever was behind this hit, was becoming too unhinged, too brazen, and that’s a dangerous game in our world.

“He’ll sing for me, Dev. I’m going to make him confess every sin until he tells me what I need to know,” I growl, and he sighs.

“You really think her father wants her dead?” he asks, and I nod before remembering he can’t see me.

“I do. I just need to know why,” I tell him, moving into the room where I have Ben strapped to a chair.

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