“What can I get for you?” She grinned at Remy as he settled onto the barstool three nights later.

Damn that man was fine. She wondered if she would ever get used to how hot he was. Maybe if they stayed together for many, many years she would, but that wasn’t going to happen. She feared she would go to her grave with him perfect in her brain.

Remy smiled, his lips curling into that half grin that made her a little breathless. “Get me a beer, ma crevette. How’s your evening going? Is Top treating you well?”

“I love it.” The people were all great. Javier Leones was the acting head chef and he ran a tight, but happy ship. She loved the family atmosphere. Every night after service they sat and ate together before cleaning up the place. No one did that in corporate America. No one cared. “I think I’m going to gain ten pounds this week though. Macon has been stress baking and I’m his go-to girl. Have you ever had bread pudding made with Krispy Kreme donuts? Because I did. I’m a little hopped up on sugar, babe.”

“I can tell,” he replied with a wink.

She grabbed a chilled stein and started the pour. “Did I mention how happy I am to have a job?”

“You might have a couple of times,” he replied with a wink that reminded her she’d paid him back in orgasms. “I’m happy to see you happy.”

She slid the stein in front of him. “Are you closing on the wharf tomorrow?”

His expression dimmed. “Yes. Uhm, it’s at three tomorrow. I’ll sign everything and it’ll be overnighted to the firm in Louisiana that’s handling the sale. It won’t take too long. I’ll be able to bring you to work. Don’t worry about that.”

Bittersweet. That was what this time would be. There were only so many days between them and it lent something primal to the time they did have. She wasn’t going to hide from it. She wasn’t going to pretend it wouldn’t happen. She would be grateful that she’d had this time where this amazing man had wanted her, had taken such sweet care of her. “I wasn’t worried. I want to make sure you don’t miss your meeting though. I understand how much making everything legal means to you. I don’t want you to be late. Linc can come and get me.”

A single brow rose over Remy’s eyes. “Linc? Why would he pick you up?”

Linc walked up, winking her way. He moved behind the bar. He was six foot four inches of pure ex-Special Forces, heavily accented with the PTSD crazy. Linc had light brown hair and broad shoulders and could probably be considered gorgeous, but now she compared everyone to Remy and no one could match. “I’ll be happy to pick Lisa up. I will absolutely make sure she gets to work on time.”

Remy was suddenly sitting up straighter than he had before.

But she had to think about him. Linc could get her to work one day this week. “He’s got a very important meeting tomorrow and I’ve got the dinner shift, but I can come in early if I need to. Do you mind?”

Linc put a hand on her shoulder. “Not a problem. I’m thrilled to have you here. I’ve missed you.”

“From training class,” Remy said, proving he hadn’t forgotten a thing she’d said. After their scene, he hadn’t mentioned it again.

That scene. God, she couldn’t get her head off it. Never in her life had she felt as connected to another human being than she had when Remy had wrapped her up and spoken those sweet words to her. She’d been his art, his words a natural result of what their bodies felt. They’d been so peaceful afterward, she’d kind of forgotten he’d been jealous.

Linc pulled out the cocktail shaker as Tiffany, one of the waitresses, dropped off an order. “Training class. Sweet days, my man. I will tell you that there was never a better day than when I got paired up with Lisa. You know what it’s like. You’re standing there feeling awkward in those leathers, praying you don’t get the chick with the crazy eyes. And then whoop, there crazy eyes is and she turns out to be pretty awesome.”

She slapped at his arm. “I do not have crazy eyes.”

Linc had been the best time. They’d made an agreement that first day that they were going to have fun during their training time and go their separate ways. Not once had she regretted that. Certainly not now. He was funny and sweet and not for her. They’d had fun in bed, figuring out what they liked and what they didn’t as a top and a bottom, but that had been the extent of their chemistry.

When she thought about it, it was a bit like what she’d done with Remy. She’d known she and Linc would end, but she’d been okay with it. Not once had she cried over him. She didn’t dream at night that he somehow changed his mind and took her with him when their time was up. They’d shaken hands at the end of training class. Oh, they’d also joked that if they were still without permanent partners in five years, they would take each other back, but that was all a joke. Her backup Dom.

“Yeah, Lisa and I got paired up that first night and we kind of clicked. You know how it is when you meet someone you fit with. Nice and easy. No drama,” Linc replied. “It’s so weird because I hadn’t realized how much I missed her until she walked in that door. It’s really great to have her here, you know.”

“I know how much I like having her in my life,” Remy said, his voice careful. “And that’s why I’ll make sure she gets to work on time. I can manage it, but thanks for offering to watch out for her.”

Linc nodded. “No problem. I’ll have plenty of chances to help out when you’re gone. I hear you’re heading back to Louisiana soon. The good news is, you won’t have to worry about Lisa because she’ll have a family here who will be happy to look after her.”

She watched as Remy’s hand closed around his beer and she prayed he didn’t break the glass, but what exactly was she supposed to say? He was leaving. It made her heart ache, but he hadn’t mentioned some miraculous change of plans. He was leaving her behind and she would need a ride. The train stop was a couple of blocks away and she worked late some nights. She wasn’t going to start up with Linc again, but she would take a ride from him if he didn’t mind.

Remy’s jaw went tight and she was almost sure he was going to start an argument when something caught his eye. He turned slightly and looked over at the lobby. “There she is.”

Lisa looked up and her day took a deep dive. She wasn’t sure who the woman was, though she looked vaguely familiar. Blonde hair and perfect makeup, the woman was tall and model skinny, a designer briefcase in her hand and sky-high heels on her feet.

But the man she was with, oh, Lisa knew who he was. Matthew Scarsdale, federal prosecutor. He was in his late forties and was every bit as labeled up as his female counterpart. Lisa recognized a designer suit when she saw one. Bridget forced Will into Brooks Brothers and Armani whenever she could. Mitch had his Tom Ford suits fitted to his big body.

Remy Guidry would probably never wear a suit and she was perfectly fine with that. He looked better in a T-shirt and jeans, and the brilliant part was if he didn’t like to dress up, she didn’t have to. It was exhausting and she liked shorts and tank tops way more. That was what she needed. A job that required shorts and sneakers and let her sleep in late.

She forced herself to stay at the bar when what she really wanted to do was walk away. Why the hell was her worst nightmare here? Okay, maybe her worst nightmare was that assassin dude, but anything that reminded her of the ax hanging over her head was bad.

“You, little brunette girl who needs mascara, I want a martini and I want it properly prepared. Do you understand what that means?” the super-aggressive woman asked as she set her briefcase on the bar.

Oh, like she’d never dealt with overly aggressive power women before. “Yep. It means you pretty much want me to put some ice in a cocktail shaker, wave a closed bottle of vermouth over the cocktail shaker, pour out the ice, and fill a martini glass with vodka and we’ll call it a martini. I’m betting no olives, but you do know a twist of lemon is pretty and contains no calories.”

The other woman practically purred as she looked Lisa over. “I take back the mascara part. The natural look is good on you, honey. And yes to everything. And I do mean everything.”

“Mine, Maia,” Remy growled.

Oh, shit. The infamous Maia Brighton. That had to be who she was dealing with. She’d heard the tales of the groping DA. Maia Brighton was on a high-powered career path, had turned sexual harassment into a fine art, and she didn’t discriminate.

A lot of people talked about her time at Sanctum.

“I think that chick is hitting on you,” Linc whispered as she started the martini.

“I think she hits on everyone.” Lisa looked at Matthew. “Is there something I can get for you, Mr. Scarsdale? I take it this isn’t a date.”

Maia laughed. “Oh, honey, Matty here has a major stick up his ass, and not in a kinky way. In a weird Mommy-didn’t-love-me way. He’s married but I’m fairly certain she’s a cover for his illicit love for a blowup doll who might or might not be male.”

“Excuse me?” Scarsdale said, his face going a florid red. The man might have been attractive if he hadn’t had that perpetually pinched look on his face.

Maia waved him off. “Don’t worry, hon. The psych eval is free.” She winked at Lincoln. “And your friend is right. I hit on everyone. Well, everyone I find attractive. This is my favorite restaurant because I swear Sean Taggart doesn’t hire unattractive men.”

“I thought Taggart made it a habit of hiring ex-soldiers,” Scarsdale said, looking around the place with something like distaste. “The crippled kind. Though I suppose that one doesn’t look too bad.”

He was talking about Linc, who smiled a feral expression that held absolutely no humor. “Oh, don’t let the fact that I’m not scarred fool you. I lose my shit from time to time, and when I’m in the bad place in my head, I like to take it out on whoever happens to be nearby. I won’t mean to kill you. I promise I’ll feel bad about it later.”

Maia reached out and put a hand on Linc’s. “Don’t mind him. He’s an asshole and you know you and your team are the absolute sexiest group of men I’ve ever seen. Those scars are manly as fuck. Too bad you’re all getting married. I heard we lost the sommelier to the pretty blonde.”

Okay, Maia wasn’t all bad. She’d managed to put a smile back on Linc’s face.

“It was a lovely wedding,” Linc said.

“Can I steal your pretty partner for a moment?” Maia asked. “I promised Big Tag I would help move things along for this case the feds fucked up. You know how the feds fuck up, don’t you, honey?”

“I do indeed,” Linc replied. “We’re dead tonight anyway. I’ll be in the back doing inventory. Lisa, call me if anyone shows up.”

He strode off and Maia turned on Scarsdale. “The next time you’re rude to one of these men, I’ll let them have you.”

“You’re one to talk about rude,” Scarsdale shot back.

“I know when to be rude and when to show some damn respect,” she replied. “The men and women who work here gave more than you can imagine so you and I can live our posh lives. Even that one right there who is ready to take me apart because I hit on his precious.” She turned to Remy. “Open your mind a little, Guidry. Three-ways can be fun.”

“My mind is perfectly happy with the kink I already got. One woman is all this poor country boy can handle.” But he was smiling, too. “And I thank you for setting this up. He won’t return my calls.”

Maia took the drink from Lisa. “Someone like this, you have to walk in, grab ’em by the balls, and lead the way.” She took a sip and sighed. “Yes, that’s a martini. Do you have any idea how hard it is to get a martini this good?”

It wasn’t. It was just vodka with a twist, but hey, whatever got her through a day.

Remy had planned this? Remy had been calling about her case and he hadn’t once mentioned it?

“I want to know where you are on the Vallon case.” Remy got straight to the point.

Scarsdale huffed, scowling Maia’s way. “I guess you don’t want to talk about that job. This was some kind of setup?”

Maia shrugged. “I’m perfectly happy where I am. My office actually tries to prosecute criminals. Now answer the question or you’ll be the one looking for a job. Don’t think I don’t have some power with your office. I assure you I have shit on some of your bosses that would make you blush, Matty. Now spill. Are you going to re-file the case or not?”

Scarsdale sank onto his barstool. “I don’t know. If it’s up to me, absolutely not. It’s a losing case because the local cops fucked up.”

“I’m surprised because DPD is usually quite careful,” Maia said, suspicion plain in her eyes.

“Not this time,” Scarsdale replied. “Apparently the officer got a call from her babysitter about a break-in at her home. She panicked and raced there. There was a burglary of her house that night and her young daughter was injured, though it was minor. The books were left on the front seat of her squad car, and there’s proof that she didn’t lock the vehicle.”

“She was terrified for her child,” Lisa pointed out. If it had been one of her nephews, she would have flipped out, too. “You can’t expect her to ignore that.”

Scarsdale shrugged, still holding his briefcase like he expected to need it as a shield any moment. “This is why I don’t particularly think women should be cops. A man would have done his duty. Anyway, the defense argued that leaving the books in the open at another crime scene broke the chain of custody. And something was definitely done to those books. Several pages were missing.”

“That’s interesting,” Remy said, his fingers drumming along the bar.

She supposed she couldn’t expect him to not look into the case. He was a bodyguard by trade, but he’d done some PI work as well. He worked for a security and investigation firm. If he hadn’t shown some concern about what was going on with her case, she would know he was truly only interested in sex. The fact that he was looking into it, spending time on her when she couldn’t pay him a dime had to mean something, right?

Because she was a stupid girl and she was already wondering why they had to have an expiration date. Louisiana wasn’t that far away, after all. It was about eight hours in a car, and by plane? Well, by plane there was only an hour between New Orleans and Dallas.

She’d started to think a lot about where Remy’s family lived.

“So you can see why I don’t think it’s a good idea to retry the case,” Scarsdale said.

“I’m interested in who broke into the officer’s house,” Remy said quietly.

“You would have to ask DPD,” Scarsdale replied. “That’s not in my purview.”

“Oh, I think I will ask some questions.” Remy sat back. “So Vallon’s back in business?”

“We still have his accounts frozen.” The prosecutor adjusted his glasses. “But we can only keep them for another few days. We have to make a decision.”

“It sounds like you’ve already made your decision.” Maia downed the last of her martini and gestured for another.

“There’s some argument in the office. My second believes that the girl here would make a good witness. Apparently she remembers numbers quite well,” Scarsdale said. “One of the pages that ended up missing had a series of numbers that might or might not have been accounts.”

“Oh, they were accounts.” Lisa was happy to have something to do with her hands. “I’m pretty sure they were Cayman accounts. I could write them down for you.”

Scarsdale looked slightly ill. He stepped back from the bar. “No. It wouldn’t help anything at all. No one is going to believe some waitress can remember numbers like that.”

“She’s an accountant,” Remy shot back. “With a master’s degree. I think she can handle a few numbers.”

Scarsdale stood up, his shoulders straightening. “Well, I think it’s a bust and law enforcement moved too quickly, and all on the word of a twenty-nine-year-old working on her first big job. If we lose this case, it makes my whole office look soft. I’m not willing to risk that. Now, if you have any other questions, I hope you’ll refer them to my admin.”

Remy stood up, too, getting in Scarsdale’s way. “And what about her? What about Lisa? She’s the only one who can corroborate those books. Why wouldn’t Vallon come after her?”

“Vallon isn’t violent,” Scarsdale replied.

“What about the men he launders money for?” Remy wasn’t letting this go. He sounded a lot like her brother in that moment.

Scarsdale sighed like the whole thing bored him. “I don’t know who they are. If I did, I would be able to indict them.”

“But you suspect,” Remy shot back.

The lawyer shook his head. “Suspicions don’t form a case. I can’t put my reputation on the line when all I’ve got is one woman’s memory as my witness.”

“She’s the only witness,” Remy pointed out. “Give me one good reason they don’t come after her.”

A long sigh went through Scarsdale. “Why would they come after her if we’re not going to prosecute?”

“Because they know damn well someone with more balls could get your job the minute politics change, and then they’re fucked. I would take her out if I had skin in the game.” Maia shook her head Lisa’s way. “Which would be a shame because you’re the only one who knows how to make a real martini. But I would totally have you offed.”

“I understand.” She passed Maia the second martini.

“The police aren’t going to give her protection on a case that isn’t being prosecuted,” Scarsdale said.

“So what you’re basically saying is you don’t care.” There was a dangerous tone to Remy’s words.

“I’m fine, Mr. Scarsdale.” She needed to bring down the threat level. She’d known for weeks now that the federal prosecutors didn’t care about what happened to her. And no one had come after her. “Remy, why don’t you finish your beer? We can talk about this later, maybe after work.”

Scarsdale moved around him, giving Remy a wide berth. “Besides, it’s not forever. If we don’t prosecute, and we won’t, the federal statute of limitations runs out in five years. Why would they risk adding murder to their list of crimes until we decide to prosecute? In five years, it won’t matter what she remembers. Look, if you think someone is watching you, get me some proof and I’ll go to the cops with you, but until then, there’s nothing I can do. I have other cases, more important cases to deal with.”

He strode away from the bar.

“Asshole,” Maia said. “But he’s right about providing her with a safe house. They don’t have the resources for the people they actually owe protection to, much less for a witness on a trial they aren’t pursuing. Look, I would have little Miss Math write down those numbers and hand them over to me, but they’re meaningless without her testimony. I didn’t see the numbers. You didn’t see the numbers. She’s the only one who can tie those numbers in her head to that accounting book.”

Remy watched Scarsdale as he disappeared through the front door, every line of his body tense. “Yeah, I get that. I find it an interesting coincidence that the cop’s house got hit at the precise time she should have been taking the books into evidence.”

“You should look into that.” Maia downed her second martini and stood up. “Tell Taggart I’ll investigate a little on my end. I like to meddle. Especially with feds. It’s a fun hobby, but he knows anything I dig up comes with a price,” she said sweetly. “I’m going to need access to Sanctum again and he needs some Doms who aren’t all married and ethical and shit. There’s nothing worse than being in a candy store and finding out all the sweets belong to someone else. Tell him to import some from The Club if he can’t find them himself. You know the only person I’m actually afraid of in this world is Julian Lodge, so I’m left with Sanctum. Taggart is a teddy bear comparatively.” She pulled out a fifty and slid it Lisa’s way. “I hear this one is leaving soon. Sacrificing himself to the wilds of the bayou or something. If you decide to walk on the alternative side, give me a call, sweetie.”

“How about you call me when you know something?” Remy said, his voice dark. “She’s my responsibility. Taggart’s already offered you another year-long membership if you bring us something we can use. I’m your contact. I’m the one who’ll decide if you’ve earned it.”

Jeez, he sounded super serious. When the dude wanted to intimidate, he could do one hell of a job of it.

Maia winked up at him. “Oh, I’ll earn it. And watch out for Scarsdale. I don’t trust him. Those uptight ones are always hiding something. Have fun, kiddos.”

She floated away on a cloud of vodka and self-confidence.

Lisa had to wonder what it would be like to have been born with absolutely no fucks to give. That was what it was like to be Maia Brighton.

“Well, that was fun.” She glanced at the clock. Almost time to close, but it looked like there was still someone in the dining room.

“There was nothing fun about that,” Remy shot back, his eyes still on the door as though trying to see where the two lawyers had gone.

“Yeah, that was sarcasm, babe.”

His eyes came back to her. “Can the sarcasm when it comes to this. You need to start taking this seriously. It’s apparent to me that you’re not thinking straight when it comes to the situation you’re in.”

She was surprised at how grave he sounded. He was normally very laid back. “Why are you bringing this up? I understand that you are invested in the top thing, but I have to wonder about this. You leave soon. There’s no reason for you to get involved in this part of my life when you’re about to walk out of it.”

“No reason? I care about you. And I won’t leave until I’m sure you’re safe,” he replied.

Somehow she doubted that. “So you’re going to put your plans on hold for the next five years or so? That’s how long they have until the statute runs out. You planning on hanging out until then?”

She halfway wanted him to say yes. More than halfway.

“I intend to solve the problem before then,” Remy replied, his irritation obvious. “But I can’t do that if you don’t work with me.”

Was he irritated with her or with the situation he found himself in? He needed to go home and his conscience wouldn’t let him. She hated the thought of him leaving, but she wasn’t going to let him resent her. “There’s no problem. You heard Scarsdale. He’s not re-trying the case and I don’t think he’s leaving the federal prosecutor’s office any time soon, so everyone is cool. No one wants to take on a case they don’t think they can win. Vallon can go back to scamming everyone around him. I can ease into underemployment and you can go home.”

“It’s that simple, huh?” Remy asked.

“Yes, it’s that simple,” she replied, her heart aching. “You get your wharf tomorrow and we say good-bye. That’s what we agreed on. I’m not your responsibility. We were having fun, that’s all.”

It was a lot more than fun. She was in love with him, but then she’d always known that would happen if she spent more than five minutes with the man. It had been foolish to think because she told herself she could handle a short-term relationship with him that she could actually do it without heartache. He was everything to her. There wasn’t a part of him she didn’t adore. Even his stubborn insistence on fixing this problem for her. It was all a part of the lovely, caring, passionate man he was inside.

Tiffany Lowe walked up, her gaze cautious as she approached the side of the bar. “Hey, I need another whiskey sour. I told my only table that it was last call. We close in ten minutes. He’s almost done with dinner and he’s the last table left. I think we’ll be able to lock up on time.”

That sounded good because this might not be a conversation she wanted to have with Remy in her place of business. She remembered table nine had wanted Jack Daniels in his whiskey sour and poured it out, all the while sensing Remy watching her with his impatient eyes. His fingers tapped along the bar as she handed Tiffany the glass and registered the drink in the system.

Tiffany gave her an encouraging smile as she walked away.

“So you’re having a good time?” Remy simply picked the argument up again as if they hadn’t been interrupted at all. “You call losing your job and potentially being the target of a mob hit fun?”

“No, I didn’t say that,” she replied, wondering what had him so testy tonight. “I said being with you has been fun, but I certainly don’t expect you to change your plans in order for you to solve a mystery. I’m a big girl and I can handle myself.”

He shook his head as if he couldn’t quite believe what she’d said. “You can handle the mob? Will you take two minutes to listen to yourself? Do you have any idea how stupid you sound right now?”

“I’m stupid because I don’t agree with you?” She was rapidly coming to the point where she wouldn’t care that they were hashing things out in public. Why was he talking to her like this? She’d done nothing to deserve it. She’d held up every single end of her bargain.

“I didn’t say that.”

“Then maybe you need to say something, Remy, because I don’t understand what’s going on here. I don’t understand why my temporary lover is messing around with something that’s far better left alone. It’s been weeks. I’m fine. I have a job now. No one’s going after Vallon except you. You’re the one who’s going to get me in trouble.”

He stared at her for a moment. “I can’t figure out if you’re honestly this naïve or if you simply don’t care.”

She resented the implications on both sides. “I do care, but what am I supposed to do if the federal prosecutor won’t do it? What do you want, Remy? You want me to play the vigilante and go to the press with the account numbers I remember? Maia told you they don’t mean much if no one believes I can remember them. They’re to Cayman accounts. They’re only meaningful to the people who own the accounts or if I can corroborate them with the book. Good luck with that. And I’m not naïve. I know what’s going on and I also know there’s not much I can do. I think you’re paranoid. It is far smarter for whoever Vallon was working with to sit still and be patient. If someone shoots me, the cops will notice.”

“And if the cops are in on it?” Remy asked.

Now he sounded like Bridget. She set her towel down and lowered her voice because it looked like their last customer of the night was heading to the bathroom. He passed behind Remy, whose back was to him. It was likely a good thing because Remy had a hard look in his eyes that might scare off anyone who didn’t know him.

“The cops aren’t in on it,” she said, her voice low as the man in the suit turned toward the bathrooms. “If anything I feel bad for the cop who broke chain of custody. I would have, too, if it had been my kid. I don’t blame anyone. It happened and sometimes the bad guys get away with it. That’s it. You’re the one who’s trying to kick a hornet’s nest but I’m the one who’ll get stung, Remy. Have you thought about that at all?”

“Have you thought at all about the fact that I’m doing this because I don’t want you to get stung? Someone has to. The feds are being useless.” He ran a frustrated hand over his head. “Just trust me. And I meant what I said. I’m not leaving until I know you’re safe.”

She let the words sit between them because they’d been so flavored with anger. Bitterness, like he resented being here a moment more than he absolutely had to.

Maybe the last few days hadn’t meant the same to him. Still, she could come up with one plan. “All right. I’ll go to Louisiana with you.”

His head came up. “What?”

It made sense. “You don’t feel like you can leave here until I’m safe. I might not be safe for a long time. I don’t know what will make you feel like I’m safe. I can only imagine it would be putting Vallon and his cronies behind bars. That could take a long time. You can’t take over your family business from here, and it sounds like someone needs to. Hell, I can even help you with it if you need someone to make sure the books are in order. And who would come looking for me in Louisiana? Therefore the logical solution to our problem is that I go with you to Louisiana.”

She said it all reasonable like, but inside her heart was pounding because damn but it solved the problem she had with him leaving her behind. It solved the problem of her broken heart.

The look on his face told her that wasn’t a solution at all and that her heart was definitely getting broken, and sooner than she’d expected. A look of horror came over his face and he pushed off the bar. “Absolutely not.”

She stared at him for a moment because there were no words. Only a few days before he’d tied her up and let her fly, his careful hands on her, telling her all the while how he wanted to stay with her. That night had made her think maybe he was too scared to ask her to come with him. She was dispossessed of that notion now. It had been stupid to think Remy would be scared. He was a man who knew what he wanted.

“I’m not taking you with me,” he said carefully.

Well, she had that answer at least. Wow, that hurt. She’d even known what he was likely to say and it still felt like someone had kicked her in the gut. She wasn’t going to cry in front of him. “Okay. Look, I’ve got to close up. It could still be an hour or two. Someone can give me a ride home. You don’t have to sit here wasting time.”

“Linc? You going to ask him to give you a ride home? Is he the reason you suddenly want me to go home so badly? You want to see if it can be good with your old training partner?”

“That’s not fair.”

“None of this is fair, chèrie. That’s what I’m trying to explain to you.”

“I asked you to take me with you,” she shot back. “So I don’t get the jealousy thing. Look, I’m not having this argument with you here. I made my play. It didn’t work. I think this is more serious for me than it is for you.”

He stood in the middle of the bar, his hands on his hips. “I didn’t lie to you. I didn’t tell you I would take you with me.”

God, she needed to get out of here. She didn’t want to be the chick who cried her eyes out her first week in. It looked like she would need this job quite badly. “No, you didn’t, and that’s good. It’s my fault. I got in too deep, but it’s time to stop. You said you didn’t want to hurt me. We’re getting to the point that it’s going to hurt me and quite badly. So let’s try to end this as friends. That’s what we promised, right?”

A long huff came from his sensual mouth. “We don’t have to end anything at all right now. I think that’s what I’ve told you all damn night. I’m not going anywhere.”

Why was he being obtuse? “I’m in love with you. Can you say the same?”

He was perfectly silent, but she watched his skin flush, saw how tight his body had gone.

There was her answer. She took off her apron. “Go home, Remy, and I’ll do the same. I wrecked it. We had a good thing going for a week. I know that. Blame me. But we end here because I can’t keep you. You’ll end up hating me if you stay, so go and be happy.”

He would find someone. Hell, maybe there was already a woman in Louisiana. Maybe that was one of the reasons he was desperate to go home. An old flame he’d never gotten over? It didn’t matter. All that mattered was he didn’t love her. She wasn’t his one.

“Lisa, we’re not done talking about this and I’m not going anywhere,” he swore.

She shook her head. “I have to start closing.”

She hurried through the small hallway that led to the back of the building. To her left there was another hall and the men’s and women’s rooms. Past that was the kitchen where the cooks would be cleaning their stations and getting ready to close down for another night. She walked straight ahead to where the offices were. Sean Taggart had the largest of the three, but Linc and Sebastian shared one. It was where they typed in inventory reports and ordered product and met with vendors.

It was a nice office. Maybe she needed to change her dreams. She’d thought of conquering the business world, but she felt happier in a place like this.

It might be the one blessing to come out of this whole debacle.

Lisa took a deep breath and hoped she didn’t look like a woman who’d just had her heart plucked from her body and casually tossed away.

She couldn’t get into Remy’s truck. She couldn’t slide in beside him and pretend like they were normal, like she didn’t know what she knew. She wasn’t sure why he was holding the line about not leaving until she was safe, but he could be stubborn. It would be ridiculous for him to put his life on hold for a woman he didn’t love.

“Linc, I…” She started to ask him for a ride home as she opened the door and then stopped because Linc was on the floor, his big body at an odd angle and…oh god…that was blood. He was bleeding. He was on the floor and bleeding.

What the hell? She started to get to the floor to help him up.

“Hush, Ms. Daley,” an accented voice said from behind her as a gloved hand covered her mouth. A strong arm wound around her waist, keeping her upright. “We’re going on a little trip, you and I. Your friend is alive, but he doesn’t have to stay that way. Nod if you understand me.”

She went still. If she didn’t, this man would kill Linc.

She nodded.

“We’re going out this back door. I already have a car waiting for us and when we get where we’re going, we’ll have a nice chat, you and I. I don’t want to hurt a lovely young lady like yourself, but you have something I need. Now nod again if you understand me and you’re going to be a good girl. If not, I can knock you out, but then our talk will likely have to wait hours, and honestly I don’t love it here. I want to go home. You understand, yes?”

She nodded again.

“Good girl. This will all be over soon and we can both go back to our lives.” His voice was deep and it was clear from the thick accent he wasn’t from Texas. He was calm. She didn’t feel any panic from him, as though this was a normal part of his day. Kidnap the bartender. Check. Brush teeth. Check.

He started to walk her out of the office.

There was only a second or two that she was visible from the hallway, and then it was smooth sailing to the back. They were going out one of two entrances to the back of the building. Sean had recently put in this way for management to get into the offices without having to open the kitchen or the front. There was a small private lot he’d bought for parking.

It sucked that most of them took the bus or train because they lived close. As it was late, only Linc’s Jeep was sitting out in the small lot. And a nondescript sedan.

Damn, but they needed to tow people around here.

“I’m going to take my hand from your mouth now. If you scream, I’ll have to put you under.” He kept one hand around her waist. She stayed quiet for the moment. Closing time in the kitchen was always noisy. They would turn the music up and the sounds of pots and pans clanging would fill the air.

She wouldn’t shout if she thought no one would hear her. Not until she absolutely had to.

There was a beep and then the trunk to the sedan opened.

Her feet hit the cement and she realized what he was about to do. She dug her heels in. “No. No. Not the trunk.”

Not a dark cramped space she couldn’t get out of. No. Panic welled inside her and she could feel a scream threatening.

She heard someone shout. Maybe it was her. The sound curdled her blood and she was twelve years old again, being forced into the darkness. She couldn’t feel the concrete anymore. She was barefoot and the peeling linoleum of her “father’s” house poked at her skin. She’d tried so hard, fought so long, and she’d still gotten swallowed up. She couldn’t go in that room.

“Merda!” The man shoved her hard and she hit her head on the way in.

Lisa kicked out, not thinking about anything but staying in the light. She had to stay in the light. There were things in the dark, things that hissed and struck. Things that she had nightmares about, but they were real. The screaming wouldn’t stop and her knuckles hit metal as the trunk slammed shut.

She was alone in the dark again and she felt the moment her mind cracked and the nightmare began again.