Page 49 of My Silver Fox Savior

“I wish you’d recorded Carter saying all that stuff.”

“Me too,” I say. “He was smart. He didn’t give me a chance. I bet he’ll never admit it again, but I saw the director’s face. She’s definitely pissed at me.”

“But he told you the truth … and you don’t think he did anything wrong?”

I haven’t told Maddie about the apple tree job, but she knows I know what happened. I nod. “I can see why Carter resents him, but hating him isunfair.” I grab my phone. “You know what? I’m going to do it right now.”

When I look at my screen, my mouth falls open.

“What’s wrong?” Maddie says.

“He’s called me seven times in the last ten minutes. My phone’s been on silent.”

“Call him back!”

I quickly press thecallbutton. He answers after not even a full ring.

“Lily,” he says. “I’m sending somebody to get you and your mom right now.”

“Wait, what?”

“I can’t explain, but it’s unsafe for you there.”

“Where are you?” I demand.

“At The Row with Grace and her mom.”

“Grace … the girl with the red braid?”

“Pack a bag, enough for a couple of days at least.”

“But—”

“Please,” he snaps. “I can’t lose you. I can’t even imagine it. Please, Lily, listen to me and trust me.”

“You’re scaring me,” I whisper.

“You trusted me before,” he growls. “When I told you that you and your mom would be happy, that you’d find a way out of the stress and pain, you didn’t believe it. I could see it in your eyes, Lily. You were so scared, so beaten down. I told you to trust me, and you said you did. Do the same now. Keep your cell on loud. My friend will be there soon.”

He hangs up.

“Maddie, you need to go home,” I say.

“What, why?”

“Because Damon knows where I live, but he doesn’t know about you. Go out the back door and get home fast, okay? Text me when you’re there.”

“Are you serious?”

My voice breaks. “You have to, Maddie.”

Mom leaps up from her chair when the apartment buzzer goes off. It feels like something cuts through me, too. She shoulders her bag. “Is it …him?”

Her emphasis onhimmakes me wonder if she’s talking about Landon or Damon. I go to the front window and look out at the street. Then I check my phone. Landon sent me a photo of Ethan, his business partner. “It’s him,” I say. “Our ride.”

“Are we sure about this?”

“Would you prefer to wait here for the Irish mob to show up, Mom? Landon is doing this for us, to keep ussafe.” I turn to Mom, finding her frowning at me. “You can look at me like that all you want. I’m saying this because it’s true, or do you think he made up the mob and The Bear, too? Do you think he invented it all?

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