"He told me he loves me," I blurt out. "Before he left."
Banshee's eyebrows rise. "Yeah? What'd you say?"
"Nothing. He didn't give me a chance."
"You love him back?"
Dakota just sits there, staring, speechless, which is entirely unlike her.
I'm quiet for a long moment, the truth settling in my chest.
"Yes."
Banshee nods. "Then tell him when he gets back."
My phone rings.
Unknown number.
I stare at it, my heart starting to pound.
"Hello?"
A man's voice, unfamiliar and cold: "Grace Dalton?"
My blood turns to ice. "Who is this?"
"This is Flint. Bronco's brother. We need to talk."
I look at Banshee, panic flooding through me. I mouth: Copperhead Kings.
Banshee shoves to his feet and Dakota’s face goes pale. Before I can say anything, Flint speaks again.
"The meet's not going well, Grace," Flint continues. "Your daddy doesn't seem to understand what's owed."
"I don't owe you anything."
"My brother paid four million for you. That debt doesn't just disappear."
"Bronco's dead," I say, my voice shaking. "The deal died with him."
Flint's laugh is cruel. "No. The dealtransferredto me. And I always collect what's mine."
"I'm not yours."
"You've got two choices, sweetheart. Come to me willingly. Or I take you by force."
"I'm not going anywhere with you."
"Then a lot of people are gonna die. Starting with that enforcer you're fucking."
My heart stops. "What?"
"You think we don't know?" Flint's voice is smug. "We've been watching you, Grace. We know everything. About you and Shadow. About your little secret. Wonder what Daddy's gonna think when he finds out his enforcer's been claiming his daughter?"
The line goes dead.
CHAPTER SEVEN
