Page 71 of Dark Torment

“The cloud footage shows someone setting it on fire, but I don’t know who. They’re covered from head to toe,” he explains softly, and I swallow hard.

“Someone intentionally set fire to my house?” I lose my voice trying to ask, and reluctantly nods. “My father,” I say, anger coursing through me. “He had to of had a hand in this, Jon!” I almost scream at him, and he doesn’t argue.

“You’re probably right, Liv. He’s losing control of everything and allowing greed to control him.” He takes a deep breath. “Ben has been missing for over a week now, and you’re not dead like wanted,” he growls, gripping my waist in his hands. “I need to take care of him when we get home, baby.”

I shake, leaning into him and wrapping myself up in his lap until we’re both sitting on the ground with me straddling his lap.

He holds me tight, whispering soft words as I try to work through the emotions I’m feeling. I’m devastated at losing my home and all of Grams’ things.

I’m terrified that my father has lost his mind and will truly stop at nothing to get his hands on that money, and that no one I love is safe until Jon takes care of him.

What the heck has my world come to when I’m hoping and praying the man I love can take my father out before he hurts someone? That’s not a normal life to live, and I hate it.

“You always have a home with me, sunflower.” He pulls his face away from my neck to kiss me gently, his hands tangling in my hair.

I groan, leaning into him and seeking the comfort and warmth only he can offer me. I want him to make it all go away, to help me feel like I didn’t just lose a huge chunk of my heart to flames that were intentional.

“You ready to go home and get our girl?” he whispers against my lips, and I nod.

“Yeah. Let’s go home.” My heart breaks saying that one little word because I no longer have a home.

I do, but it’s not the one I imagined living in for the rest of my life. The home where I spent the happiest days of my childhood and learned to love myself for who I am.

Everything I cherished was in that place, but at least I still have the memories. My father can never take those away from me.

* * *

“I’m goingto strangle that son of a bitch!” Shelby screams as she paces the floor of her apartment.

Poor Sadie is sitting on the couch with me, watching her pace. I’m getting a headache from the lack of sleep we’ve had the past two days. Road trips are exhausting.

Add in a night of delicious and mind blowing sex in our hotel room, and yeah. Exhausted. Not to mention the absolute mind boggling emotions I’m trying to grasp.

“Can you sit down please? I have a headache,” I ask her, and Jon narrows his eyes at me.

“You need to get home and sleep, sunflower. This has been too much.” He looks at me firmly, and Shelby snorts.

“You think?! You just told me my best friend has a hit contract out on her because of her father! And that you guys think the gun shot the other day was a failed attempt in her life!” Shelby screams some more, this time directing her anger at Jonathan.

We told her everything we had to, but I didn’t tell her he was a killer or that he killed Ben. I will someday, probably, but today is not that day.

Actually, that day is a long, long time from now when all of this is dead and buried, never to be brought up again. Everything just needs to die down, and I want to keep Shelby safe.

Jon won’t hurt her. I know he hates her, but he also won’t let her get hurt because she’s like a sister to me…. but that doesn’t mean I should tell her about his extra-curricular activities.

“Oh, and the fact that you’re somehow mega rich. Can’t forget that part,” she quips, and I find myself laughing.

“How could I forget when it’s literally the entire reason he wants me dead in the first place?” I snap, then wince. That made me feel like a jerk. “Sorry,” I groan, laying my head back on the couch.

“No, you’re right. I’m sorry, it’s just a lot, you know? I never did like him and your brother.” She stomps her foot in anger and annoyance, and I actually see the corner of Jon’s lips twitch a little.

“I know you didn’t.” I stand up, moving over to her for a hug before Sadie and Jon follow behind me. “I am exhausted, though. I think we need to go home, but I’m worried about you,” I say, trying not to cry.

“Don’t be! My other boss has been a tyrant of an ass, but the club has become some seriously high tech joint. He can’t get in here.” She waves her hand around the apartment.

She’s right. He can’t, and that’s helpful. As far as her boss goes, I can’t exactly tell her it’s because he’s besties with Jon and semi obsessed with her.

Actually, according to Jon, he’s besotted with her and all her crazy, and I wish him the best of luck on that one. I feel like she’d probably chew him up and spit him out, but who knows? Everyone has their other half somewhere, right?

“Go home. Get some rest, and tell me when that bastard is caught,” she seethes, and I swallow.

Nodding, I give her one last hug before we leave for home. I hate lying to her, but again, it’s in her best interest to not know everything right now, and that includes everything about Jon and his life outside of the law.

No one is truly safe until he gets rid of my father. I just hope he doesn’t get himself hurt in the process.

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