bare feet and the same jeans and T-shirt he’d worn yesterday. In fact, we were both still in our rumpled clothes from yesterday. Him being the gentleman I’d experienced he truly was.
“Honey, did something happen?” I spoke against her hair.
“We couldn’t get ahold of you…” she cried against my neck.
“Shit, we left our phones on silent.” I remembered us both doing so in order to watch our show. I didn’t even think of the repercussions.
“Fuck.” Killian cursed from where he was filling the coffee pot. “I’m sorry. I told Blessing last night I’d keep in touch.”
“Sweetheart, is this about last night? About you not being able to see me in person?” I asked petting her hair.
She shook her head. “I actually was having one of my good nights until we woke early this morning…” She continued to cry.
I led her over to a barstool near Jonah. “Sit down, honey. Guys, what’s going on? You knew I was here. I’m sure Blessing told you what Killian said yesterday.”
“Yeah, we did think that. Until another body showed up and we couldn’t get a hold of you. Either of you.”
“Another body? No! I’m…I’m sorry, we fell asleep. When did this happen?” I curled around Simone and let her hug me until she calmed down and realized that I was real and alive.
“Body was found at five this morning. Found tossed in a dumpster. We’re lucky the garbage man saw something strange before he unloaded his haul.”
“My goodness. That’s horrible. What time is it now?”
“Seven,” Killian offered, setting five coffee cups out in front of the pot. “Technically Holt knew she was here. I relieved him yesterday morning before I spoke with Blessing about keeping Addy with me.”
“That was almost twenty-four hours ago, and no one has heard from you, bro.” Jonah’s snarl and emphasis on the word bro showed exactly how he felt.
I jumped in to offset the testosterone sizzling in the air. “If you already saw the body, you knew it wasn’t me.” I frowned. “Am I missing something?”
“I’m going to go freshen up. Where’s the bathroom?” Simone sniffed and wiped at her still teary eyes. “I don’t want to hear this a second time.”
I pointed to the right door and waited until she’d shut herself inside. I hooked a thumb toward my sister. “Why is she so upset? I mean, I know this is bringing up some scary things she’s been working through regarding the kidnapping and Tabby’s death, but this is worse than the other night.”
Jonah sighed and put both of his elbows to the bar and rested his chin on his clasped fingers. “The body was found with her face burned off. A magazine photo of you was stuck to the burned-off flesh. We didn’t know it wasn’t you as there was no identifying information left with the body.”
“What?” This information had me turning ice cold.
Killian instantly wound his way around the counter, took my wrist, and pulled me into his arms in a protective, supportive hold. “Okay, continue. Get all the shit out at once, man.” He held me close and rubbed along my shoulder and arm as he did so.
Ryan’s eyebrows rose and he took in the rather intimate gesture and grinned wickedly.
Jonah however did not react in kind. He lifted his chin as though in judgement. “What’s up with this? You meet her four days ago and you’re already having her spend the night, holding her like you are.”
“Yeah, so? What’s it to you?” Killian firmed his stance, straightening his spine but his tone was direct and combative.
Ryan placed a hand to Jonah’s shoulder. “Takes one to know one, brother.” He huffed out a dry laugh.
Jonah spun to the side and gestured with a flippant hand to us then himself. “Not the same thing.”
Ryan jerked his head back. “Bullshit. You had Simone moved into our pad in what…a day.”
Jonah narrowed his eyes and scowled. “It’s not the same thing.”
“Isn’t it? She’s in danger, just like Simone was.” Ryan looked around. “What kind of dog do you have?”
“Rottweiler.”
Ryan grinned. “Nice. Heard him about to tear down the door. He’s protective.”
“That’s an understatement. You touch me, or her, in a way he doesn’t like…” He sucked in a breath through his teeth enough to make a hissing sound. “I wouldn’t want to see the results of that.”
Ryan nudged Jonah. “Ex-vet, who Holt states owns a gun and knows how to use it. A scary dog that’s protective. Top floor loft with more than one lock. Security on the