“That’s awfully young.”

She opened her eyes. “Sometimes we even had fish for breakfast.”

Because she had nothing else? He couldn’t bear imagining her in that type of poverty. The people he knew who lived on the river did so in extravagant condos or ostentatious homes. “Rowdy taught you?”

“He taught me…everything.” She nibbled on a cookie. “He hasn’t called?”

“Not yet, no. But it’s only seven.” How the hell had she disguised that body? How had she hidden that face? Seeing her now, with the morning sun in her eyes, she was the most beautiful woman he could imagine. “Try not to worry. It really hasn’t been that long.”

“It’s weird,” she said. “But I think I’d know if he was hurt. Or maybe I just tell myself that, so I don’t go nuts worrying.”

Almost on cue, the cell in the house rang. Pepper and Logan both turned as Dash stepped out to hand Logan the phone. “It’s Rowdy.” And then to Pepper, “He says he’s fine.”

Pepper let out a breath and nodded. “Of course he is. Thank you.”

Dash didn’t intrude. He immediately went back inside but left the patio door open to let in the cooler morning air.

Logan looked at Pepper, saw the anxiety she tried so hard to veil and made up his mind. He handed the phone to her. “I’ll talk to him after you.”

Something shifted in her expression—surprise, maybe gratitude, although she didn’t thank him. She took the phone. “Hey, Rowdy.”

* * *

ROWDY SMILED while keeping watch out the window. “You didn’t cut Logan’s throat just to get the phone first, did you?”

“He gave it to me.”

“Ah, did he now?” She sounded surprised and secretly pleased. “Wising up, is he?”

“I don’t know.”

Yeah, he didn’t really know, either, but he was glad that she stayed cautious. Logan might have good intentions, but in reality, the best intentions could prove deadly.

As he looked on, officials went in and out of Checkers, a few in plain clothes, others in uniforms. “I might have some good news.”

“I could use some.”

“I heard that Morton is dead.”

A long beat of silence preceded her soft exclamation of “Wow.” And then: “So the bomb got him?”

“That’s what I’m told.” It had gotten a few other people, too, but Rowdy didn’t want to go into that with Pepper just yet. “We might not have to worry about him anymore, but until I figure out who detonated the bastard, I want you to stay put, okay?”

“We can’t hide forever.”

“We can hide a little longer, though, so promise me.”

The smile sounded in her voice when she said, “Do what you need to do, and then come get me. I’ll be here, I promise.”

“Thanks, hon.” Better to get this over with. “Now put Logan on.”

“Love you.”

He knew it, but he never tired of hearing it. “Love you, too.”

A few seconds later, Logan said, “Morton’s gone?”

So he picked right up on that? “That’s the word on the street. Just dumb luck on his part, though. I don’t know who yet, but someone dropped a shitty little homemade bomb into his office. Two inch pipe, gunpowder—and plenty of sharp projectiles. And get this—I’m told it exploded in his face.”

Logan gave a low whistle. “That’d make a convenient mess.”

Exactly what he’d been thinking. “He died a couple hours after getting to the hospital.”

“I’d rather have him rotting in jail.”

Rowdy didn’t care one way or the other, as long as the bastard was gone.

But…death by bomb would work for him. Except that, with all of Morton’s minions around, why would he get anywhere near a bomb? “Will you be able to do your thing, check fingerprints, get a coroner’s statement or something? I want it confirmed that it’s Morton.”

“The medical examiner’s office will want the coroner to send the body for an autopsy. I’ll check on it first thing. Anything else?”

“Morton wasn’t the only one to die.”

There was a beat of silence, then Logan asked, “Who else?”

“No one innocent, so don’t worry about that. The short version is that Morton was trying his hand at human trafficking. A rep was there to cement the deal when shit went sideways. After the bomb, the guy fled the building, and bit a sniper bullet on his way out the door.”

“So that guy dodged the bomb somehow, but died anyway?”

“The plot thickens, right?” Rowdy kept watch on the club while making his way back to his car. “Reese still there?”

“He’s heading out today.”

“Will you be able to stay with Pepper?”

“I’ll have to leave for a while, but Dash will watch over her.”

“You don’t leave until Reese is gone.” Rowdy got behind the wheel and started the old sedan he’d kept hidden at the same place where he’d stowed other necessities for Pepper. “And make damn sure Dash understands—”

“That you don’t trust Reese. I’ll tell him. But it’s not necessary.”

“Gamble with your own life if you want, but not with my sister’s.”