Grayson is standing there, his eyes narrowed and a vein in his thick neck throbbing.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing?" he demands.

His voice isn't angry or threatening. Instead, it's eerily calm, and that scares me more than his usual pissed-off demeanor does.

I'm fucked. I have no plausible reason for being in here. As I offer my sweetest smile to Grayson, I know there's no way I'm talking my way out of this.

He glares at me. "I'm gonna ask you one more time, and then your night's gonna get a whole lot fucking worse really goddamned fast. What are you doing in here?"

I open my mouth to respond, but before I get a single word out, he grabs me by the hair and pulls me back into the room and steps inside, closing the door behind him.

I've been nervous on assignments before, and even jittery at first. But for the first time ever, I'm absolutely terrified.

12.

Phoenix

"I need a cleaning ASAP," Alibi says before I'm fully seated. I haven't even had a chance to recover from being ripped away from Kennedy at the most inopportune time. The hard-on still aching in my pants doesn't want to be here, but rather between Kennedy's legs again.

"It'll take a few days," I tell him as I adjust myself under the table without drawing attention to it.

"Just do it as quickly as possible." His eyes shift around the room, and he wipes away a bead of sweat that's trickling down his cheek.

I've worked with Alibi before. He's usually cool as a cucumber, but tonight he looks like a mess. He even got the nickname because no matter what type of situation he finds himself in, he always has an alibi. The man has been bulletproof for years. "What's wrong? You in trouble?"

"I pissed someone off I shouldn't." His fingers drum against the table while his eyes continue to survey our surroundings. "It's time for me to leave town and disappear for a while."

"Rush jobs are twenty percent extra."

He finally stills, bringing his dark eyes to mine. "Doesn't matter. Just do it. Take what you need to make it happen as quickly as possible."

I slide out of the booth, preferring to get back to Kennedy as quickly as possible and pick up where we left off. "I'll be in touch," I tell him, waiting for a nod.

Once I have it, I stalk off toward the bar, looking for Kennedy. My stomach sinks when she isn't there. She wouldn't leave me like this. Hassan isn't here, and she looked as needy as I felt when I left her. I take the steps two-by-two, going back to the room where I left her.

When I open the door, she's not there either. I glance around the hallway but see no one. She said she may not be here, but she was joking. I know that deep in my bones. My heart starts to pick up, pounding against my insides like a snare drum at a rock concert. Frantically, I search for her, opening doors without knocking and not giving a fuck who or what's behind them.

As I pass by the vault, I hear angry screaming. I know the voices well-Grayson and Kennedy are arguing. Kicking open the door without a second thought, I find a tearful Kennedy on the floor with her wig tossed across the room, and he's hovering over her with his fists balled and ready to strike.

Motherfucker has a death wish. My eyes lock on Kennedy's, and I can see her terror. "You lay one hand on her, and I'll end you, Grayson." I move my body between Kennedy and Grayson, shielding her from any assault and ready to beat his ass.

Fuck his club. I don't need it to conduct business. I could kill him tonight, and no one would miss him.

Grayson's eyes narrow as he squeezes his fist tighter, causing his knuckles to turn white. "She's snooping around where she doesn't belong. There's no mercy for liars, Nix." He tries to sidestep me, but I move with him. "You know that. She's to be dealt with like every other person who's done the same shit."

There's no way I'm letting that shit happen. I'd rather end him right here than let that fucking happen. "I told her to meet me here. You're the one who called me away, and I left her unattended. If anyone is to blame, it's me, Grayson. So if you're going to lay your hands on anyone, it's me. You ready for that?" I return the glare he's giving me.

Grayson is an asshole, but he's not a dumb one. He stares into my eyes, waiting for me to flinch, but I don't waver. "You're going to a lot of trouble for a piece of ass. I hope you know what you're doing. If anything happens, I'm coming for you. You'll pay the price she should tonight."

I step closer, getting in his face, ready to swing and save her from the fate he's so quick to bestow upon her. "You may own the place, but don't forget who made you who you are. Don't threaten the very business you depend on to keep operating."

"Whatever." He steps back and waves his hand in the air. "You deal with the lyin' trash. If you're vouching for her..."

"I'm giving you my word. If that's not good enough, then let's end this right here."

"Take her and go. If I ever catch her where she shouldn't be, not even you will be able to save her. Keep your bitches on a short leash from now on, Nix." I don't move, holding my ground as a shield for her.

Once he walks out, I turn quickly and pull her to her feet by her arms. "What the hell were you thinking?" I ask quietly.

She has mascara streaks on her face. "I had it under control," she whispers, her eyes narrowing.

"If your plan was to get the shit kicked out of you tonight, you did." Using my thumbs, I brush away her tears and some of her makeup. "Can you stand?"

She holds my gaze defiantly. "Of course I can."

I release her from my grip and grab her wig off the floor. "Put this back on," I tell her, handing it over. "Let's get out of here. You have a lot of explaining to do."

"Oh, I do? To you?"

"I just saved your ass."

"My ass was just fine. You think I've never been beaten up before?"

I recoil at the thought. When she starts to speak again, I cut her off. "Do as I say, Kennedy. No lip. No excuses. No arguments. Put the wig on and follow me." I take a second to call for Crane to meet us out front. We both need to get out of here before Grayson changes his mind. I hadn't planned on snapping anyone's neck tonight. I had hoped to get laid.

She keeps her eyes on me as she pulls her wig into place, tucking her dark hair underneath. "Nix."

"We'll talk about it when we get back to my place."

"Who says I want to go to your place?"

She exasperates the fuck out of me. Shaking my head, I lift her into my arms and pull her tightly against my body. "Not another word. Don't fight me."

I walk out of the room with Kennedy in my arms, take the stairs to the main level, and stalk toward the front door, ignoring everyone around me. Their eyes are on me, or more likely, on us. They saw Kennedy in here earlier. The outfit and hair unmistakable even crumpled in my arms. Word will be getting back to Hassan, but I'll deal with him later. Right now, the only thing I need to worry about is getting her out of here and finding out what in the fuck she was doing inside the vault.

Paul opens the front door as soon as he sees me. "Everything okay, Nix?" His eyes are on Kennedy when he speaks.

"We're fine. You know some women." I laugh and grip her tighter as a warning as I walk toward the waiting car. "Just can't hold their liquor."

"Been there many times myself." He rushes to the Escalade, opening the back door before Crane can even get out. "You have yourself a good night, Mr. Ash."

"Thanks, Paul," I say as I climb in with Kennedy still in my arms. We exchange a curt nod before he closes the door. Even though the windows are blacked out, I whisper in Kennedy's ear to remain where she is and keep her eyes closed. Her warm lips are touching the skin on my neck. If I weren't so pissed, I'd lean forward and kiss her.

After Crane pulls away and is well out of view from the club, he glances in the rearview mirror and asks, "What the fuck happened in there?"

"You don't want to know," I tell him and finally release my death grip on Kennedy's body. She stares up at me, defiance still darkening her gaze.

Slowly, she climbs out of my lap into the seat next to me and adjusts her skirt. Crane's eyes move to her and back to me and narrow, but I shake my head, letting him know that it isn't the time for questions.

Not another word is spoken as we make our way through the city. When Crane pulls up to my building and puts the Escalade in park, he turns around to face me. "Want me to take her home?"

"No." I glance over at Kennedy, who's staring out the window and mashing her hands together nervously in her lap. "She and I need to have a little talk. Head home. We'll be fine."

"Whatever you say." He keeps his eyes on us as I climb out and help Kennedy from the car. "Call if you need me."

I wave him off, helping her walk on her heels that weren't built for the crumbling sidewalks. Before I have a chance to open the building doors, she peers up at me with calculating eyes and asks, "What are you going to do to me?"

Turning to her, I grab her by the arms and stop her from walking ahead of me. "If I were going to hurt you, I wouldn't bring you back to my place. I would've left you with Grayson for him to deal with and clean up afterward. I'm not in the business of hurting people, especially women."

She draws her bottom lip into her mouth, and her eyes drop. "I know," she whispers.

Pressing my finger under her chin, I force her eyes to mine. "We'll talk upstairs. Don't say another word until then. I'm so angry right now, I need a drink to cool off and then you're going to tell me everything, Kennedy. Everything."

"I can't do that."

My gaze is firm and serious. We've been having fun, but the time for that is over. "You're not who you say you are. You're hiding something, and after saving your ass tonight, I deserve to know what it is."

"I didn't ask you to vouch for me."

Troy spots us before I can open the door. "Good evening, Mr. Ash," he says, using his body as a doorstopper. "How are you this evening?" He glances at Kennedy, but he doesn't say a word about the streaked makeup.

"We're doing well, Troy. How about yourself?"

"Couldn't be better, sir. I dropped a package off for you earlier, and I gave it to Coco."

Kennedy's eyes flash with recognition. "I think I should go."

My hand comes out, wrapping around her arm and keeping her next to me as we walk toward the bank of elevators. "Not this time, kid. Coco is a friend and nothing more. I've explained that."

"Fine," Kennedy says through gritted teeth as we step inside and Troy pushes the button.

"Ah, Miss Coco. I remember when she was a kid. She's come a long way, sir." He tips his hat as the doors begin to close and waves with his free hand.

Kennedy plasters her body against the back wall, getting as far away from me as she can. "Who is she?"

Turning quickly, I cage her in and bring my face so close to hers I can feel her breath. "I'm not fucking her, if that's what you're asking. Are you jealous?"

Her eyes flash with fury, and she moves her face closer to mine. "Is she your sister?"

"No. I found her on the streets as a kid. She needed someone to look after her."

"You found her?" Her eyes narrow, and she continues to speak through clenched teeth.

"I helped her." We're arguing, but about what, I don't know.

I'm so pissed off about tonight that I want to punch something. The anger running through my system isn't an emotion I'm used to feeling. When the lights flash and the elevator stops unexpectedly, alarms blaring above us, I do the only thing I can to remedy how I'm feeling-push my body flush against her and crush my mouth to hers.

My mouth takes without permission, demanding her compliance. Her fingernails dig into my flesh, breaking the skin on my forearms as she opens to me. We're tethered to each other by our mouths, and the anger and fear flow between us. My arm drops as my hand finds the bare flesh of her thighs and blazes a trail upward, disappearing under her skirt.

Her skin is hot and soft underneath my fingertips, and my cock starts to ache. The hard-on that had vanished earlier is back and worse than ever. Fuckin' Kennedy Preston. This night was supposed to be different. But she had to go and fuck it up with her bullshit as soon as I was away from her for ten minutes.

She moans softly when the tips of my fingers graze the edges of her underwear. I want to tear it off and have my way with her. Taking the anger inside of me, channeling the energy through my cock, and pummeling her body with mine as payback.

We're both so lost in the moment that we barely feel the elevator starting to move again. Our lips stay connected until the ding alerts me that we've arrived. Keeping my eyes closed, I rest my forehead against hers. "We're not done," I tell her as I open my eyes and look into hers.

"I hope not." She smiles softly, thinking I'm talking about sex. Maybe I am, but not before I get more information out of her.

I push myself away and blow out a breath, trying to calm the need that's coursing through my veins. "First, we talk. Then, if I'm satisfied with your answers, I'll fuck you like you've never been fucked."

"Mighty sure of yourself, aren't you, Nix?"

I rush to her, wrapping my hands in her hair and bringing her lips to mine. "Trust me, Kennedy. With all this anger in me, I have to take it out somewhere." I bury my knee between her legs, brushing against her pussy and aching to be inside her. "You're not going to be able to walk for a few days when I'm done with you."

Her eyes widen. "Fuck," she hisses and moves her mouth closer, her breath skidding across my lips.

I pull her body closer, flush against mine and right into my bulging cock, reveling in the feel of her softness against my hardness. "You'll have a lot of explaining to do to someone."

"Yeah," she says.

"Nix?" Coco says. "Who's she?"

"A friend, Coco. You're done for the night." I turn to face her, and she's standing with her hands crossed in front of her chest with the same look as Kennedy. Fuck me. This night just can't get any more fucked up than it already has been.

"I don't think I should leave here tonight."

"We'll be okay, babe. Eva and I have some shit to work through. I'd prefer it if you weren't here."

She eyes Kennedy cautiously as they size each other up. "You may need my protection."

Her statement makes me smile, but I hold back my laughter as I pull Kennedy out of the elevator with me. "I think I'll be okay. Leave your homework in my office and go home, Coco. That's an order."

"Sure," she says. "I'll call you later."

"Make it tomorrow," I tell Coco, stopping in front of the couch with my hands still on Kennedy.

She nods, giving Kennedy an evil look before spinning on her heels and heading toward my office. I don't have time for Coco's antics or the mothering she sometimes feels I need. Usually, I have more patience for her, but not tonight...not after the shit Kennedy pulled.