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“Who is this?” I demand. “Put Brent back on the phone.”
“Your bartender friend is unavailable right now. I think it’s best if you come here and speak to him in person.”
I swallow over the throb building behind my sternum. Someone is threatening Brent to get to me, and the stupid son-of-a-bitch tried to protect me. Save me.
“Are we clear?” the man asks. “Get back here now. No weapons. No cops. You’ve got an hour.”
The call disco
Is this Torian’s doing? Or someone else?
I focus on the mess scattered across the small table. The pens. The receipts. The car keys. I have to get to Atomic Buzz, and I can’t wait for a driver.
I shoot a glance down the empty hall, toward the sound of clattering plates and the clink of cutlery. I have to leave. Right now. I can’t go upstairs for my few belongings. I can’t say goodbye. The knife attached to my bra will have to be my only protection, because I don’t want to ponder the danger it will put Brent in if I bring a gun.
I place my hand over the BMW car keys and clench my fingers around them.
Then I walk from the house and don’t look back. Not even when the dogs start barking a
The shiny black sedan is parked in the carport, the moonlight reflecting off the dark surface. I click the lock release, slide inside, and reverse out of the driveway, like stealing a car comes naturally to me. But it doesn’t.
Remorse eats away at my chest. My lungs ache. I can picture the joy in Betty’s features evaporating. The woman who provided me with a safe haven is now being punished.
“Goddamn it.”
I drive to Portland, the miles passing as I break every speed limit. I reach my street and drive past the bar. It’s almost eleven, well within open hours, but the lights are out and the closed sign hangs on the front door.
I continue forward, pretending someone’s life isn’t resting in the palm of my hands, and turn down a nearby side street. I flick off the headlights, inch into the darkness of a suburban driveway, and park behind a family wagon.
Whoever lives here will wake up to find Betty’s BMW. They will have to report the incident, and get the car towed to be able to move their own vehicle.
The plan isn’t foolproof, but it’s the best I can come up with to get Betty’s car back to her safe and sound, and as soon as possible.
I get out, lock the car, and creep toward for the street. I walk a block and a half until I reach the alley that leads to the back door of Atomic Buzz.
I don’t have a plan. I don’t even have confidence. All I have is the necessity to help someone who always helped me. Brent offered me his apartment years ago, when he had pla
It’s time to repay the favor.
I inch across the back wall of the businesses along the alley and blend into the shadows. I take cautious steps, walking on the tips of my sneakers. I watch for litter and glass, making sure I don’t make any sound when the crunch of a distant footfall comes from the street I just walked out of.
I slink deeper into the darkness and don’t move. Another step approaches and another, becoming faster, harder. I shoot a glance over my shoulder to find a man ru
Fuck.
I don’t think. I sprint.
I make it ten steps before he hauls me off the ground by an arm around my waist while a hand slams across my mouth to cut off my scream.
“Shh,” he whispers. “It’s me.”
His hard body presses into me. I recognize the scent, I remember the warmth, and for a second I feel safe.
My traitorous body relaxes, and Hunter removes his hand, tugging me toward the wall of the building. My chest hums at the reunion. I’m stupidly relieved to see him. Happiness wouldn’t even be a stretch.
“What are you doing here?” I cling to the little hope that comes with his familiar face.
“I heard what was going on.”
“And you’re here to what? Thwart my efforts or help?”
He tugs me toward the opening to the alley, the streetlights exposing me to anyone who may be in the area.
“There’s no helping this situation,” he whispers. “If you go in there, they’ll kill you.”
“Who’s they?”
“Torian and his men.”
“Aren’t you one of his men?” I ask.
“I’m a contractor. Big difference. He wants the information—”
“Then I’ll tell him to his face that I don’t have the name he needs.”
“And he’ll tear you limb from limb until you change your mind or die in the process.”
My pulse pounds erratically in my throat. “Why is that your concern?” He gave up on me days ago. He cut and run.
“Quit the shit, Sarah. This thing between us isn’t over.”
Sarah.
He knows my name. My real name. The one I haven’t uttered in years.
I release a silent breath of a chuckle, because if I don’t, I’ll crumple.
“It took a while, princess.” He reaches for my hair, stroking the stray strands from my cheek. “But I finally figured you out.”
I jerk away, unwilling to succumb to his allure even though that’s all I’ve wanted to do for the past few weeks. “You’re lucky, because I still know nothing about you.”
“All you need to know right now is that I’m here to help. I’m going to get you out of here.”
I frown. “What about Brent? How will you get him out?”
His lips press tight, and it’s all the answer I need.
“No.” I step back, toward Atomic Buzz. “I’m not leaving him.”
“He’s as good as dead, and you know it.”
His comment slaps me across the face. Hard. I keep moving, hoping to distance myself from his words. From everything. I refuse to believe there’s no way out. “I won’t lose him, too.”
“Shh.” He follows, gripping me around the waist in a one-armed grab. “He’s already gone.”
“They gave me an hour,” I argue. “I’ve still got time.”
“To do what? Beg? Plead? They’re not going to give a shit when you don’t have the informant’s name.”
I keep shaking my head. I won’t believe him. I refuse. “Then I go down with him.” I couldn’t die with my family, but maybe this is an honorable alternative because I sure as hell won’t let another person die because of my decisions.
“Like hell,” he growls, all protective and animalistic. He wants to help; that much is clear. I just need to convince him to do it my way.
“Please, Hunter.” I grab his jacket, curling my fingers in the leather. “Help me.”
His brows pull tight, and I see the conflict he tries to battle.
“Please.” I clutch tighter. “I’ll do anything.”
He lifts his chin as if accepting my terms and steps back to retrieve a phone from his jeans pocket. “Let me send a message to Decker and see if he can get his ass here.”
Decker—the guy from the highway. I don’t trust him. Then again, I don’t have the luxury of trust at the moment.
“Okay.” I nod, my hope building.
He presses buttons, then places his phone in his jacket and meets my eyes with a sad smile. “I guess we have to wait and—”
A bang splits the air. A pungent, ear-splitting gunshot that travels from the vicinity of Atomic Buzz.
I suck in a breath, but the air doesn’t penetrate. I can’t breathe. I gasp, trying to cling to positive thoughts, which flitter away in the chilled night air.