If Billy was released from jail any time soon, he would be wise not to come anywhere near Syll or me, because after hearing confirmation of what he’d done, I’d probably put him in the hospital. I knew the cops weren’t sure if he was lying about the involvement of another guy, but I tended to believe him. Not because I thought he was truthful, but because the man who’d hurt Syll before hadn’t been Billy. Then, there was the fact that I didn’t think Billy had the guts to do something like set the bar on fire, let alone with Syll in it. In my opinion, running away was just as bad, but it fit what I knew of his personality better than him being an active participant in murder.

I didn’t share any of this with Syll though. She hadn’t said much after we left the station, and I could tell she was still trying to work through what we learned. No words, no matter how carefully chosen, would be able to ease the pain of learning about Billy’s betrayal. Cheating, she could chalk up to immaturity, to sex, to not wanting to commit. Being involved in a plan to take her bar by any means necessary was something else entirely, especially since Billy had always known how important it was to her.

I squeezed her tighter and kissed the top of her head. Whatever she needed to do to process, I would help, even if it meant letting her do it alone. I wasn’t going to fuck this up again.

It was well past noon by the time we made it back to my house. I thanked our driver, and then followed Syll up the stairs to my door. I had to unlock it, so I didn’t notice that we weren’t alone until someone spoke.

“Don’t try anything stupid.”

The man had at least three or four inches on me, and a good fifty pounds or more. His face was the kind that screamed thug even without the scar running down the left side of his face. None of that was the reason I froze though. It was because he had a gun pointed right at Syll, and far too close for me to hope he’d miss if he pulled the trigger.

“I don’t keep much cash on hand, but I’ll give you what I have, as well as whatever else you want.” Even as I said it, I knew he wasn’t here to rob me.

“Let’s get a little further inside,” he said, gesturing with his gun. “I don’t want either of you getting any ideas about trying to run out the door.”

I gave Syll a gentle push, and she walked in front of me, allowing me to keep between her and the gun. My mind raced, trying to find an escape that didn’t end with us getting shot in the back.

We sat on the couch next to each other, and Syll reached over to take my hand. Her fingers were cold, and I gave her what I hoped was a comforting squeeze.

“All right. I need you to give me honest answers, or I’m going to have to get creative with my asking.”

He stood far enough away that he’d be able to react if I rushed him, but close enough that any shot was guaranteed to cause some damage.

“Where’s Outhwaite?” He looked at Syll. “Is the coward hiding?”

“He’s in jail,” I said quickly, drawing his attention back to me. “The cops picked him up earlier today. He’s told them about you. If you leave now, you can probably get a good head-start.”

The thug shook his head, his disgust written on his face. “I knew getting him involved was a bad idea. First, he starts saying how he’ll only give information, that he won’t get hands-on. Then, after the last time I visited you, he gets all pissy with me, trying to tell me how to do my job.” He rubbed the back of his hand across his forehead. “Fucking pussy started crying when I knocked you out, going on about how he hadn’t signed up for this.”

“Why?” Syll asked. “What’s so important about my bar? Or, I’m guessing it’s the land not the bar, because if you wanted the building, you wouldn’t have torched the place.”

“Don’t you worry about that,” the thug said. He reached into his pocket and pulled out some folded papers. “Cuz you’re going to sign this.”

“The property’s worth is going to be going up soon because of some new developments in the area,” I explained quietly. “That’s how I found out about your bar. It was one of several businesses my grandfather wanted me to check out.”

“Doesn’t matter,” the thug cut in. “She’s going to sign over the property now.”

“Do you really think anything you make her sign under duress is going to hold up in court?” I asked, trying to get his eyes back on me. “Or are you hoping your boss will be satisfied enough that you’ll be able to cut and run before things get too complicated?”

“I told you to stay away from him.” The other man ignored me. “My boss sent a man with a nice offer, and you got plenty of warning. You didn’t listen. You don’t have anyone but yourself to blame.”

“Mr. Jones works for your boss too,” Syll said, glaring up at the thug. “I’m not signing shit.”

“You’ll sign, or I’ll shoot you both. I’ll start with him, and I’ll make it real painful.” The gun swung over toward me. “Two kneecaps and gut shot. That’s three chances for you to change your mind.”

“Fuck you,” Syll said with a smile.

He shrugged. “If that’s how you want to play it. I’m sure your sugar daddy here is going to be real pissed at you when his knee explodes.”

“Jax Hunter!” A woman’s voice came from the front door. “If you’re keeping my friend from answering her phone, I’m going to kick your…”

Whatever threat Gilly intended to make trailed off as she appeared in the doorway. Her wide eyes darted to me, to Syll, and then back to the gun.

I registered all of this as background information because as soon as the man turned away from Syll and me, I was on my feet. I grabbed the lamp from the table next to me and slammed it down on the thug’s head. For a moment, I thought it hadn’t done any good, but then he swayed, stumbled, and fell to the floor face-first. I kicked the gun to the other side of the room and put a knee in his back, just in case.

“What the fuck?” Gilly ran over to Syll.

“It’s okay,” Syll said. “It’s okay now. Thank you for distracting him.”

The blonde glared up at me. “Okay, I want to know what the fuck is going on here, and I want to know now. Syll gets beat up, and the bar burns down, and then I hear Billy’s been arrested, then this? I’ll say it again. What. The. Fuck.”

“It’s a long story,” Syll said as she let Gilly help her up. “But first we need to call the cops.”

Gilly looked down at the thug, drew back her foot, and kicked him in the head with the sort of kick I would’ve expected from a soccer player. If he hadn’t been out already, that would’ve done it.

I was tempted to ask her to do it again.

“Let’s wait outside,” Syll said, taking her friend’s arm.

“Good idea.” I met Syll’s eyes. “And after we call the cops, I’ll call a hotel for a suite.”

“A hotel?” Syll asked.

“Your place isn’t exactly livable, and mine’s about to be a crime scene,” I said wryly.

She blew out a breath. “Right.”

As I dialed 911, she bent down and kissed my cheek before snuggling against my side. I hated that she’d been hurt, but I couldn’t deny that I was finding the idea of my future a hell of a lot brighter than it had been before I’d met her.