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The rest of us refocus on our menus and provide our selections. Jonathan drapes his jacket over my shoulders. I smile at him appreciatively. “Thanks.”

“Heard you’re selling the company,” Gavin says to Jonathan. “Nothing like profiting after—”

“C’mon, man,” Collin interrupts, setting a hand on his arm. “Enough.”

“Enough?” Gavin scoffs. “You can’t be serious. Or are you the one he’s giving it to?”

“What?” Collin looks as baffled as I am.

“I’m just trying to understand what was in it for him. Aren’t you?”

“Are you suggesting…” Collin shakes his head like there’s no way he’s interpreting this correctly.

“Yeah, he is.” Jonathan tosses his cloth napkin on the table and sits back in his chair with his arms crossed. The tension has amped up along with the temperature. Jonathan’s jacket is suddenly too warm. My heart is pounding too hard. The voices are getting too loud.

“Say it. Go ahead. Whatever it is you’ve been holding back since you got here, say it to my face. Not to Sadie. Or to Collin.” Jonathan points to himself. “To me.”

Gavin leans in. “You’re a fucking murderer, and I don’t want you anywhere near my sister.”

I gasp. Collin’s hands are up to separate them, but it’s too late.

There’s no longer a table between us; Jonathan’s tipped it over and has my brother on the ground within seconds. But Gavin isn’t down for long as they grapple and slam their fists against the other’s flesh.

Blood sprays. Women scream. Men holler.

I remain motionless in my seat, covered in water. Blood. Glass. I don’t try to stop them. I can’t make a sound, watching these two men mutilate one another.

Over… me?

It can’t be over me.

The police arrive just after Collin, and a couple of men from the kitchen separate them. Collin’s talks to the police and the manager, as blood drips from both Jonathan and Gavin. Eventually, Jonathan’s escorted outside.

Gavin removes a black Amex card from his wallet.

“They’re not arresting him,” Collin assures me, holding my shaking body against him.

Jonathan looks back, and I close my eyes.

I’d go after Emma if I knew it would help. But she’s on her way to Sara’s or Evan’s. She mentioned he’s returning from Hawaii today. She’ll be safe. And now isn’t the time to process the heightened emotions we’re still feeling.

Me: I’m sorry. Please let me know you’re safe.

No response. I blow out a breath.

When I step out of the bathroom, I’m met with a bloody mess, literally. His. Emma’s. On the floor, her door, the walls. Fuck. I really hurt him… badly. A rush of panic accelerates my heart rate.

What if no one finds him… in time?

Biting back my pride, I scroll through my phone.

“Hey.”

“Uh, can you do something for me?” I hesitate. “I need your help.”

Collin’s response is immediate. “What police station are you at?”

“Not funny.” Although my mouth does quirk automatically. “Can you use the pay phone down by the pharmacy to call 911? Send them to a place called Mick’s Place; it’s a bar off of Route 113 in Stenton.”