Page 71 of Billionaire’s Heartbreak

I thought back to the moment she'd disappeared through the opening at the back. I'd noticed it. I'd simply assumed she was going into the kitchen, not bringing Squirrel into the shop or arranging our escape.

“She was your aunt?” June asked.

Squirrel nodded.

“Do you know Tony?” June asked quickly.

“Yes.” His eyes moved toward her. “But how do you know Tony?”

“That's a long story.”

“What was his role in all this?” I kept one eye on the road and another on the rearview mirror. Dave's SUV was still behind us.

“He's Roger's right-hand man.”

I nodded. “I see.”

“Then Tony was there for Roger,” June said. “But why me?”

Squirrel didn't hesitate. “Because you're valuable.”

June frowned. “What do you mean?”

“No one here knows where Dannie is.” He paused. “But you do. Now that you're here, you're the closest thing they have to him.”

June went quiet as the meaning settled in. If they had her, they could ask for anything.

“Anything?”

I let out a quiet breath. “It means you're in danger.” My voice hardened. “What you did back there could have cost you your life.”

She didn't flinch. “Except it didn't.” Her eyes moved toward Squirrel. “Squirrel was there.”

“Yes, and it almost went the other way.” I held her gaze. “You got lucky. Squirrel would have found us anyway. That was the plan.”

“To be fair—” Squirrel began.

I shot him a look, but he continued. “I didn't know where you were. If you hadn't shown up⁠—”

“That isn't the point.” My frustration came out before I could soften it. “You could have compromised everything. If they'd taken you—if they'd taken all of us—this wouldn't have been a near miss. It would have been a real kidnapping.”

June looked away. “That word again…”

“Yes.” My voice softened. “That word again.”

Silence stretched between us.

“I’m sorry,” she said eventually, though the words didn't quite match her tone. “I couldn't just sit there and wait. I needed to find Squirrel, and none of you were listening to me.”

“That isn't true. If you'd just told us what you were thinking⁠—”

“Would you have listened?”

“Yes.”

“Honestly?”

I held her gaze. For once, I didn't answer immediately.