Page 100 of Say You Will

Addressing both of us, Dante says, “Jonny Lennox came to your penthouse and demanded to speak to with his daughter. He was denied access. I was returning from taking Oliver for a walk at the time, and when Mr. Lennox saw him in the lobby of the building, he insisted he was taking the dog home with him.”

Franki lifts Oliver into her arms and clutches him to her. “He didwhat?”

Dante runs a hand through his dark hair. “First, he claimed that if you weren’t home, you would want him to keep Oliver for you while you were away. When the guard on duty refused to confirm or deny that you weren’t staying at the penthouse, he moved on to claiming that Oliver was his property because he bought him.”

Crimson color floods up her neck into her face, and her eyes narrow in fury as she holds Oliver protectively to her chest. “He’s aliar.I found Oliver at a shelter, and Henry got him for me.”

“It wouldn’t matter where he came from. He’s your dog.” I attempt to soothe her.

Dante nods. “Henry is right. None of us would let him near Oliver. Jonny made threats of legal action, and when that got him nowhere, he attempted, badly, to break into the property. He had an armed escort back to his car.”

Where his driver, then, no doubt, took him to a hospital to have his broken bones set.

Franki is one of the most even-tempered people I’ve ever known. She rarely gets angry, and when she does, she doesn’t lose her temper or hold onto grudges. Franki gives people the benefit of the doubt, even when she shouldn’t. But no one comes after her dog.

She sets Oliver on the floor. “I couldkillhim.”

“Relatable,” I say dryly.

She whirls on me. “Are you making a joke out of this?” she asks incredulously.

Oliver, picking up on her mood, growls a warning.

Shit. “No. I was trying, clearly ineffectually, to help you calm down.”

Face red with rage, she balls her hands into fists. “I am calm. I’malwayscalm. I’m a ray of fuckingsunshine.” She starts out in a normal, if angry, tone and volume, but each successive word gets louder until she ends on a scream of rage.

I raise my hands in surrender. “Okay, fair enough, sunshine-y girl. Do you want to take a walk or—”

“You’re not going to interfere this time. I’m not asking for your help.” She lunges for her phone.

The next seconds happen in a blur. Dante pushes himself between us as he reaches for his sidearm. Before his hand makesfull contact with his gun, I yank him away and shove his arm behind his back, spinning in a violent arc to slam him face-first into the kitchen wall.

Behind me, Franki shushes Oliver as he growls and snaps in our direction.

I tighten my grip on Dante, pushing his arm further up his back until I know exactly the level of burn he feels and lean nearer to the man I consider as close as a brother. “If you ever pull a weapon on her for any reason, know that I will kill you without hesitation or regret.”

Dante grunts but doesn’t struggle. “She was going for a gun, you lunatic.”

“Franki’s safety is your priority. If she wants a gun, yougive her a fucking gun.”

Dante tries to turn his head in Franki’s direction.

I don’t budge an inch. “Am. I. Clear?”

Dante swallows hard. “Affirmative.”

When I release him, he steps away, scraping a hand over his head.

Spencer stands in the bedroom doorway with a hand pressed to his mouth.

Franki watches Dante warily, then scowls at me. “I was reaching for my phone, not my gun, and you know it.”

Dante clears his throat. “I apologize, Franki.”

She nods stiffly.

The tension in this cabin is in the stratosphere. Soothing tempers has never been in my wheelhouse. But distraction? That, I can do. I lean toward her and murmur, “It turned you on a little when I did the wholegive her a fucking gun thing, though, didn’t it?”

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