Page 39 of Decker

“Then no, just water for me, please.”

He handed her a glass of water and sat at the island with her as delicious scents of cooking food surrounded them, making her mouth water.

“Tell me about the Cavendish family.” If she was going to run scared, she wanted to know who from.

“Wow, straight in with the big guns.” He stayed quiet and she remembered he was a talented profiler and could probably out wait anyone.

“I just need to know what I’m dealing with, Mark. I don’t work well in the dark. I need facts, they keep me calm.”

He pursed his full lips, and she got distracted by the images they wrought. “I understand. Shall we go into the lounge and relax for a bit? This will be a while.”

Savannah picked up her water and followed him into the lounge, which had been decorated in greys and blues, with warm wood tones on the floor, and matched the rest of the ground floor. A large sectional couch framed a gorgeous contemporary fireplace, which housed a massive TV above it.

Mark took a seat and tugged her hand, so she was seated beside him before he angled his body towards her, closing the distance but not touching her. It was as if he needed her close enough to touch, even if he chose not to.

“The Cavendish family is made up of Winston Cavendish and his two sons, Damon and Gideon.”

“Wait. I know those names. Are his sons doctors?”

Mark frowned and shook his head. “No, Damon is a barrister and Gideon is running the family business, at least the legal side of it. Winston remarried after the boys’ mother died and had a third son. His name is Carter, and he’s the driving force behind the drugs, prostitution, guns, loan sharks. You name it, he’s involved.”

“Yes, that’s it. Damon Cavendish represented a huge lawsuit against Nex Pharmaceuticals for not being honest about the side effects of the epilepsy drug they created. But I thought you said they were a crime family.”

Mark nodded his head in understanding and held up his hand. “I know and it is, because Winston still holds the reins and while he’s around, he protects Carter and makes his other sons do the same. My personal opinion is Damon and Gideon want no part of it but are being forced to protect their younger brother.”

“So, Winston is making his sons be criminals?”

“In a roundabout manner. They’re driven, rich, and from what I hear, completely cutthroat in business and in the courtroom. Winston’s second wife is from a family with ties to the Italian Mafia and I think Winston has been dragged into it, and so have his sons.”

“Wow, that’s awful. Can’t they find a way out?”

“I have no idea, and that’s not really our problem. At the moment, it’s getting the target off your back and putting the men who killed Andy in prison.”

Savannah shifted closer. “But surely if we approach the brothers, they’ll help us?”

“Why? They don’t know us. Why would they help us?”

“Surely we can appeal to their better nature.”

“Don’t assume because they aren’t as involved as their brother, that these are good men. They still protect him and his illegal dealings, and hundreds of people die because of it. These aren’t good men that will do us a favour just because we asked.”

“Surely we could offer them some incentive?”

“Savannah, that isn’t what Eidolon does. This isn’t our usual remit. It’s only because of who you are that we’re involved.”

Her enthusiasm left her in an exhale of breath. They were helping her out and she was trying to tell them how to do their jobs. He’d said she wasn’t a burden, but she could already tell she was.

“Hey.”

He lifted her chin with his finger, and she glanced away, not wanting him to see the defeat in her eyes. She was already missing surgery and her patients. Being a doctor was who she was, and she wanted her life back. More than that, she wanted this feeling of helplessness to be gone. She fixed things, so sitting back and letting others handle her shit was grating on her nerves.

“Look at me, Savannah.”

What was it about that tone that made her comply with his every command? She had no clue, just that she couldn’t disobey him if she tried. Her eyes moved up his face until she was looking at his deep brown, intense gaze.

“We’ll find a way to fix this. Jack is on his way home. We’ll fix this so you’re safe and free to live your life without terror or the spectre of what you witnessed hanging over you any more than is necessary.”

“I’m sorry you got dragged into this.”