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“I’ll walk you downstairs The shop is closed on Sundays, but Bax will be around” I trusted ive her a hard tientlearage I still had some chivalry inside me, even if it was buried under s

I didn’t bother with a shirt or shoes, just took her hand and guided her down the e floor since I was only half dressed, and I noticed one of the big metal bay doors was open Bax’s Hemi ’Cuda was up on the rack but he was nowhere to be seen I was going to just lead Brysen through the open bay when she suddenly pulled to a stop and yanked her hand free ofto ask her what in the hell she was doing when she purposely veered off in the direction where all of the boosted cars were parked along the back wall

The nondescript fleet of cars Bax had collected foron their owners to pay up In the dark, with the low interior lights, they were hard to see However, with the bay doors open, and in the bright light of the , it waswith Bax’s works of art and restoration or his high-end repairs

“Brysen?” Her na with clear intent right toward a white Lexus SUV that was parked ast the other collateral

It wasn’t the nicest car of the group It wasn’t the worst either I couldn’t figure out why she had sought it out like a heat-seeking missile until she turned on , thunderous storm at sea

“Why do you have this car?”

I looked at her and tried to decide what I should say I could lie, tell her it was just waiting to be fixed, but I had the distinct impression she already knew more about why it was here than I wanted her to

I crossed my arms over my bare chest and lowered my eyebrows at her I could do flinty and cold as well as any blue blood

“I don’t see how that’s any business of yours, Bry”

She let her mouth fall open and I saw a hot red run up her neck and flood into her face She stalked toward er into the center of ht before, so the jab hurt and made me scowl at her even harder

“That’s my dad’s car, Race The car that is supposedly in the shop, which made him demand my car yesterday So yeah, it very much is my business why you have it here”

I took a step back, and out of the corner of my eye saw Bax come out of his office His face was hard, and even with the distance separating us I sa dark his gaze was as it locked on our conflict Bax wouldn’t let anyone mess with his operation and he didn’t care if the threat was a irl

I grabbed her by the elbow and hauled her out into the front lot where the BMW was parked next to the Stang

“You knohat I do, Bry Don’t pretend like you don’t, because now it ht be a little too close to home”

She pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes at rammer, for Christ sakes”

All kinds of people gambled, and I didn’t want to tell her, but computer people were soht they could beat the odds, outset, even if I wanted to, I pulled up the iave s and retireao He was into me for over three hundred thousand and the Lexus wouldn’t even touch his debt I had no idea he was Brysen’s dad, and frankly it didn’t matter My job was to take money, not save families or fathers from themselves

“Everyone ga Football, horses, cars, with their lives, with cheap sex and dangerous drugs, with love” I looked at her hard “I didn’t knoas your dad I don’t usually ask names and personal details I just take the cash and er or let them have at a table”

She blew out a breath and her eyes flicked from me back to the open bay

“Give the car back, Race” Her voice was low, shaky I knew she was more in shock about the revelation about her dad than the fact that I had taken the car froive me, but at least I knew the real reason she looked like she wanted to throw up on me

I shook aze as I watched her “I can’t do that”