Prisoned - Marni Mann Page 0,78

and I suddenly had no appetite.

Since Garin had told me about the accident and I’d had a chance to process it all, I knew I would be seeing Anthony soon. I was just surprised it had taken this long, considering I’d been awake for over a day. What didn’t surprise me was hearing that my mom wouldn’t be making the trip up north. According to Garin, she was staying in Florida to help out at my shop.

My gaze followed Anthony over to the windows.

He stopped and leaned his back against the ledge. “You all right?” he asked.

“I’m okay.”

The dream had brought back so many memories from that night in The Heart. I could feel myself huddled on the pavement outside our apartment. I could see the blood flowing out of Paulie’s body. I felt myself inside Anthony’s car, more scared than I’d ever been. I could hear Anthony give his final orders, dictating the way my life would be.

Twelve years later, the man in front of the windows hadn’t changed at all.

But I had.

And the dream I’d had while I was in the coma had changed me again.

“When are you getting out?”

I blinked, wishing I didn’t have to answer his question, knowing he’d track me down, no matter what. “A few more days.”

I didn’t look in Garin’s direction even though I felt his eyes on me. I wanted to get through Anthony’s visit without getting emotional. And, if I glanced at Garin while the killer was in the room, I didn’t think I’d be able to do that.

“I’ll drive you to Florida when you get out,” Anthony said.

“She’s flying to Florida with me,” Garin said.

Garin’s response came out so fast that I didn’t even have a chance to open my mouth. I just stared at Anthony, waiting for him to react.

It didn’t take him long.

He looked over his shoulder at Garin, sitting in the back of the room near the closet. “Did you say something, motherfucker?”

When Anthony glared back at me, I shivered. I knew how deadly that stare could be, how easily he had aimed that gun at Paulie and pulled the trigger.

“I think you heard me just fine,” Garin said.

“Why don’t you get out, so I can talk to my sister alone?”

“That’s up to your sister. Not you.”

With much pause, I shifted my gaze toward the closet and locked eyes with Garin. He didn’t appear fazed at all by Anthony’s comment; he didn’t look intimidated either. There was no reason for him to. In Garin’s line of work, I was sure he dealt with bigger, scarier, more confrontational assholes than my brother.

“Kyle, tell me what you want,” Garin said before I had a chance to respond.

“It’s okay,” I said. “Just give us a few minutes.”

He nodded. “I’ll be right outside.”

“Why don’t you take a walk?” Anthony said. “I’ll come find you when we’re done.”

Garin stood but didn’t take a step. “Let’s get something straight right now. I don’t take orders from you. I’m only walking out of here because your sister said she’s okay with it.” He looked in my direction. “I’ll be right outside the door. Yell if you need me.”

Anthony stalked over to the foot of the bed as the door shut. “I don’t fucking like that punk. He thinks he’s entitled because he works for the bosses and runs their shitty casino out in Vegas. But you know what? I could take him down in a second. I’m not afraid of that motherfucker or any of the bosses he works for.”

Anything I said would only make him angrier. When it came to my brother, I’d learned it was best to keep my mouth shut.

“Why the fuck is he still here anyway? Why hasn’t he gone back to Vegas?”

Garin hadn’t told me his reasons for staying, and I hadn’t asked. But I liked having him around, and I didn’t want him to leave. Even though I slept most of the time he was in the room, I felt safe, knowing he was there.

I shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe he feels guilty about the car accident.”

“He should feel guilty. The asshole almost killed you.” He looked toward the door with disgust. “I don’t like him hanging around here. I want him gone.”

I tried to keep my heart rate down, knowing the monitor would show just how Anthony’s demands affected me. I couldn’t have that. And I couldn’t have him knowing I still had feelings for Garin whether they grew during the dream, during the kiss we’d had