As I listened to the popping and whirring of the coffeemaker as it brewed, I wondered how things had turned out this way. I didn’t regret spending the night with Hailey, and, Christ, I hoped she didn’t either.

But, in the wake of so much happening, so much fear and loss and emotion, it was possible that last night’s reaction to each other was just that: a reaction. A chemical reaction to the impending disaster to come—and it would come—and the trail of tragedy that had already occurred. We might’ve just found a moment of refuge in each other’s arms, losing control the only way we knew how.

Maybe. But I sure as hell didn’t believe it.

Hailey might not have been interested in me when she first met me—hell, she might’ve despised my guts, even if it was just because of the badge I wore—but I’d been intrigued by her and her haunting eyes since the moment I walked into that café. I’d known there was something about her then, and I knew there was something about her now. What I didn’t know was if I’d ever find out what that something was, or if I’d ever cease to be captivated by her.

And I wasn’t sure I ever wanted to.

“You know you snore, right?” Hailey rubbed her eyes as she trudged out of the bedroom, dressed only in my t-shirt. It hung to mid-thigh, and her hair was slightly disheveled. She looked gorgeous.

“Can’t be any worse than your constant jabbering in your sleep,” I countered, pulling two mugs down from the cupboard.

“I don’t talk in my sleep.” She padded into the kitchen, eyeing up the coffee pot like maybe I wasn’t operating it properly.

“Sure, you do.” I immediately thought back to the night she’d been in the hospital, heavily medicated on pain pills, and the whispered pleas she’d spoken during her sleep then. A shiver ran down my spine, but I masked it with a mischievous grin, turning to her. “I found out a lot last night.”

“Did you, now?” She quirked a brow, running her hands through her hair to smooth it. “Enlighten me. What did I confide in you?”

I pushed away from the countertop behind me, trapping her against the edge of the island. A nervous giggle came from Hailey’s lips, but her hands came to rest at the waistband of my pants, one hand on each hip as she stared up at me. “That there was this man you wanted. A cop. Sounded like he got you pretty hot and bothered, if you ask me.”

“Oh, right,” she said with a slow nod, as though the realization was just coming to her. Then, she pushed me away from her suddenly. “Yeah, Officer Montagne. Is he seeing anyone? Jesus, you didn’t think I meant you, did you?”

I tackled her, pulling her to me, much to her amusement. Hailey laughed, half-heartedly struggling against my hold. “I’m pretty sure it wasn’t Montagne’s name you were gasping at midnight last night,” I whispered against her ear. “Or again at three o’clock, for that matter.”

She stopped struggling, and it may have been my mind playing tricks on me, but I’m pretty sure she got heavier in my arms, her knees growing weak beneath her. She was remembering.

This time when she struggled to get away from me, I let her go. “God, you’re so intense and broody in the morning. And I thought I needed coffee,” she said. Her cheeks were flaming red before me, and I turned away from her, unable to hide the satisfied smirk on my face.

“Aww, c’mon, Hailey. It’s all in fun,” I chuckled, pulling the milk from the fridge.

“So uncalled for,” she mumbled, not looking at me, which only made me laugh louder. Making her blush was quickly becoming one of my favorite pastimes, and I’d have bet my life savings that she was enjoying it just as much, judging by the biting comments she continued to throw back at me.

A faint buzzing met my ears, and it took me a moment to realize it was my cellphone. I scanned the room for it, finally seeing it blinking and moving with each vibration across the coffee table.

“Don’t drink all the coffee,” I said to Hailey, pointing a finger at her. “I’ll just be a sec.”

She’d already poured herself a cup, taking advantage of the twenty-second delay that allowed the pot to be removed without coffee dripping all over, and she snapped her jaws toward my finger. “You snooze, you lose, Mr. Magnificent.”

“Oh, you are so asking for it,” I quipped, crossing the room to get the phone. Trent’s name shone back at me on the display. “Hey, Hailey, it’s your boyfriend, Montagne.” I didn’t wait for her snappy comeback, pressing the button to answer the call. “Trent, what’s up?”

“Normally, I’d comment on how you sound way too cheerful for a man who just got suspended,” Trent advised, “But we’ve got bigger problems right now.”

“What’s wrong?” I didn’t like the tone of his voice. Even in the worst situations we’d been through, Trent Montagne was the last person to ever sound uncertain. But his voice wavered; he was uncertain now.

“I did everything according to protocol, but I just haven’t had a chance to finish up the report so that I can take it down to—”

“Spit it out, Montagne.”

Trent sighed, leveling himself out. “That cellphone that was found in Hailey’s apartment. The one she said was hers? It was bagged for evidence, but was still on my desk this morning.”

“Okay?” Across the room, Hailey’s gaze was locked on me. She might not have been able to hear the other side of the conversation, but she could feel my reaction, even from twenty-five feet away. “And what exactly are you trying to tell me?”

“The phone, Brett.” He paused. “It started ringing about ten minutes ago.”

I knew what was coming. Son of a bitch. “Did you answer it?”

“Not the first time. The number was coming up Unavailable, but I wanted to be damn sure whether or not it was a traceable call first. We tried to, but—”

“So, you did answer it,” I stated curtly. “Just tell me, Trent. You and I both know that call probably won’t ever be traced.”

“I answered it. He didn’t say it was him, but I knew. You know how you just know, sometimes?”

“Yes, Trent.” I was losing patience, but I was also rattled by the fact that he was rattled. I’d never known anything to rattle him. “What’d he say? Did he ask for her?”

“No, that’s just it. Creighton didn’t mention Hailey. It was you he wanted to talk to.”

“Me?” I turned away from Hailey, unable to meet her gaze and see the fear in her eyes, especially since I’d spent the last handful of hours knowing how free and vibrant she’d seemed without that residual fear.

“He won’t talk to anyone else,” Trent explained. He’s called here twice, from different numbers, and only long enough to find out you’re not here.”

“When he calls back, you give him this number.” Not if, when.

“You sure that’s—”

“The number’s on my goddamn business cards, Trent. He’s playing with us. If he doesn’t already have this number, I’d be very surprised.”

“But, then what?” Trent said, frustration seeping into his voice. “You’re at home, with—”

“How many minutes has it been since he called?” My voice raised above his, and I stole a glance toward the window, still mostly obscured by the closed curtains.

“About five, I think.”

“And he called five minutes before that, too?”

“Yes,” Trent agreed. “But—”

“Then he’s due to call you back any second. Give him this number, Trent.”

I ended the call.

In an explosion of frustration and nerves, I catapulted the cellphone at the couch, feeling no better when it uneventfully bounced against the cushions. My hands went to my hair, and I raked them through it. I thought of hitting a wall, but had the wherewithal to know the last thing I needed to deal with was the superintendent of this building. He was an even bigger asshole than I was.

“Alex?”

The sound of her unsteady voice unglued me. Fuck.

Turning to see the stare she fixed on me, I made a solemn vow. I will kill the son of a bitch for ever scaring her like this. For ever touching her. For ever hurting her. Creighton Banks is a dead man.

“It’s okay, Hailey.” I looked away. “Take your coffee into the bedroom and close the door. I’ll be there in a minute.”

“Alex, I’m not—”

“Hailey, please!” I rounded on her, pointing toward the bedroom door. “Please,” I said again, this time a hint gentler. “Just do it, please. And keep the blinds closed.”

She stared at me for a long minute, unblinking, unmoving. I didn’t expect her to do as I asked without a fight, but she did, quietly disappearing into the bedroom. I was just listening for the door to click shut when my phone began to buzz again.

I retrieved it. As expected, the display read Unavailable. I took a long breath in through my nose, and let it out in attempt to calm myself. I couldn’t lose my cool. Not when Hailey was at stake.

“Brett,” I answered as evenly as I could.

“Ah, Officer Brett. At last, we speak. Taking the day off from your day job, I presume?”

The man’s voice creaked with the rasp of a heavy smoker, and was higher than my own, but that could’ve just been from the deliberate sneer he used.

“What do you want, Creighton? I’ve been told you wanted to talk to me, so talk.”

A harsh chuckle met my ear. “Always so serious, Alexander,” he chided. “Well, perhaps not always. Are you more fun when you’re with my daughter? I bet you’ve had loads of fun with her.”

“I’m hanging up,” I warned through gritted teeth.

“I wouldn’t do that.”

“Give me one good reason.”

“Because I’ll make sure she’s fucking dead by noon,” he said flatly. “You want that on your conscience, Alexander?”

I couldn’t mask the heavy breaths I was trying to hold back. He was goading me, and I was close to playing right into his hand. “You make a lot of threats, Creighton. If you’re so sure of yourself, what’s taking so long?”

Hollow, malicious chuckling followed. “Because this is too fun to be over quickly, Officer.”

“You’ve had eleven fucking months.”

“You’re right.” Creighton’s tone was edgy now. “Hailey’s been evasive, I’ll give her that. However, in response to your comment, she’s alive right now because I want her alive. People aren’t petrified of you once they’re dead.”

“It’s all a goddamn game to you, isn’t it?” I growled. “You leave her the hell alone, do you—”

“You’re not in any position to make commands, Alexander.” Creighton was louder now, his voice booming with authority.

“I’ll ask you again, Creighton. What the hell do you want?” I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying desperately to keep myself in check.

“Revenge,” he answered simply. “You’re right about one thing, Alexander. This has gone on long enough. But I don’t think Hailey cares anymore that she’s going to die.”

“Well, I do care,” I barked into the phone on impulse, realizing my mistake too late.

The smug, angry chuckling came again. “How heartfelt,” he said snidely. “Which is exactly why I know Hailey will care if you die, instead.”

Bile rose in my throat, but I swallowed it down. “You want to make this between you and I, Creighton? Fine. I’ll take her place. You hear me? But you leave her the hell—”

Creighton was openly laughing now, and the sound chilled me more than any sound ever would again. “You stupid fucking man,” he sneered. “Always thinking with the wrong damn head. So chivalrous. So brave. Anything to get a chance to defile her like a fucking—”

“Defile?” I snapped, incredulous. “Look what you did to her! You shot your own daughter, scarring her for life!”

“She shouldn’t be scarred, she should be dead!” Creighton bellowed. “Serves the little bitch right for rolling over on me in court!”

I’d walked across the room without realizing it. Leaning forward, I pressed my hand to the wall, squeezing my eyes shut, willing every ounce of sanity I had left to kick in and steady me. “You heard me,” I said, biting out each word with effort. “I’ll take her place. Me for her, that’s the deal. Got it?”

I could almost hear the older man smirk on the other end of the line. “You don’t make deals with me, Alexander. I said you will die, and I meant it. But, so will she. She’ll just have to live with your demise first, to make sure she suffers as much as fucking possible.”

“Not a goddamn chance.” The words came out low and venomous. I was seething, and black dots marred my vision.

“You don’t make the fucking rules,” Creighton replied, just as harsh.

My fist slammed down hard on the wall before me, reverberating through the apartment. “Then tell me what the fucking rules are, you son of a bitch.”

“Simple. This isn’t over until I say it is.”

I kept my eyes shut. “What else?”

“I’ll call you in two days’ time to arrange a meeting—”

“Why not today, or tomorrow?”

“Because I make the fucking rules!” he barked. “And I want to make you sweat a little. Besides, I’m pretty sure you and my daughter can find some way to pass the time, holed up in that little love shack of yours.”

Go to hell. “Fine, two days’ time. Anything else I should know?”

“Yeah, one last thing,” Creighton said. “You can’t protect her, Alexander. She’s mine.”

The bastard ended the call without waiting for my reply, but that didn’t stop me from uttering the two words that encompassed everything I needed him to know. “Not anymore.”