“Is a gun necessary to take care of your problem?”
“Let’s just say I’d feel safer if I had one. And to put you at ease, I’m not planning on using it to kill anyone. And before you ask, I know how to handle a gun safely.” I’d learned everything I could about them after Gracie had accidentally shot Kelton’s sister. At first, I hadn’t wanted to go near one, not after seeing my sister so distraught. Anytime she saw cop shows or guns on TV or someone was talking about them, she’d go into a deeper depression for days. More importantly, I didn’t want to be afraid of them.
“Then you’d be fine with a Taser? It would protect you long enough for you to get away without putting a bullet into someone.”
The last thing I wanted to do was put a bullet into anyone, but as angry as I was with Terrance Malden, I couldn’t be sure what I would or wouldn’t do. Although if I did take Zach hostage, then a gun would be more threatening. But maybe a hostage situation was not the way to go. I didn’t want to get arrested. I had to come up with a plan without getting myself thrown in jail. In the meantime, maybe it was for the best that I arm myself with a Taser. At least a Taser would incapacitate Terrance until I could tie him up and get him to talk. I shrugged. “I guess you’re right. A Taser would be fine.”
The house door opened, and some heat drifted out along with Josh. “Boss, phone call on the landline.”
“I’ll be right in,” Dillon said as he pushed to his feet.
Josh left the door cracked as he vanished.
“I’d ask you to stay with us while you’re in Boston, but I have a feeling your answer would be no. I’d like you to consider it though. Bee and Allie would love for you to stay too.”
“I’ll think about it.” The thought of not sleeping at the hostel appealed to me, especially since I was spoiled from the comfortable bed I’d slept in the night before, and I could save some money. Although the downside would be Kelton. If he showed up again, I wasn’t sure Dillon would be so accommodating.
“Good. Why don’t we go in?” He held out his hand.
“I need to make a phone call first.”
He reached the door. “Lizzie, if you ever need an ear, I’ll listen.” Then he went inside.
Tilting back my head so that it rested against the house, I closed my eyes and yawned. It wasn’t even noon, and I could snuggle in bed and sleep for a week. But I couldn’t relax. After another deep yawn, I pulled out Zach’s card and my phone then dialed his number. It was time to set the wheels in motion.
9
Kelton
I danced on the balls of my feet in the boxing ring in our garage. I cracked my neck, waiting for Kross. The entire family was home. We usually tried to get together on Sundays, especially when Lacey was down from college. My mom adored her and couldn’t wait for Lacey and Kade to marry.
“Come on, Kross.” I was itching to punch someone. Preferably Dillon Hart.
“Chill,” he said as he hopped into the ring. “Dinner’s not for another hour. What’s bugging you anyway? You’ve been a dick since you walked in. What? You only get laid four times this week instead of seven?”
Zero. I even abstained from Trudy Davenport’s advances again. “Are you going to talk or punch?” After I’d left Lizzie standing on Dillon’s porch the morning before, I hadn’t been able to concentrate. Hell, I hadn’t been able to focus since I’d first seen her Friday night. I’d planned on drinking or getting laid. Neither had happened. Sleep was impossible. Food didn’t smell good. Not when her jasmine scent was part of me. I wanted to taste her more than I wanted to scarf down my favorite meal of pizza and beer.
So, when Kross asked me to spar with him, I jumped at the chance—anything to relieve the tension that seized every muscle in my body.
We shuffled around each other as Kross smirked. That was never good. Kross had been boxing since he’d graduated high school and had been doing it professionally for the last year. One of his key moves was curling his lip on one side before he knocked out his opponent. He threw a left hook, hitting me square in the jaw, the pain blurring my vision for a second.
“Is that all you got?” I threw one of my own, connecting with his nose.
He didn’t flinch. “Nice one. I see you’ve been practicing.”
Yeah, with walls. I jabbed with my left.
Kross ducked. “How’s that new place you’re living in?” He came back with a right hook, knocking me into the ropes.
I opened my jaw then closed it before moving it from side to side. “It’s big for just me and Zach.”
The door to the garage creaked, and in strode a pissed-off Kade. Something told me he was about to unleash his anger on me. I couldn’t imagine it was Kross, since he’d been out of town with his coach, scoping out future opponents.
He stalked closer, pounding his large feet against the cement floor. “You lied to me, Kel. Care to explain why?”