Her Silent Revenge novel Chapter 56

It's the worst time for jealousy, but my brain doesn't care. I hate her dating life.

Almost as much as I hate that I'm still in debt to her forever over this damn job.

Wait. This job.

Higher Ends has a commercial snow removal crew for clearing out their properties, doesn't it?

My stomach knots.

I hate asking anyone for special treatment, buuuut…

Surely, I'm allowed to use one company perk. And it wouldn't land me in a vicious cycle of obligation like asking Kayla would. I'm not sure she knows what friendship means if it isn't transactional.

I grab my phone and start typing.

Hey, it's Salem. We had an accident. We're a little stuck in the storm and the tow places are buried in work tonight. Any chance you could hook a girl up with one of the company guys? Just to dig us out and get a ride.

Sighing, I hit send on Patton's contact.

"We'll be fine," I tell Arlo cheerfully. "We'll be home soon." "Good! I'm freezing. Brrrrrr!"

I don't dare switch on the engine again when something's leaking oil, so I just shrug off my coat and pass it back to him. "Keep that over your legs, Arlo. You'll be warmer."

While he babbles about the mysteries of airflow like only a child can, I hear another car squealing down the street, struggling with the ice.

Oh, what a night.

Then my phone lights up with an incoming call. Patton.

No surprise, he probably wants more details.

"What do you mean you're stuck?" he growls, the second I answer, not even waiting for me to say hi. "What happened? Are you okay? Is Arlo with you?"

"We're… we're fine, yeah. It was a fender bender thing. Just knocked us off the street into a stop sign." It also scared the living crap out of me, but there are some things you don't say to your antihero boss. "We just need a ride home while I sort out a tow. We're kinda stranded."

"Where are you?" He's so gruff it sends a chill down my spine that has nothing to do with the cold.

I check my phone for the nearest point on the maps and rattle off a couple street names, an intersection with the stop sign we hit.

"Stay where you are. Keep inside the car if it's safe. It's fucking nasty out there. I'll be there soon."

"Wait, what? I just wanted one of the snow removal places. You don't have to—"

I keep one eye on my phone for the time, fending off Arlo's endless hangry questions. Eventually, a familiar black SUV pulls up alongside us.

Patton swings out, dressed in a thick winter coat and jeans. Jeans.

I must have disturbed him from unwinding at home. It's a relief to know he doesn't sleep in a suit, hardass that he is.

"You're a lifesaver," I say as I get out of the car. Outside, it's even colder than I remember, and I try to keep my teeth from chattering. "We really appreciate you coming out in this mess."

He sucks in a breath as he sees the damage to the front of my car.

"That's an ugly scrape. I called a guy I know to see if he can speed up a tow." He looks me up and down. "And where the hell is your coat?"

"The kiddo has it. And thanks, you didn't have to work any miracles…" My cheeks are on fire.

Rather than meet his gaze and see the concern flashing in his eyes, I work on getting Arlo out of the car.

He's wrapped up in my purple coat, absurdly large on him, now trailing halfway behind him in the snow.

"Mr. Rory!" Arlo says with genuine delight the minute they lock eyes. "I knew you'd come with the cool car."

Patton sends me a quick glance before switching his attention back to Arlo. I think my little boy keeps trying to find hidden James Bond guns and booby traps that pop out of secret compartments since he's convinced my boss has superpowers.