“Ten-hour shift,” Jace yawns, sounding like he did the shift for me, instead of spending the time flirting with nurses and emptying the vending machines. “You work that load every night?”

“Hardly,” I scoff, shouldering my bag. “They went easy on me tonight. That was lighter than normal.”

“How many of those hours you spend on your feet?”

“Out of ten?”

“Yeah.”

“All of them,” I fire back, focusing on my surroundings while we walk to my car. I hadn’t expected the lot to make me so nervous, but the lot is so quiet and eerie, I can’t help feeling a little deja vu. Not that the piss and vinegar mood I have been in since talking to Daniel has helped any. “Eh... If wanna get technical about it, I clocked out having done eleven hours and seven minutes. You work shifts like these you try not to sit. That only reminds your body that it’s tired.”

The hairs on the back of my neck stand up, every inch of my body bristling the second I see the black Town Car parked at the far end of the lot. I freeze, my feet feeling like lead in my shoes. Jace stops and turns to face me. “Hey, you okay?”

“Yeah.” Blowing out a breath, I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket. “I guess talking about being tired is as bad as sitting down.” Patting him on the arm, I hand over my keys, my mind focusing getting the hell out of here and hopefully curing the funk I am currently in. “Take me home. I need a big bowl of PB and Cones ice cream, a bottomless glass of red wine, and at least two hours worth of Netflix.”

“You’re the boss,” he says, giving me a dorky mock salute before opening the passenger side door.

Climbing into the seat, I adjust the side mirror, giving me a perfect view of the town car. My phone vibrates again, pulling me from my attempt at analyzing the damn thing in the poorly lit lot. Swiping the screen, I see the missed call from Colt, along with half a dozen texts and a voicemail. Pressing play, I put the phone to my ear, eager to hear the sound of his voice.

“Jesus,” he curses, and I swear I can hear him yanking a hand through his hair. “On my way back. Call me when you get this.” My finger hovers over the button, ready to call Colt back to put his mind at ease. Until Jace opens the door and slides into the front seat. “Shit,” he grunts, staring down at his phone.

“What?” I ask, shifting in the seat to look at him.

“Nothin’,” he answers quickly, his body language changing from calm and laid back, to closed off. He fires off a text before starting the car. Backing out of the space, his body tense, fingers clutching the wheel so tightly I have no doubt it will leave indentations.

“Are you sure everything’s okay, Jace?” I ask nervously. “You’re acting weird.”

“Yeah.” His answer is immediate but lacks conviction. “It’s all good.”

“Right,” I breathe, righting myself before yanking on my seatbelt. Looking in the mirror again, I see the town car’s lights turn on before it pulls out of the space, following behind us at a distance. “You’re a shitty liar.”

Jace’s eyes shoot to mine, then to the rear-view mirror. “Fuckin’ awesome.” Laying on the gas, he peels out of the lot, tires squealing as he crosses through the two lanes of traffic, cutting off two cars before slowing down at all. “You fucking idiot!” Shoving my phone back into my pocket, I grip onto the console and door handle for dear life. “What the hell are you doing?”

“The goddamn hokey pokey,” he mutters, keeping his eyes on the road. “What the fuck does it look like?”

“Looks more like you’re practicing for your fifteen minutes of fame on Live PD,” I seethe, slapping his arm. “Wanna slow it down before I hurl in your lap?”

Jace doesn’t slow down, but he does lay off the weaving and hard turns that have me waiting for my poor vehicle to roll the rest of the way to my house like a freaking tumbleweed. Pulling up in front of my building, Jace is out and around to my side of the car almost as fast as the prick was driving. “Upstairs. Let’s go,” he says, taking my arm. “I’ve gotta call Colt.”

“Hands to yourself, little man.” Slapping his hand away, I grab my bag and hit the button to lock the doors. “You’re a biker, not a boy scout. I don’t need your help crossing the street.”

“Hey, Henley.”

I groan, hearing the familiar chirp from Levi. “Hey,” I force out, stepping up onto the sidewalk.

“Back at work already, huh?” he asks, tossing a large brown paper bag into the dumpster before eating up the distance between us. “Look at you.”

“Yep. They can’t keep me away long.”

“Missed seeing you around, sweetheart,” he says softly, his eyes scanning the lot. “Glad you’re back home.”

“Yeah,” I breathe, inwardly cringing when he calls me sweetheart. “Thanks, Levi.”

“We really should catch up.” Looking over at Jace, his brow furrows. “Order a pizza and hang out.”

“Let’s go, Henley,” Jace says, stepping up beside me.

Shooting a glare at Jace, I start to tell him to fuck off. The words are lodged in my throat when I see the Town Car pull up on the opposite side of the street. The headlights shut off, but no one gets out. That eerie chill from earlier settles over me again, only stronger.

“I gotta go, Levi.”

His eyes follow mine, nodding when he sees the car. “Your ex?” he asks, looking back to me.

“Think so.”

“He always follow you like that?”

“Must be a new hobby of his,” I toss out, shrugging my shoulder.

“Right.” Squaring his shoulders, he nods. “Go upstairs and call this in,” he says, nudging me toward the door. His eyes move to Jace, who is now staring down the car, his hand on the butt of the gun I see poking out of his waistband. “Let’s check it out.”

“Right behind ya, Five-oh.” Glancing at me, Jace tosses me my keys. “Go.”

Not happy to be taking orders from some punk kid and a cop with a lackluster penis, I haul my tired ass into the elevator like a wimp. Pressing the button for my floor, I hold my breath the entire ride, hoping that the deathtrap doesn’t stall and leave me stuck inside for hours like it has been known to do. Making it to my apartment, I roll my eyes when I find it unlocked. Turning the handle, I swing open the door. “Reb! Your future fuckboy will blow a gasket when he finds out you left the door unlocked.” Kicking it closed, I toss my bag and keys to the couch, then head for the phone in the kitchen to call the police, like Levi told me to do. “You’re never gonna believe the day I’ve had.”

“Please.” Daniel’s voice sends a shiver down my spine. Stepping out from the hallway, he begins moving toward me. “Do tell, Henley, darling. It’s been so long since I’ve gotten one of your daily re-caps.”

“What the fuck are you doing in my apartment, Daniel?” I snap, stepping forward so that the kitchen island separates us.

“I’ve come to take back what’s mine,” he says confidently. “This little temper tantrum of yours has gone on long enough.”

“Temper tantrum?” I ask, shaking my head in disbelief. “You really are two seconds away from a padded cell, aren’t you? Most men get a Corvette, or a twenty-year old piece of ass when they have a mid-life crisis. Leave it to you to one up them all and lose your goddamn mind.”

Where the hell is Jace and Levi? Shit.

I glance to the other side of the bar, where the phone sits on the countertop. “Careful,” Daniel’s voice grows cold. “Your friend’s life depends on what you do next.”

“Rebel?” Panic rises up in my throat, choking me. “Where is she?” I ask, frantically. “What the hell have you done?”

Slipping off his jacket, he drapes it over the back of the couch. Moving toward me again, he smirks. “Miss Tierman is resting comfortably under the watch of a trusted associate of mine. No harm will come to her as long as you behave yourself.”

“Jesus, Daniel. What the hell do you want from me?”

Stepping closer, he reaches out, sliding his fingers along my cheek before tucking a stray hair behind my ear. “Why, Henley, darling, I want you.” He leans in, his lips dangerously close to mine. “I will never allow you to replace me. Not in your bed, or your heart.” My stomach churns, the idea of him kissing me has me ready to throw up what little I managed to eat at work. “Now, be a good little girl and lock the door. The last thing I want is for your guard dogs bursting in to ruin our reunion.”

“They’re gonna lock you up and throw away the key,” I tell him, taking a step back.

Gripping onto my arms, he yanks me against his body. “You really should show some respect,” he warns, shaking me violently before shoving me back against the wall. Falling forward, I land hard on the tile. Shaking his head, he looks down on me, that condescending look I remember so well smeared across his smug face. “The last thing you want to do is test my patience.”

The door swings open, Jace and Levi bolting into the room, their eyes both on Daniel. “Get away from her,” Jace grounds out, pointing his gun at Daniel.

“No, stop!” I shout, holding up a hand. “He has Rebel!”

“Hammon doesn’t have Rebel,” Levi says, aiming his gun at Jace. The expression on his face changes, turning sinister. “I do.” The gun goes off with a loud bang that explodes in my ears. Jace grunts, his body falling forward onto the area rug in the living room. The gun he was holding skates across the floor before disappearing under the couch.

“Jace!” Scrambling across the tile floor on my hands and knees, I try to get to him. “Jesus, Levi, what are you doing?”

“Straying from the plan,” Daniel announces, yanking me back by my hair.

“Let me go!” I scream, grabbing onto the corner of the island with both hands. Tears spring to my eyes when he yanks again, my fingers losing their grip. “You can’t just let him die on my fucking floor.”

Releasing his hold, I land hard on the tile, my hip and hardly recovered shoulder taking the majority of the impact. Towering over me, his scrutinizing gaze raking over Jace. “Unfortunate.” He clicks his tongue. “Quite like the man who was shot outside my home.” The satisfied smile nearly splits his face. “What was his name, Levi?”

“Like it matters,” Levi deadpans.

“You son of a bitch,” I spit, the vision of Huck’s lifeless body lying on the pool table making me see red.

“Such vile words from pretty lips.” Bending down, he grabs onto my hair, yanking so that I am forced to my feet. “He put that fire there, didn’t he? The man who has been warming your bed,” he sneers, his face hardening. “I wish he could be here to watch me extinguish it.”

Cupping the back of my head, he forces his mouth to mine. Tensing, I bite down on his lip before stomping on his instep as hard as I can. “It wasn’t falling in love with Colt that gave me strength,” I inform him. “It was leaving you.”

“Love,” he huffs angrily. “I hardly doubt anything you feel for that man is love, and whatever you may think you feel is incomparable to the depth of my own for you.”

“The only thing I feel when I look at you, Daniel, is disgust,” I spit. “And regret.”

“You were nothing before me,” he roars as I struggle. “And there is only one way you will ever truly leave me.”

“Time to move,” Levi announces, yanking open the curtains to check the street. “Guaranteed someone called in that gunshot.”

“Once again, your foolish actions have rushed my timeline, Mr. Fowler,” Daniel says, forcing me to move. “Come, darling.”

Spotting the skillet in the dish drainer, I make my move and grab the handle. “Go to hell!” Swinging as hard as I can, I hit Daniel in the face. His head bounces off the corner of the island, before slamming to the tile. Throwing down the skillet, I leap over his body and haul ass for my bedroom.

Locking the door, I rush around the side of the bed, heading straight for the pistol I keep strapped to the side of my nightstand. “Open the door, Henley.” Levi’s voice is calm and terrifying. Turning the knob, he taps on the door. “There’s nowhere to go.”

“Shit,” I hiss, finding the holster empty. My phone falls from my pocket, landing at my feet when I turn to look for something else to use as a weapon. My eyes widen and I silently send thanks up to whatever little guardian angel kept this little bastard from breaking during my fight with Daniel.

“Henley!” Levi shouts impatiently. The door flies open, smacking hard against the wall. Stepping into the room, Levi stares me down. “Looking for this?” Holding up my pistol, he prowls toward me. “Rebel has a big mouth. She told me about the gun and the knife you keep in the basket beside the bathtub.”

“Damned mouthy bitch.” I hold up my hands, hoping he isn’t as insane as Daniel. Maybe there are a few brain cells in his head that I can reason with. “Please tell me you didn’t hurt her.”

“Of course not,” he says, taking the phone from my hand and tucking it into his pocket. “I’ll take you to her right now, if that’s what you want,” he offers, steering me up the hall. “As long as you don’t give me any shit.”

“What about Daniel?” I ask, knowing there is no fucking way he would go for that. The last thing he would ever do is give me something I want. Not unless it benefited him to do so.

Wrapping an arm around my waist, Levi presses the barrel of the gun to my cheek, turning my face. Daniel lays on the floor, unmoving. “Is he?” I ask, the words lodging in my throat.

“Yeah,” he grounds out, pressing his lips to my ear. “Now you owe me a lot of fuckin’ money.”

“Oh God.” I freeze when we reach Jace. My heart clenching at the thought of the club having lost another member in all this mess. “Please, Levi.” Whipping around, I look up at him, searching his eyes for any of the man I thought I knew. “Let me see if Jace is still alive. Call for an ambulance, at least. He’s just a goddamn kid!”

“Shooting him and that old bastard was the highlight of my week,” he snarls, spinning me toward the door. Laughing, he kicks Jace’s hip. “See, he’s as dead as Hammon.”

“Guess again, motherfucker.” Grabbing Levi’s ankle, Jace rams a switchblade into his calf.

“Ah!” Levi screams, dropping the gun and falling on top of Jace.

“Run,” Jace grunts, landing a punch to Levi’s jaw.

Taking off up the hall, I don’t look back, no matter how badly I want to. Rounding the corner, I jolt when I hear Levi shout my name. “Shit,” I hiss, shoving open the door to the stairwell.

The lights in the stairwell barely put off enough illumination to see the steps. Grabbing onto the railing, I move down them as quickly as I can, while at the same time trying to listen for Jace. Or Levi. Ready to hide if need be.

At the bottom, my heart is shattered to find the doors have been chained shut. “No,” I argue, yanking on the damn lock, willing it to open. Pressing my forehead to the metal door, I close my eyes tightly. “No,” I bite out, kicking it as hard as I can. “Help me!” I scream, kicking it again. “God fucking damn it!”

“I’ve got you now, bitch.” Levi grounds out, throwing me to the ground. Straddling my thighs, he wraps his hands around my throat, squeezing so tightly it blurs my vision. Balling my fist, I punch his injured leg. He hisses out a breath, his hands falling away from my throat, giving me a chance to breathe. “Fuckin’ whore!” he shouts, bashing my head into the floor. “You’re more trouble than you’re worth.”

Then his fist connects with my face and everything goes black.