Page 56 of Wine, Whiskey, & Lipstick 2

Dillyn didn’t want to hand it over, but by the look in his eyes, his patience had worn out. Against her better judgment, Dillyn slowly handed her cell over to Ben.

His fury lay just beneath the surface. “I think it’s time we have a little chat.”

Syntax was cool. “I’m listening.”

“We both know this is all connected to Steven and Selah. And from the scant details I can get out of Dillyn, I’ve come to believe there isn’t much that gets past you.”

“Hmm.” Syntax wasn’t going to confirm or deny.

Ben continued, “I will spell it out even if Dillyn won’t. If her parents can get paroled and something likethatgotpast you, that means the cast of characters in this shit pond is powerful. We need to meet if I’m going to keep my family safe. Face-to-face. Tell me when and where?”

“I’ll be in touch.”

“You’ll be in touch?”

“Yes.”

Ben hated his responses, but for now, he would have to accept Styntax’s answers. “Make sure you do.” Ben handed Dillyn back her phone.

Tentatively, she accepted it. She knew Syntax would be angry for breaking a cardinal rule. She had allowed Ben into their inner sanctum. Dillyn would deal with the consequences of that later. For now, she had to focus on the problems right before her. Namely her parents.

“What’s the plan?” She asked Syntax.

“Ben.”

“Excuse me?”

“He won’t allow anyone to hurt you. I can hear it in his voice and see it when he looks at you.”

“What?!” Dillyn looked up and around, “Where? When?”

Syntax responded, “Ben lost everything once. With you, he has a chance to start over.Youhave a chance to start over. Not many people get a do-over. Embrace it, and let me figure this out.”

Was Syntax not going to answer her question? Was he also giving her dating advice? Dillyn was reeling and needed some time to digest this conversation. “Will you at least keep me in the loop?”

“I promise. I will tell you what you need to know.”

What I need to know?Dillyn hated that answer but knew Syntax wasn’t prepared to say more.

He disconnected the call.

Dillyn didn’t have to accept that answer. She had developed her own contacts over the course of years. She would do her own digging. No way would she sit idly by while madness ensued around her.

Dillyn fell into Ben’s arms, and he held her tight as she replayed her conversation with Syntax. Her boss made an effort to reassure her. Only there was one problem. Dillynknewwithout a shadow of a doubt that it was only a matter of time before her parents found her. If they hadn’t already. It was quite possible she had heard her father’s voice at Franks.

Someone had wound them up and sent them her way. Someone was playing a game, and she was either a target or a pawn. The question was, who were all the players, and what was their end goal?

Maybe something she found in those hacked files would provide the answers.

Chapter 25

Ben didn’t have time to process everything he’d learned since he entered Dillyn’s bedroom. It would all have to wait until he tended to her emotional needs. For now, he just held her close. Whatever she needed, he would make sure she had it.

He pressed his lips against the top of her head. “It’s going to be fine.”

Dillyn knew better. Everything wasn’t going to be fine. She had to deal with reality and get the hell out of La La land. Good things didn’t happen for her. Maybe to other people, but not to her. The sooner she realized that, the better.Hadn’t she always known? Hadn’t she only pretended to believe in rainbows? They weren’t really real either.If the last few weeks had shown her anything, it was that she couldn’t afford to keep her head stuck in the clouds.

Her words came out softly, almost like a whisper. “It’s just adispersionof light in water that looks like colors in the sky.”

---