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“Duh. Of course,” she answered, which made everyone laugh. “You brought Penny. Can we play? Are you hungry? Carrie made yummy fried chimken. I never had fried chimken before.” She reached out for me, still giggling when I took her from his arms.
Woof. Woof!
“Nice to see you too, Princess,” I quipped as the pup clawed at my leg.
“I thought you said her name was Harlow?” Frank asked as he approached.
“Lily thinks her hair looks like a shiny Penny,” Savage answered.
“Ah, then Penny it is. I guess we’ve now all formally met.”
“How are your allergies?” Savage asked.
Carrie laughed. “I’m on plenty of drugs, but to tell you the truth, I adore having the puppy in the house. We might have to get one for ourselves after spending time with Princess.”
Frank coughed afterwards and Princess barked her appreciation.
I kissed Lily on the cheek and as I listened to her jabber, I realized how much I’d missed her happy voice even though it had only been three days. “Thank you for having me.”
“Of course, dear. We have a room all set up for you,” Carrie told her. “Come on, honey. Why don’t we get Penny and Savage a glass of lemonade?”
“Hmmm. O-tay. I helped squeeze the lemons!” Lily said proudly.
“You did? Well, then I must have a huge glass. Very big,” I insisted as I put her down.
“Yay!” She scampered off and as soon as she did, it felt as if the weight of the world had fallen on my shoulders.
“You’re leaving,” I said softly.
“You know I gotta go. This shit needs to end.”
“I’m worried.”
“I realize you are, but it’s safe here. This is where Lily stayed after Galen died. They’re good people.”
“I’m not worried about Frank and Carrie, but I am worried about what Michael will do.”
He walked to the bike, grabbing the single bag I’d shoved a few clothes in. I could tell he was adding something to it from his jacket. As he brought it to me, he glanced toward the house. “You have your phone with you. If anything happens then call me.”
“What are you doing?”
“At this point nothing. Waiting.”
“How long? This is crazy, Savage. How long will you tolerate living your life as a prisoner? Maybe you should just sell the business. Take Lily anywhere. Go back to North Carolina. I’m certain it’s a wonderful place to raise a child. Get her a backyard like this one with a swing. Let her be a kid, growing up with a man she will eventually call her father. Please.”
He cupped my face. “I have no intention of dying, sweetheart. Have a little more faith in me.”
“I do. It’s just…” I was sick inside, horrified that he was in way over his head.
“I need to check out a few things without worrying about you,” he admitted.
“What are you talking about?”
He sighed, the exaggerated sound coming from exhaustion and anxiety. “I had a talk with the mechanic about my brother’s car. If someone punctured the reservoir, that meant they had access to his vehicle, which means it was someone he trusted.”
“Who?”
“Did you say anything to Maggie about our relationship?”
