“The cops are on their way,” David said. “But take a step in her direction, and I’ll blow your head off.”
“Fuck you,” Mark said, wiping blood and saliva from his chin. “You don’t think more of us will come after her? Afteryou?”
“Let them try,” David said.
It occurred to me that David had just willingly stepped into the middle of a bad situation. He’d risked his life and possibly put a target on his back. For me? I pulled David’s blazer closed around my ruined blouse, mildly soothed by hints of his cologne.
But my ease was short-lived. Vibrating with rage, David took two massive steps toward Mark, backing him into a corner. I gasped as he shoved the gun into Mark’s neck.
“Anyone goes near her again,” David said slowly, “I’ll shove this down your throat and blow your guts out your ass. You, and everyone you care about. You fucking hear me, you piece of shit?”
My throat dried. David’s conviction almost convincedmehe was capable of that. But he couldn’t be. Could he? He was a businessman, not law enforcement, nor criminal or superhero.
“Let me go,” Mark said. “If I get arrested, others will come.”
“Then maybe I should just kill you now to send a message.”
“Do it,” Mark said. “See what happens.”
Even in the dimly lit space, I could see the hatred radiating off David. He cocked the gun with a click and pushed it under Mark’s chin, forcing his eyes up.
“David,” I said as calmly as I could manage. “Stop.”
Distantdingssignaled that the elevator was on its way up.
“David,” I repeated. I wouldn’t let him kill a man, even to defend me. Especially not with the chance the cops could walk in on it. “Someone’s here. Please, David.”
After a moment, his shoulders eased, and he took a step back. With his free hand, he grabbed Mark, flipped him, and shoved his cheek against the wall. David stuck the gun in the waist of Mark’s jeans and leaned his forearm across his back to hold him there.
The elevator opened and three policemen flooded out, guns drawn, followed by a heavyset, forty-something man in an ill-fitting suit. “Well, well. Mark Alvarez,” the man said gruffly. “Lou’s going to love that you’re coming for a visit.”
Taking in the scene, the officers kept their guns raised but laughed at the joke.
As my adrenaline ebbed, my split cheek prickled. I touched it, and my fingertips came back bloody. My head thundered as my heart skipped a beat.Blood . . .
“He’s armed,” David said somewhere in the distance as I tried to expel the metallic smell from my nostrils.
My head swam. Metalclinkedas a policeman cuffed Mark.
Suddenly, David was in front of me, his broad shoulders blocking me from the policemen. “He hit you,” he said, lightly cupping my cheek to turn my face. “Did he—did he hurt you anywhere else?”
The pain didn’t bother me. I hated the smell, sight, and sticky feel of blood on my skin. I just needed to breathe through this. I couldn’t answer, or I’d gag. I just shook my head.
“You’re too pale.” David’s brows knit. “What’s the matter?”
I shook my head as the urge to vomit rose in me.
“You might be in shock,” David said gently. “Or is it something else?”
The rumpled-suit man came and planted himself nearly between us. “Detective Cooper,” he said to me. “You all right?”
The detective wasn’t forty-something like I’d thought. Up close, under the lights, he looked too young to be balding. Maybe even close to David’s age. His calm demeanor reminded me that this could’ve gone much worse. I drew up my shoulders with a deep inhalation. All things considered, I was . . .
“Fine. I’m fine.” I glanced at David. “You called the police?”
“I saw that asshole in the lobby downstairs.” David nodded at Mark as they led him away. “He was boarding the elevator. I only saw his face a second, but something felt off. I thought I recognized him.”
“How?” I asked. “You’ve never seen him.”
