Page 9 of Her Guardian
I follow Boyd outside and get my first breath of fresh air in what feels like forever. Rafferty’s was an experience, but I’m glad to be out of there. I replay everything I overheard in my head while I follow Boyd back across the street. He heads straight to his SUV, so I assume the bar we’re parked in front of either doesn’t serve food or doesn’t serve anything he likes.
“Any preferences?” Boyd asks once we’re back in the SUV.
“Not really,” I answer. “I’ve been eating at the casino since I got to Las Vegas because it’s free.”
“Ah, the boss gave you the VIP treatment, huh?” Boyd chuckles.
“Yeah,” I admit. “Well, Lea took care of it, but Massimo said it was okay.”
“I think we can find somewhere better than the casino buffet to eat tonight,” Boyd says, turning left. “My treat.”
I’m not one to turn down a free meal and I’m curious to see what kind of place Boyd chooses. We didn’t get to talk much at Rafferty’s. The stories I overheard will give me a few things to work with, but if I can get Boyd to open up, I might get something even juicier.
He still makes me rather nervous, but it’s time to turn on the charm.
I’ve got a podcast to save.
CHAPTER 4
Boyd
I don’t know why I’m taking her to dinner.
I could drop her off at the casino and call it a day. She overheard enough for me to say I did my job and did it well—for today at least. I’ve still got to babysit her until she goes home to keep her out of Massimo’s way. Keep her out of trouble.
So I’ll continue to entertain myself. It’s not like I have anything better to do. I need to eat, too. Eating with a pretty little thing like her across the table is better than dining alone. I do that enough.
“Where are you taking me?” Sarah inquires, more cheer in her voice than I’ve heard since I scared her.
“Since you don’t have any preferences, I’m taking you to my uncle’s place,” I reply. “Greek food.”
“Is that where your family is from?” she asks. “Greece?”
I rarely share much about myself, but there’s no harm. I’m sure she’s just trying to get me to open up, so I’ll feed her a few stories for her podcast. That’s fine. The quicker she gets what she wants, the quicker she’ll be on her way home.
“My dad was,” I answer. “Never really knew him. My uncle was born here. He took me in after the state decided my mom wasn’t fit to raise me. Don’t really know her either—not well, at least.”
“Same with my dad,” Sarah says. “My parents divorced when I was little because he got sent to prison. It’s just been my mom, me, and the boyfriend-of-the-month since then.”
“What did he do?” I ask. “Your old man.”
“He cheated on my mom with one of his students and got her pregnant,” she says apprehensively. “Then… he killed her.”
“Oh, shit.” My brow shoots up in surprise.
I’m no stranger to death, but I wasn’t expecting that.
“That’s how I got into true crime,” she sighs, taking a quick hit from her vape. “My mom always turned off the TV when I came into the room, but I would try to listen from my bedroom. I didn’t always understand what I was hearing, but I knew enough to understand it was my dad on trial for murder.”
“Damn, that’s rough when you’re a kid,” I say.
“Yeah,” she whispers, looking away.
The conversation dies off when we get to the restaurant. It’s not busy tonight, so I’m able to get a parking spot close to the door. It’s a fairly safe location, but I do a quick scan out of instinct when I get out of the car. Once I’m sure there is nothing to be wary of, I open her door.
“Wow, this place looks pretty fancy,” Sarah says, looking at the restaurant. “I felt underdressed for Rafferty’s, but I think I’ll look like a bum in here.”
“It’s not that fancy,” I rumble. “You’ll be fine.”
