We crossed the street and headed for my truck parked in the adjoining lot.
I’d left both my car and the Suburban back in Savannah with Shea. Couldn’t help it, wanting to leave something with her, like a promise this time apart wasn’t really a separation, that I’d be coming back to her and Kallie as soon as I could.
Only five days had passed and I was already missing the hell out of them. Missing the laughter and joy. The ease of their house that felt like a home.
Anthony and I said our goodbyes at the curb as he climbed into the back of the town car he had waiting. I clicked the fob and opened the door of my truck.
An ominous presence crawled over me like a disease.
Fuck.
I raked a hand over the top of my head, hesitant to turn around, knowing who I would find. Did it anyway, because what the hell was I supposed to do?
Martin Jennings stood about one hundred fifty feet away. A whole ton closer than the hundred yards the judge had just ordered, the bastard taunting me. Attempting to incite the rage I was doing my best to control.
What was the protocol here? Questions raced. It wasn’t like I’d tracked him down, but I really didn’t have the first clue what the court order entailed. Seemed I should figure that shit out.
Stat.
I released a bitter chuckle as I completely turned around, standing at the open door of my truck. “And to what do I owe the displeasure?”
“You think you got away with this?”
“I got away with this?” My words were teeming with implication. With all the shit I knew about him. So maybe some of it wasn’t first-hand, but God knew my baby brother had witnessed plenty.
Austin had admitted enough for me to know it was Martin’s guys who had supplied both him and Mark. Didn’t give a fuck if it made me a snitch. If it kept Kallie and Shea out of his grips? I’d give myself the damned title.
Go down in flames.
As long as it meant I could protect my family. Every last one of them were tied to this piece of shit.
“I warned you you’d regret fucking with me, and I always make good on my promises.”
My fists clenched. “You like fucking with little girl’s heads? Keeping them scared and wondering what the hell is going on with their lives? Kallie spending two days in your presence was payment enough. One second was too much.”
Cruel and unjust punishment.
Torture.
For all of us.
He scoffed. “That was a mere warning.”
“What do you want?”
“What Shea owes me.” Dark eyes gleamed conceit and contempt. “Everything.”
He set his shoulders back, lifted his scarred chin that I’d really like to scar up some more. “Like I told her, taking you down with her is just a bonus.”
He stared me down like the world owed him something and he was out to take it back.
Scratch that.
Like he owned the world.
Untouchable.
My insides nearly cracked, a knot of aggression throbbing to be unleashed. “Shea owes you nothing,” I growled.
“I think you’ll find that’s not true. Her money-hungry mother assured me in the contracts she was so eager for Shea to sign. Shea breaching them solidified it, and that kid guaranteed it.”
Kallie.
Kallie.
Kallie.
My chest heaved at his disregard because that kid had become my kid.
“Stay away from them. Stay away from my family. Stay away from me.” The words sounded like gravel as I forced them out, holding onto the last threads of my unraveling control.
Last thing I needed was to give into his baiting. I knew this asshole wanted me in jail. Out of his way.
Was that what this was about?
Gettin’ rid of me?
A shot of air escaped his nose.
Incredulous.
Scornful.
“Shea had obligations. She reneged on them. That doesn’t mean I don’t expect restitution. Just like Mark.” He said the last like a threat.
Mark.
I gripped my head.
Pain.
Dread.
Questions.
Too much.
I tried to stand beneath the blow, because it felt like I was under an all-out attack.
Shea.
Kallie.
Mark.
Austin.
How can one man be linked to all the people in my life?