“Poor fellow,” he said coolly. “You’ll let me know when he’s able to talk, will you?”
Her blood stilled, hearing his voice harden. “Of course. Since you’re friends.”
He smiled genially at her, as if nothing had changed between them. As if he was still Ernie, notBig Will.But Adele saw a different man before her now. A man who could lead her around the dance floor with another man’s blood on his hands. Ernie Willoughby was not the courteous protector he had claimed to be, she realized. He was a man from whom people needed protection. Suddenly, his charm felt wrong and manipulative,and she felt sick that she’d fallen for it. When had she become so naive? She had let him wrap that necklace around her throat and promenade her in front of all his flashy friends as if she belonged to him, and she’d never said a word about it. Now she had to put a stop to it, but she would have to choose her words carefully.
“Ernie, about last night,” she said.
His expression collapsed with sympathy. “I know you were nervous around all those people, but really, you fit right in. They were all quite taken with you, as I knew they would be.”
“That’s nice of them to say,” she replied, but since no one had paid any attention to her after he’d left for that fateful hour, she knew any remarks about her had likely been made for Ernie’s benefit, not hers. “I wanted to thank you again for a lovely time. I’ve enjoyed spending time with you these past weeks.”
“As have I,” he said, taking a step toward her.
“You’ve made me feel like a princess, truly, but I must tell you that I’m not prepared for anything more. I’m sorry if I’ve made you think otherwise.”
He hesitated. “Is something wrong? Have I upset you somehow?”
“No. It’s not that at all. Please understand, Ernie.”
“Adele, I’m crazy about you,” he said. She could hear the frustration in his voice, but also a great deal of hurt. He was like a little boy, desperate not to get left behind. “Let me show you. I could give you the world.”
“I know you could, Ernie, but I’ve seen enough of the world. I’m quite content with what I have.” She retrieved the necklace from her bag, its diamond briefly catching the light from the open window. “I’d like to return this to you.”
He ran his fingers through his slicked-back hair, his desperation hardening to bafflement. “I don’t understand. What can I do to convince you?” When she didn’t answer, his brow drew in. “Am I not good enough for you? Because you’re not gonna find anybody better around here.”
“It’s nothing like that. It’s not about you, Ernie. It’s me.” She dangled the necklace closer to him, but her hand shook, making the pendant wobble. “Please, Ernie. Take the necklace and go. Before Dr. Knowles returns.”
“I don’t think you understand,” he said slowly, his voice low. His hands flexed at his sides, and her concern became fear. “I want you, Adele, and I always get what I want.”
In an instant, he closed the distance between them. She wanted to shove him away, to make a run for it, but she felt frozen in place under his towering gaze. Then his lips pressed hard against hers, his teeth colliding with hers. She tried to squirm out of his grasp, but his hands were clamped on her hips, holding her in place.
“Let me go!” she cried, turning wildly in his grip, then she remembered the open window behind him. “Stop!” she screamed, hoping someone would hear. “Stop! Get off me!”
She heard the door fly open but she could see nothing. In the next instant, Ernie’s hands were ripped from her body, and a man stepped between them, his back to Adele.
“Get away from her,” he growled.
Anger bloomed on Ernie’s face. “This has nothing to do with you, Jigsaw. Get lost.”
“It has to do with a lady saying no. Now back off.”
Adele caught her breath. She knew that voice.
“Who’s gonna make me?” Ernie taunted. “Your big brother ain’t here.”
Her rescuer glanced back, and she saw a flash of sharp grey eyes and a familiar scar.
“Jerry?” she whispered, suddenly dizzy.
“Stay back, Adele,” he said, quiet and calm, just as she remembered him.
Ernie’s nostrils flared like a bull’s. “You two—”
Jerry wrapped his fingers around the edges of Ernie’s shirtfront andshoved him against the wall, pinning him there, but Ernie spun out of his grip and swung his elbow around so it crashed into Jerry’s face. Jerry staggered sideways, momentarily stunned by the blow, then he pulled back his fist. In the next instant, a scarlet fountain erupted from Ernie’s nose, spraying the wall and the floor.
Bile shot up Adele’s throat at the sight of the blood. “Stop!” she shouted. “Please! Stop!”
But neither appeared to hear her. Their attention was entirely on each other, and as they circled, she saw the deep contempt on both their faces. Ernie was hunched like a boxer, hands out front, panting slightly. Jerry was just out of his reach, waiting, calculating.
