My chest tightened as I watched Lila Kate get out of car, and a man in a dark hoodie came up behind her, jerking a bag from her hands. She resisted, and he drew back and punched her. Not just once, but multiple times. As soon as she collapsed on the ground, the asshole darted to an old pickup parked across the street.
I didn’t want to believe it was true.
But it was right there in black and white. He got inside, started the engine, and drove off. And when I saw the tailgate, my worst suspicions were confirmed.
It was my father’s truck.
I knew there was no way in hell he was involved.
This was Davis and only Davis.
14
PRESLEY
“What happened to you?”
“Just a little brotherly love.”
“Luke did this?”
The last time I’d seen Davis he was perfectly fine, but now, he looked like he’d been in a horrible accident or a horrible fight. There was swelling along his cheekbone, both eyes were black, his lips were split, and he was covered in scratches.
“What do you want, Presley?”
“I have your money.”
“You’re kidding?”
“No. I’ve got it right here.” I lifted the bag and unzipped it just enough to prove that I’d done the impossible. “It’s the full amount.”
Davis froze, like his brain needed a second to catch up. His eyes dropped to the bag and then snapped right back to my face. “But how’d you…”
“I got it. That’s all that matters.”
An evil glimmer flashed through his eyes, and before I could react, he had his hand on my arm, dragging me inside the house.The front door slammed shut behind us, and my heart started to race when he jerked the bag from my hand.
He started sifting through the bills, and that’s when I spotted them.
Luke was right behind Davis, and he was glaring at his brother with a mix of rage and disbelief. Memphis and Shep were off to the side, and Smitty and a couple of the other brothers were spread out through the house.
When I stepped on the front porch, Luke and his brothers had slipped around back and came in through the kitchen. Davis was so enthralled with all the cash that he hadn’t even noticed they were there until Luke cleared his throat.
Davis whipped around, and his eyes grew wide when he saw that we weren’t alone. His father, on the other hand, didn’t seem surprised at all. He was watching from his recliner, but he didn’t say a word. It was like he knew this had to play out like it was meant to, and it was best that he stayed out of it.
“What the hell is this?” Davis snarled.
“I was about to ask you the same.” Luke stepped into his brother’s space. “Did you really try to con Lila Kate out of a hundred grand?”
“It’s not like that.”
“Then, explain it to me, because from where I’m standing, it looks like you set Lila Kate up, beat the hell out of her, and made her think she owed a hundred grand. That about right?”
His voice wasn’t loud.
It didn’t have to be. His words carried the kind of weight that came from disappointment more than anger, and they hit hard. Davis shook it off and replied, “I did what I had to do.”
“You lied and beat the hell out of a young girl for some cash.”
