“Nice place.” I whistled as I followed Dillon and Kelton, taking in the rich design of the elegant curved staircase, a massive crystal chandelier dangling from the ceiling, a formal dining room big enough to entertain at least twenty guests, and a library that would rival the public one in the city.
I squinted at the bright recessed lights overhead when I entered a spacious kitchen drenched in dark cherrywood, stainless-steel appliances, and white marble countertops.
A woman with black hair and big gray eyes set the pepper shaker down on the counter and came over to me. “I’m Lizzie.” Her expression held concern. “I’ll get the first aid kit.”
“If you don’t mind, can I use the shower first?” I needed to get the blood, mud, and stench off me.
“I’ll show him the shower,” Kelton said to his girl. “Afterward, we can tend to his cuts. It doesn’t look like you need any stitches.”
I would bet some of the wounds were healing already.
“Come on.” Kelton started to backtrack the way we’d come in. “I have some clothes that might fit you.”
Following him, I took in a deep breath, and my body odor could knock out a bear.
After I’d taken a hot shower and donned the clean clothes Kelton had lent me, I was again walking into the kitchen.
Lizzie, Dillon, and Kelton stopped talking.
Lizzie popped up from a barstool, grabbed a mug, and poured coffee into it. “Here. This will help.”
Any liquid would help. In the shower, I’d drunk as much water as I could. I took the mug. “Thank you.”
Kelton waved a hand, gesturing to a stool next to Dillon. I noticed he’d changed out of his suit and into a Boston College T-shirt and jeans, similar to the clothes he had let me borrow.
Lizzie removed a pan of lasagna from the oven. “I hope everyone is hungry.”
I didn’t care if she fed me dirt. I would eat anything at the moment.
Kelton wrapped his hand around a bottle of beer. “First, I’m glad you’re okay. I hear Tito Alvarez flies off the handle. Why did he let you go?”
I gave Dillon a sidelong glance. “I told him I could get him into Duke’s organization.”
Dillon choked on his drink. “You what?”
“It was either that or die. Sorry, bro. I’m not ready to die.”
Lizzie was doing something at the stove that I couldn’t see.
Kelton sat up straighter, his expression blank. “How do you plan on doing that?”
I shrugged. “Not sure.” I hadn’t even thought past getting food in my stomach or seeing Jade. “But if I don’t, he won’t hesitate to kill me and those I love.”
Dillon shook his head.
Lizzie set the hot pan of lasagna on a trivet in front of us. Then she kissed Kelton on the cheek. “I’ll be upstairs. I’ll let you guys talk.”
He wrapped a hand around her waist and kissed her on the lips. “Thanks, Lizard.”
I raised an eyebrow at her pet name. It was cute and unique, sparking an idea of what I could use for Jade since she didn’t like me calling her love.
Lizzie bounced out of the room while I dove into the lasagna, not displaying any manners. I piled a heaping serving onto my plate and took one bite, savoring the cheesy gooiness. My stomach rumbled with pleasure. I took another bite, sighing. I had to eat slowly. Otherwise, I ran the risk of getting sick.
Kelton and Dillon began to fill their plates.
“Agent Travers tells me Duke is hooked up in the gun trade,” Kelton said.
“You talked to him?” I asked, chewing the out-of-this-world lasagna that had a perfect combination of spices, cheeses, and meat.
