No, she’d simply leave early and go on. Get caught up on some of the things that had piled up over the last few weeks and had been largely ignored by the other workers.
But first, she’d give her friends what they wanted—what they deserved—because they’d never held back from her, nor would they ever.
Then she’d worry about what to do about Drake Donovan. Just as soon as she looked up every piece of information she could find about just who this man was and what he could possibly want with someone as insignificant as her.
Evangeline was exhausted when she stumbled out of the pub an hour after the official closing time. Her feet were killing her, swollen from the many busy hours rushing drinks to customers in very uncomfortable heels. She was sorely tempted to take them off and just walk barefooted home. She’d been so frazzled by all that had occurred the night before and the exhausting interrogation from her roommates that she’d forgotten the pair of comfortable flats she brought to work to walk home in. Now she was stuck walking ten blocks in the wee hours of the morning in shoes she wanted to toss into the nearest trash can. At least she had an even larger amount than her already generous nightly tips stuffed into her pocket, so her misery was a little more bearable given that she could send more than usual back home to her mother.
She was so dead on her feet and already dreaming of at least twelve hours of sleep that she didn’t even see the man outside the pub until she nearly bumped into him. Her adrenaline spiked and her heart nearly pounded right out of her chest as she stumbled back, assuming a defensive position.
A scream lodged in her throat as she frantically assessed thepotential threat. Then she recognized the man, but realizing she knew him only ratcheted up her fear, and her first instinct was to run for her life.
Maddox, Drake’s minion, stood nonchalantly in front of her, effectively blocking her escape, his stance deceptively casual. She nearly allowed hysterical laughter to escape her mouth at the idea of having time to pry her too-tight heels from her feet and run for her life because this man would have her before she got the first shoe off.
“My apologies for frightening you, Evangeline,” he said in the same gentle tone he’d used at Impulse when he’d rescued her.
“Whyare you here?” she stammered out. “How did you even know where to find me? What do you want?”
She sounded desperate and frightened, but she didn’t even bother trying to disguise that fact. What woman wouldn’t be terrified in her situation? She was surprised she’d even been able to articulate the questions for him that had come out more of a squeak than any sort of actual coherent speech.
Maddox’s expression was bland but there was a hint of warning in his eyes. “It’s not a good idea to keep Drake waiting. You were to be at your place at seven o’clock sharp and I had strict instructions to take you straight to him. And he is a man who expects—demands—obedience and compliance. Inallmatters.”
Her unease was fast paralyzing her as the last of his words sank in.Allmatters? He demanded obedience in all matters? Who did he think he was? God? What the hell had she gotten herself into by allowing herself to be coerced into going to that damn club? Damn it, but she should have just listened to herself and refused to set foot in that place. Where was her spine? Oh yeah, she didn’t have one.
He made a deliberate show of checking his watch before his gaze returned to hers, warning still clearly visible.
“It’s now four in the morning, which makes you nine hours late, and Drake doesn’t wait nine hours for anyone.”
Evangeline bared her teeth. “Good! But if that’s the case, then why are you here? By your own admission Drake waits for no one and it’s been nine hours. If he’s not waiting for me, then why are you here scaring the crap out of me?”
Amusement flashed in Maddox’s eyes. “It would appear he’s making an exception for you. My advice is not to make him wait any longer by standing here arguing at four in the morning.”
Evangeline’s mouth dropped open. “Are you serious? What gives him the right to order me around or expect me to comply with hisdemands, like I’m some minion or one of his employees?” She shook her head, because this had gone way beyond creepy. Even more so than the bizarre events at the club and in particular in Drake’s office. “You’reallcrazy! Certifiable. Besides, I had towork. You know, that thing called ajob, in return for which you receive a paycheck? Some of us don’t have the luxury of taking off on a whim. I have bills to pay and a family to support. Ineedthis job, and I’m sure as hell not blowing off work just because the almighty Drake Donovan decided he wants my presence for God only knows what reason. That would make me as insane as the rest of you!”
Once again, amusement flickered in Maddox’s eyes, but there was also a gleam that looked suspiciously like... respect at her defiance and bluntness. She was not a rude person, but nothing in her responses could possibly be construed as anything but rude. Not to mention dismissive, and although her association with Drake and his watchdogs had been brief, she knew they were not men who wereeverdismissed and certainly not by a meek, timid woman.
When he didn’t immediately respond, frustration made Evangeline lash out again.
“What could he possibly want with me? We exist in completely different stratospheres. I’m nothing. I’m average at best. Nothing to look at. The stereotypical plain Jane who wouldn’t even draw notice in a small group, much less a crowd!”
At that, Maddox’s expression went from amused to pissed and mean in the blink of an eye, his gaze glittering dangerously.
“Bullshit,” he snapped, not expounding further.
Instead he gently cupped her elbow, anchored his arm around her waist and began walking her toward a parked car just a few feet away. The same car he’d taken her home in the night before. He ignored her sputtered protests and her attempts to break his hold on her and merely tightened his grip, slowing his pace to ensure she didn’t trip or stumble in the ridiculous heels she wore. How could such a badass, scary guy use such extreme care to ensure her safety when he was kidnapping her? It just didn’t make sense and her brain was already fried from the night at Impulse and then an extra-long shift she’d spent entirely on her feet.
When they got to the car and Maddox opened the back door, panic kicked in and she immediately backed away only to collide with a very large, muscled man who didn’t so much as budge as she squirmed and began to fight.
Instead he very gently eased her back and began to solicitously seat her.
“You can’t just kidnap me!” she exclaimed, true fright nearly making the words she intended to scream come out more as a croak because her throat was rapidly closing in.
“And yet you didn’t protest overly much when I very gentlemanly handed you into the car,” Maddox said dryly.
“Define ‘overly much,’” she snapped. “Because from my viewpoint I certainly did not go meekly like a lamb to its slaughter. I’m sure it appeared that way to you because you could snap me in half with your fingers, but it doesn’t mean I’m not here under protest.”
But then she looked down to see that she was indeed seated quite comfortably on the soft, expensive leather, wondering how on earth he’d managed to get her into the car with such minimal effort. Despite her bravado about fighting and not being led meekly to slaughter.Self-disgust filled her because yes, to a man likehim, it most assuredly would look like she did his bidding without a single objection.
“I was afraid you’d shoot me,” she muttered under her breath.
