Page 3 of Survive the Night
“I’m sure it is,” Aaron agreed quickly. “It’s just surprising that a person without any connections can disappear so completely.”
Although his frown remained, Judd settled back in his chair, partially soothed. “Even Logan hasn’t heard anything.”
Alice shot Logan a curious look.
“I’m a police officer in LA,” Logan said, catching her glance. He brushed at the front of his jacket. The motion reminded Alice of a puffed-up rooster. “The information I collect is invaluable for the family.”
With a small bob of her head, Alice searched for some way to respond. “I’m sure it is.”
Leaving him to his preening, Alice turned her attention back to Judd. “We’re watching a friend of hers,” he was saying. “With Noah and Martin in jail, we’re hoping she will relax and possibly contact her friend.”
Noah and Martin Jovanovic are in jail? Alice felt her eyes widen. As hard as she tried to keep her face blank, this news was just too amazing. She sent a mental message of thanks and good luck to the missing witness who’d apparently had a hand in getting those monsters locked away.
“Alice.” Hard fingers grabbed her chin, jerking her head around until she was looking at Logan’s annoyed face. “Quit ignoring me.”
His touch was so sudden, so rough, that she tried to pull away before she caught herself. “I wasn’t ignoring you.” Her voice sounded strained, and she tried to soften it. “I’m just…shy.”
Still gripping her face, Logan studied her for a long moment. Alice stared back, clinging to her most earnest expression, not daring to let her fear show. Finally, he released her and sat back in his chair. “No need to be shy with me.”
As he looked away, reaching for the bread basket, Alice risked darting a glance at the other two men. They were both watching, but their silence told her that there would be no help from Aaron or Judd.
“Bread?” Logan asked, his voice low and intimate. He leaned toward her, bread basket in hand.
“No, thank you.” Despite her best efforts, her polite smile was stiff around the edges. All she wanted to do was listen to Judd and Aaron’s fascinating conversation, but now she was afraid to take her eyes off Logan.
“No?” He placed the basket back on the table. “That’s probably for the best, anyway. As small as you are, you probably can’t eat too much without tubbing out.”
“Tubbing…out?” she repeated, blinking at him.
“You know.” Logan blew out his cheeks. “Getting fat.”
“I knew what you meant. I just couldn’t believe you said it.”
“Alice,” Aaron snapped, making her jump and turn toward him. “Don’t be rude.”
A rush of righteous indignation crashed through her, nearly burying her fear. She opened her mouth to protest, but the warning narrowing of Aaron’s eyes made her close her mouth before she said anything at all.
“Apologize to Logan,” Aaron ordered, as if she were a five-year-old who’d just kicked a fellow kindergartner in the shin.
She turned a blank face toward the man sitting next to her. “I apologize if I seemed rude.”
“Alice…” Aaron said, low but sharp, and she had to hide a wince.
“I don’t think you were rude,” Logan said. “You just didn’t understand what I said.”
Forcing a smile, Alice said, “Thank you, Logan.”
With a pleased grin, he reached over and patted her back. As he withdrew his hand, his fingers lingered, stroking down her arm. Clenching her teeth, Alice took back everything she’d thought about the dinner not being so bad. It was going to be horrid.
* * *
“That was disappointing,” Aaron said after a chilly two minutes of silence.
“What was?” A cramping stomach told Alice that she knew perfectly well what was disappointing Aaron—she was. After he’d rebuked her, his conversation with the Jovanovics had taken a more general—and less interesting—turn. Alice had endured three hours of pretending to drink wine and eat overpriced, badly cooked food while attempting to evade Logan’s groping hands. It had been hard to put him off when every movement had been monitored by Aaron. After Judd and Logan had left the table, Aaron hadn’t said a word or even looked at her until they were in the SUV, heading toward home.
Aaron reached out, as quick as a striking snake, and backhanded her across the face. Her head jerked to the side, and she heard the slap of skin against skin before the pain registered, sharp and horribly familiar. “Don’t play stupid. You know how to behave. You just chose not to.”
Pressing her hand against her stinging cheek, Alice said nothing. Any attempt to defend herself would just enrage her brother more. Instead, she watched him warily, fighting the urge to press against the door. There was no way to escape. She was trapped. Her gaze met Chester’s in the rearview mirror. The helpless fury in his eyes made her want to reassure him. If the driver tried to defend her, it would just make things so much worse for all of them.
