Entangled Heart (Ashby Crime Family)

“Charlie!” Jana wrapped him in a hug, and he accepted it with an affectionate grin that surprised me.

“Savannah,” she said next, standing back and examining the woman with a friendly smile. I waited for the fireworks to begin. Once again, I was sadly disappointed. “You look lovely, dear,” Jana said. “Much better than when I last saw you.”

“Thanks in part to you,” Savannah said and accepted a maternal hug. It was strange, seeing the boogeyman up close and personal, holding hands with Jameson’s brother, tall, thin, and beautiful as well. Exactly what I expected the devil to look like.

“God help us all.” I muttered under my breath. Her presence shocked me, and I shook my head, unable to believe I’d have to sit down and share a meal with this bitch. I rolled my eyes and accepted a hug from Jana.

“Uhm, what’s going on?” Charlie practically growled the question, which left me clear on what he thought of me dating his brother.

I turned and shrugged, my gaze narrow and challenging. “What? We’re friends. You got a problem with that?”

“Yeah. No. I mean, maybe.” He didn’t get a chance to say more because Jana clapped her hands and all eyes turned to her.

“Everyone grab a platter or a bowl and take it to the table outside, and do it quickly, please.”

“Excuse me,” I said. “Where’s the restroom?”

Jamie pointed to a door about ten feet away right down the hall “Right there, Madds. Meet you out back, yeah?”

“Sure.” I darted out of the kitchen and headed straight to the bathroom to splash cold water on my face and get my shit together after the shock of seeing Savannah. This woman was evil personified, sure, but maybe I could use this family dinner to my advantage, to find out something about Molly’s whereabouts. I can do this. I have to. I looked at my reflection in the huge mirror in the bathroom and nodded my approval at my appearance. This might be my chance to get real answers.

A knock sounded on the door. “Madds, everything all right in there?” I opened the door and Jameson’s gray eyes scanned my face, looking for any traces of discomfort or fear, or something.

“It’s fine. I’m fine, well I will be. No worries.” I flashed a smile that I hoped showed that I was fine, not bothered—much—by the presence of Savannah Rhymer at the dinner table. “I just didn’t expect that girl to be here.”

“You okay? I mean, we can go if you want.”

“No, no, no. Your mom made a shit ton of food, and we’re gonna eat it.” I said. “Let’s get out there.”

The highlight of dinner was the food, definitely the food. Jana had made Charlie’s favorite foods, which were fried chicken and mashed potatoes, and Jameson’s favorite barbecued meats, plus she’d added lasagna because it turned out it was that bitch’s favorite. I ate everything except the lasagna and did my best to enjoy the familiar atmosphere under the Nevada sky. It was nice, a dinner unlike any I had ever attended. Even the Ashby Sunday dinners were mostly filled with talk of business. Here, everyone laughed and talked about family and acted interested in each other. Who did that?

Jana brushed off my offer of help and Savannah’s too, which made me feel better but only a little. “I’ll just poke my nose in Savannah and Charlie’s business,” Jana said laughing, “since you and Jameson are staying in the friend zone.” With a knowing smile she plunged her hands into soapy water and hummed to herself.

“We are just friends,” I insisted and made a quick getaway, finding Jameson and his father in the living room, eyes glued to the TV. “What’s going on?” I asked when I saw their worried faces.

“Don’t know yet,” Jameson said and nodded at the TV. “Something’s happened at a hotel in Glitz, something big if the police presence is anything to go by.”

I took a seat beside Jameson and watched the blue and red flashing lights of nearly a dozen patrol cars parked in front of the ornate hotel. Two unmarked cars showed up and then a van with Medical Examiner emblazoned on the side. Whatever happened wasn’t just big, it was bad too. And when the newscaster stepped in front of the camera and nodded his readiness to begin his report, I held my breath waiting for the news.

“In more disturbing news today, local hero and community leader, Father Dietrich Mueller was found shot to death in his hotel room. Sources say he was with a woman identified as Bonnie Byrne-Ashby, who is also reported dead. Bonnie Byrne-Ashby is the wife of local tech guru, Calvin Ashby, and leaves behind a six-month-old daughter. It is unclear why the two were in a hotel room, particularly one owned by the victim’s husband’s family, but sources say it was a bloody, brutal crime scene. Join us back here at eleven for more details.”