Page 56 of Savage Grace

Sam shook his head, turning his attention back to his phone.

“What happened to you?” I snatched Toni’s hand, placing it on top of the rags to keep pressure on the wound while I started to tidy up the bloodied paper towels and general mess that had been made.

“Redliner motherfuckers,” Toni answered in a high-pitched sing-song.

Rome reappeared, her hair now tied up on top of her head in a messy bun that meant that she was stressed out. She seemed to glance towards the door every few moments, probably waiting for Valerie to arrive and put her mind at ease.

“They were waiting for us,” she took over for Toni, who was explaining the situation horribly. “We were supposed to be meeting with a new buyer. When we showed up for the meeting, there was no buyer. Only two blokes on motorcycles hiding in the alley. They opened fire as soon as we got out of the car and then sped off. Toni got hit.”

“But are you sure they were Redliners?”

“Are you fucking serious right now?” Rome spun to glare at me.

I flinched backwards a little bit, never having been on the receiving end of Rome’s fury. Her dark eyes grew darker as they searched my face frantically.

She was tired, that much was obvious, and perhaps I should have kept my theories to myself until Toni was better.

“Sorry.” I cast my gaze to the floor. “I just mean… all this stuff that’s been happening lately seems very uncharacteristic for the Redliners, right? I heard you all talking about it the other week. I just—I don’t know.” I sighed because I didn’t know why I bothered opening my mouth. “Maybe there are other suspects, right?”

“No, Zar,” Rome said flatly. “There are no other suspects because we are not at war with any other motorcycle fucking clubs.”

“Right,” I put my hands up. “It was just a suggestion. Sorry.”

The sound of the door opening was my cue to leave. I packed up my things as Valerie burst into the room with Ren on her heels. I could still feel Rome’s heated glare on me, but I didn’t dare look at her again.

Val offered me a quick smile as a greeting before she passed me to tend to Toni. Ren stopped in the hallway and was being briefed by another man about the situation.

I left the dining room and searched the house for Theo.

He was standing in a small group of men of a similar rank, all speaking in hushed voices. Their eyes shone with novelty and excitement as one of the guys who was present for the ordeal recounted the event in detail.

Therewas the difference.

That mixture of fear, excitement, newness—that was what separated the rookies from the rest.

They spoke of Antoni like he was a hero, a legend, guiding all of them out of there and shielding his wife with his body even as he bled.

But that same legend was drugged and giggling in the dining room while his brother watched TikTok because it was more interesting than a gunshot wound.

I tugged on the back of Theo’s shirt to get his attention. He spun to look down at me, his smile fading in an instant and his eyebrows drawing together with concern.

“Are you alright?” he stepped forward, asking me in a hush.

I nodded. “Can you take me home now please?”

He gestured towards the door with an outstretched arm, saying a quick goodbye to his colleagues before following close behind as I rushed for the exit.

Theo didn’t push on the drive home.

He didn’t ask questions, didn’t pry for answers, and I was grateful for it. Maybe he understood to some extent, or maybe he could just sense how close I was to a breakdown.

“Do you want me to walk you up?” Theo asked quietly as he pulled into the parking garage of my building.

I nodded, and he rounded the car to open my door and help me out of the passenger seat. Just like our car ride, we stayed silent on the elevator trip up to my floor and the walk to my door.

“Thank you,” I said as I unlocked my door.

Theo nodded once, thankfully understanding the dismissal without me having to ask him to leave, and he turned on his heel and headed back the way we had come.

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