Chapter 6

A few murmurs from the onlookers and Jim came over. “Come on, Sophie, let’s go sit down.” He slipped one arm around Sophie’s waist. “You don’t mean that. Auntie, calm down, let’s go in the house.”

Sophie wrenched away from Jim’s grip. Her drink hand jerked and the glass smacked against Tanner’s chin, breaking. He felt a sharp twinge as his lip split. A gash opened on his chin. The scotch soaked his shirt, smelling sharp.

Jim pulled Sophie toward the living room. Tanner stalked off, people hopping out of his way, their gazes downcast. Warm blood dripped from his mouth. He wrenched off the sport coat as he worked his way down the hall to the bathroom. The door was closed and he banged on it. “Let me in!”

“Just a minute!”

“I’m fucking bleeding out here!”

The toilet flushed and the door opened. A big-eyed matron gazed at him. One hand went to her throat when he met her eyes. “Oh, goodness! Are you hurt?”