Page 79 of Shephard
He didn’t have any expression on his face. “Make no mistake, Denise. His threat shouldn’t be considered harmless. He is highly dangerous because he’s gotten away with murder before.”
The news was as surprising if not more so than the fact the jerk had shown up. “What do you mean?”
“I mean he killed a former roommate over a girl and Daddy managed to sweep it so far under the rug, the only mention of it is in deep, dark archives.”
“That you found.”
“I have my sources.”
Pepper eased off the couch, immediately heading in Shephard’s direction. “Who are you really?”
“Someone who knows a dangerous man when I see one. You’re going to come stay at my cabin for a few days until I make certain he’s out of town. I’m not risking your life for that prick.”
“I… can’t do that.” Why was he offering? It wasn’t like I didn’t have weapons. He knew that.
“Yes, you can.”
“You’re a cocky son of a bitch, aren’t you? Used to getting your way.”
“I’m not cocky, sweetheart. I’m confident.”
“And I can take care of myself.”
He leaned forward in his chair, locking eyes in such a way I couldn’t look away even if I wanted to. “You don’t seem to understand, Denise. I’m not offering you a place to stay. I’m telling you that you’re coming with me.”
CHAPTER 21
Shephard
I was no fool. I’d checked and rechecked the rearview mirror as I was driving away from her home, certain the bastard would try to make good on his threats.
He would at some point. I was as positive of that fact as I was the man was not worth the space he occupied.
Scum.
I’d dealt with the worst of humanity over the years, men who enjoyed torture and took pleasure in destroying all those around them. I didn’t have a second thought when taking the lives of those who had no regard for others. Whether it was from greed, entitlement, or it was simply that they were sick sadists, I pulled the trigger and happily went on with my life.
Not with the bastard who’d abused the woman I cared for.
The very one I’d acted as if I owned. Some men treated women as nothing more than possessions, pretty little things they couldtake out of a cage or off a shelf when it suited them. Jameson was one of those assholes. He’d been taught by his father and grandfather that he could have anything he wanted.
I could have easily killed the man. I’d had my finger on the trigger, ready and eager to blow his brains out. I could try to say common decency had prevented me from doing the deed. Or perhaps the fear of imprisonment, but neither one was the case. The man continued to breathe because I’d become emotional in the moment.
Not good for anyone.
Including the tough but fragile Denise Parker. For all her bravado, when accepting the job in Charlotte, she’d left everything and everyone she knew in Maine. The distance kept her from driving home for a weekend, taking comfort or advice from her mother or sister, who remained there.
He’d wooed her. I’d seen a couple of pictures that came out after the horrific scandal. I’d almost smashed the computer when noticing the look of contempt in his eyes as he held her elbow. I could only imagine how abusive he’d gotten. For her to up and leave a job I knew she’d adored meant the time she’d spent with him continued to give her nightmares.
My rage burned deeper. I wanted him dead.
I’d easily found out about her torrid affair with the creep. Initially discovering the nasty press items and the obvious attachment had irritated the fuck out of me. She’d been treated badly in the press and by the man’s family. She’d been called the most horrible names, her house vandalized because the Reynoldses had been so beloved in the city. My God, the fuckingabuser was still considered a golden child, everyone looking the other way when he fucked up.
And he had multiple times, Daddy or a politician always coming to his rescue.
When I’d learned just how far the asshole would go to get what he wanted, I’d become livid. But he was in Charlotte and she was here. Running. Hiding. No longer living the life she wanted.
Until tonight.