Jackal hated himself at that moment. He had failed as an enforcer. If Lucky hadn’t given them the warning, each of them would be dead, burnt to the point that even their families wouldn’t have been able to identify them.

“Who did it?” Jackal already knew, but he wanted it confirmed before he set his wrath on the one deserving his vengeance.

“Raul, Fat’s Louise’s ex-brother-in-law. He escaped from the Mexican prison. They didn’t even know he was missing until this morning. Lucky was with the team that was extraditing Raul to the United States. He didn’t have time to warn Hennessy before the bomb he planted killed three of his men. If Lucky hadn’t called us, we would have been hit, too.”

Jackal wondered which of the hanger-on’s in the club last night had planted the bomb. Raul would be long gone, hiding out with someone who could protect him.

“I’m going to kill the bastard,” Jackal vowed.

Cars were lined up on the street to watch the fire. One car braked, and then Grace was running toward Ice, throwing herself into his arms.

“Oh, God! Are you okay?”

Ice pulled her close. “I’m fine. I told you I was okay when I called.”

Grace burst into tears. “I’ve never been so afraid in my whole life. I couldn’t bear to lose you and my mother—”

“I’m here, Grace. The bastard didn’t come close to taking us out,” Ice lied to keep Grace from knowing how close she had been to losing her husband.

Jackal recognized the car double-parking beside Grace’s. Penni’s terrified face had his stomach churning, but he braced himself for what he had to do.

When she threw herself into his arms, Jackal kept them to his sides, stepping back.

Her startled face stared back at him. “Are you okay? What happened? Why didn’t you call me? Grace called—”

“Go home.”

“I’m not leaving … Are you hurt?”

“No, I don’t have a mark on me.” Jackal ignored the burning pain on his back where the fire had scorched his T-shirt. The injury he felt from when he had dragged Buzzard across the pavement was hidden where she couldn’t see.

“Thank God you aren’t hurt.”

“It wasn’t God who saved us; it was Lucky.”

“Lucky? How did he save you? Is he here?” Penni looked at the faces in the crowd.

“No, he called Ice, warning us to get out. If hadn’t, we would be dead. I failed the club.” Self-loathing filled him, hurting him more than the blisters on his back.

“You blame yourself for this?”

“Who else is here to blame but me? I should have known the cartel wasn’t going to allow their men to be killed without repercussions.”

“Jackal—”

“Go, Penni.” Jackal reached into his pocket, taking out his keychain and sliding off the key for Penni’s condo, trying to give it to her.

She shook her head, tears brimming her eyes. “I don’t understand—”

“You were right; I’m never going to walk away from the Predators. If I hadn’t had my mind on fucking you, this wouldn’t have happened.”

“You’re blaming me?” Penni whispered.

“Aren’t you listening to me!” Jackal yelled. “I’m blaming myself. I didn’t do my job, and because of me, these men almost died!”

Penni took a step back at the anger he didn’t try to hide.

“Get out of here! I don’t want to see your face again.” Jackal shoved her key in her hand. “Go.”

Jackal would never forget how she looked when she turned to flee from his harsh words.

Grace caught her, going with her while giving him dirty looks as she helped Penni into her car.

“Brother, this is not your fault. Go after her before it’s too late,” Ice said, breaking through the agonizing pain of having his soul ripped out of him.

“It’s already too late.”

37

The green room was larger than most with several rooms where the performers could rest before going on stage. This one had several couches and plush chairs that would fit all the members of the band with a table placed against the wall for all of Genny’s cooking.

“How does it look?” Genny asked apprehensively.

“It looks fantastic. You did a great job.” Penni pushed several of the bottled waters into the ice bowl.

“I’m getting better.”

That’s an understatement, Penni thought. The young woman had successfully made sushi that would give the finest restaurant a run for their money.

“Take a break. You and your crew can break it down when the band gets back on the bus after the show.”

“Thanks. Where are we heading this time?”

“New Jersey.” It was a stop that was halfway through their tour. It would be another two weeks before they made it back to Queen City.

“I’ve never been to New Jersey. I’m excited.”

“Me, too.” Penni remembered when she had first toured with Mouth2Mouth. Each new city had held something new to discover. Now, they just ran together.

Genny yawned. “If you need anything, just call.”

“I will.”

Penni sat down on one of the chairs when Genny left, listening to the music coming from the stage. She closed her eyes, seeing Jackal’s face, and her hand went to her heart.

The ache had grown each day since he had told her he never wanted to see her again. She was dying inside, and it wasn’t anything a doctor could fix. She knew it because she had tried that. The doctor’s answer had been to prescribe anxiety medication, which she hadn’t filled.

She hadn’t believed a broken heart could affect her so badly. She knew better now. She had known it would be heartbreaking if Jackal had grown tired her. The reality, though, was killing her.

“What’s up, butterfly?”

The voice from the doorway had her lifting her head.

“Shade?” Penni used her hand to raise herself from the chair.

Her brother’s penetrating gaze bore into her. He didn’t say anything, just held out his arms for her.

Penni took faltering steps until she found her enclosed in his arms, laying her head on his chest.

“What … are … you doing here?” she managed to get out.

“You didn’t sound like yourself when you called me.”

Penni gave him a slight smile. “I’m just tired from being on the road.”

“Is that all? It doesn’t have anything to do with Jackal?”

She dropped her arms, turning toward the food table. “Are you hungry?”

“No, I’m not hungry. You should eat some food yourself, though. You look like you’ve lost weight.”

“Not really. I just took off the weight I gained from Lily’s cooking.”

“If you keep losing weight, I’m going to tell her, and she’ll come and put it back on.”

Penni shrugged. “That might not be necessary. I’m thinking about coming for a visit when the tour ends. I’m missing you, Lily, and John.”

“Really? That would be good. It would be better than what you have planned for when you get back to Queen City.”