He could feel the angst emanating off of Samantha the rest of the way to Asher’s place. Part of him wanted to make her feel better, but he knew he’d probably end up yelling. His younger siblings had pulled some stunts in their time, but nothing even close to this.
When his hands started hurting, he realized he was throttling the steering wheel, so he eased up. He glanced furtively over at Samantha. She was staring out the window, her jaw clenched. Okay, maybe she didn’t need soothing, maybe he was going to be in for a fight when he got to Asher and Eden’s place. Fine. Good. It would let him work off some steam.
When he pulled into the drive, he saw Eden’s Honda was already there. Asher had made good time. He probably didn’t want to be alone with the dumbasses any longer than he had to be. Samantha made a move to unbuckle her seat belt.
“Let me.”
“Thought you were mad at me.”
“Doesn’t mean I don’t want to help you. Doesn’t mean I ever want you to be in pain.”
She sighed and smiled up at him. “Should have known that. I suppose you’re going to open the car door for me?”
His lip twitched. “Damn right.”
When he went around to the passenger door, he held out his hand and she used her left hand to grab it, her right leg coming out of the car first.
Ezio couldn’t believe his eyes. She was wearing garters. He was seeing garters!
Lord have mercy.
Samantha finished getting out of the car, and the entire walk up to Asher’s porch, Ezio’s mind was filled with seeing a shapely thigh and garters.
Thank God the door opened by itself; he wasn’t sure he would remember how to knock.
“Samantha!” Toni threw herself at her friend, wrapping her arms around her. “You’re safe. I was so worried.”
“If you were so goddamned worried, why’d you talk her into this in the first place?” Ezio growled.
“Reel it back,” David said.
“Let’s everyone come into the living room,” Eden gestured behind David. Ezio could see Phil and Greg sitting sullenly on a couch.
Toni grabbed Samantha’s right hand and Sam flinched.
“What’s wrong?”
“She needs ice is what’s wrong,” Ezio said as politely as he could, which wasn’t all that polite.
“I’ll get some,” Toni immediately offered. She practically ran to the kitchen.
David was scowling at him. Like he gave a shit.
“Come on, Samantha, let’s get you sitting down.”
“I’m fine. Quit trying to baby me.”
“You’ve had a shock. You’re injured. You could probably use something hot to drink with a lot of sugar in it.”
“I’ve got coffee, I’ll pour a cup of sugar in it for her,” Eden said as she headed toward the kitchen.
By the time Ezio got Samantha settled on a couch opposite Dumb and Dumber, he could feel her trembling. Shock was setting in, but you wouldn’t be able to tell by the expression on her face—oh no, that was mutinous. She wasn’t going to give an inch.
“Here’s the ice pack. It wraps around and has Velcro,” Toni said as she held it out to Sam. Ezio took it and gently wrapped it around Samantha’s wrist. He hated it when he heard her low gasp of pain.
“Here’s your coffee, Sam.” Eden offered. Samantha held out her trembling left hand for it, but Ezio took it instead.
“I’ll hold it until it cools a little.” Sam smiled at him gratefully. Well, at least he wasn’t totally in the doghouse.
“Phil, what the fuck have you gotten yourself into?” David demanded of his brother-in-law. The former Marine towered over the two men who sat on the couch.
“We were just playing poker. We didn’t know that it would turn so ugly,” Greg whined.
“I don’t know you. I don’t want to hear from you. Do you get me?” David growled.
Greg flinched.
“Now speak up, Phil. What in the fuck have you got to say for yourself?”
“I wanted to make some money for the new baby,” he whispered.
Oh, that was the wrong thing to say. Ezio waited for it, and it didn’t take long.
“Are you really that dumb? Are you? How can you and Toni possibly be related? Goddammit, Phil, you were going to piss away twenty-thousand dollars when I know you guys don’t have a pot to shit in. You’ve left your wife in a lurch and she’s been worried sick about you. You’re not much of a man, are you?”
Phil shrunk into the couch.
“Answer me!” David shouted.
“You’re not helping,” Toni said soothingly.
David turned on his wife. He opened his mouth. Then shut it. Then opened it again. “Toni, you don’t want to get involved at this point. I don’t care about the money you gave Sam, that’s yours to do what you will with, but putting your friend in danger?”
Samantha jerked up from the couch and pushed her way between Toni and David before Ezio could stop her. “It’s not her fault. I volunteered to do this. As soon as she told me about the situation, I wanted to help. I’m a big girl. I sure as heck can make my own dang decisions.”
Again, David’s mouth opened and then shut. Then his lips twitched.
“What?” Samantha demanded.
“Well hell, you can’t even swear. How can I take you seriously?”
“Darn it, David,” she swung to Ezio and pointed a finger at him as well. “And you, too.” Then she looked at Asher.
