“So?” He crushed the can in his fist. “We’re fighting Legares.”
“But that doesn’t mean we have to fight like Legares. We’re better than that, better than them.” She smacked him on the arm. “This isn’t how Willards fight, boy.”
“And look what happened to us. Every. Single. Time.” He stood. “This is how Willards win, Mama.”
He turned on his heel and stormed off the porch.
Blake savored the last spoonful of bisque and turned to Hez. “Ahh. You should patent this, man.”
Hez forced a smile. “I’m glad someone is getting to enjoy it. I wasn’t hungry after seeing those pictures, and I don’t think Savannah was either.”
Sympathy in his blue eyes, Blake set down his bowl and leaned against the newly installed black quartz kitchen counter. “She must’ve taken it pretty hard.”
Hez’s gut clenched as he remembered the shock and hurt in her face—and the anger. Her reaction was multiplied a hundredfold by betrayal—but he’d never cheat on her, never. “Yeah, she did. Thanks for coming over. I know things have been hectic at the Sanctuary.”
“True, but Mom and Paradise have things under control for the evening. Besides, you know I’m always here for you—especially when you’re making bisque.”
Hez nodded toward the stack of photos on the kitchen table. “This feels like the wine bottle thing again. The only difference is this time I’ve got a shot at nipping it in the bud. Bruno is going to run some powerful AI-detection software on the fake pictures.”
Hesitation clouded Blake’s eyes. “Umm...”
“Um what?”
Blake cleared his throat. “Well, you never went to the Seabreeze Saloon to meet a wine bottle.”
“If only that were true.”
Blake laughed. “You know what I mean, Hez. I know you hadgood intentions, but Martine obviously didn’t. She’s been raising red flags since she showed up. Not just the Seabreeze, but the thing on the beach and pretty much everything else she’s done. And the Campbell Motel? As my aunt used to say, ‘That place is for trucks and tramps, and I don’t see eighteen wheels on her.’”
Hez winced. “I hadn’t heard that one.” He held his hands up in exasperation. “I didn’t trust her, but what was I supposed to do? Savannah and Simon were in danger, and I was desperate to get some kind of handle on where to find them. She said I had fifteen minutes to get there or she was gone. I had no leads to follow and needed one.”
Blake shrugged his muscular shoulders. “I don’t know, man. I’m just saying that this isn’t exactly like the wine bottle thing. There was nothing you could have done to prevent that.”
Hez stared through the kitchen window into the gathering darkness outside. “Savannah said the same thing. I tried to apologize, but she stalked out.”
“Keep trying. She deserves major groveling.” Blake ladled another helping of bisque into his bowl. “Any idea how Michael’s AI knows about your birthmark?”
Hez paced, his stocking feet silent on the hardwood floor. “No, and that’s been bugging me.”
“Maybe they got a picture while you were unconscious at the hospital.”
“True. I had pants when I blacked out and none when I woke up.” He pinched his lower lip as he evaluated the idea. “But I was in surgery or the ICU basically the whole time I was out. How could Michael or his minions get access to me?”
“Good question—and I don’t have an answer. Just tossing out ideas.”
“I appreciate it.” Hez paused and wiped a tiny spot off the sparkling countertop. “I guess it doesn’t matter. Once Bruno has results, we’ll hopefully be able to prove those are fakes and put this whole thing in the rearview mirror.”
Blake rubbed his forehead. “Don’t count on it.”
“Why not?”
“Because the non-AI pictures aren’t great. Because Nova Cambridge is a small town. Because you’re the husband of TGU’s president. Because a lot of people like to gossip. Because they’d rather believe a sexy lie than a boring truth.” Blake put a hand on Hez’s shoulder. “Even if you can prove those last pictures are fake, I’m afraid this will get messy.”
Chapter 24
The coffee machine hissing in the distance and the hum of conversation in University Grounds tried to penetrate Savannah’s thoughts, but nothing made it past the lurid pictures still residing there. She swallowed down the lump that kept trying to form in her throat. She hadn’t slept much last night.
Nora reached across the table and squeezed her hand. “Try not to jump to conclusions, Savannah. Hez brought the pictures to you as soon as he got them. He didn’t try to hide them and hope you wouldn’t find out. That speaks to his integrity. And I’m sure he wasn’t thinking straight when you were kidnapped. He’s a smart guy. Under any other circumstances, he wouldn’t have gone to the motel.”
