King's car pulled up to them and he reached out, opening the door. "Get in. If he shoots me, it's what I deserve."

Evie glanced around. The Predators were all escaping, blending into the night. They weren't his target, though; King was. "Get in the car first."

"No."

Evie reluctantly let him go, turning to the direction the shot had come from and staring into the darkness. "Please," she mouthed, no sound escaping. She felt the hair on her arms stand in warning. "Please, don't."

"Evie, get in the car." King was resigned to take his punishment for endangering her, but Evie didn't budge until she saw a brief flash of light and knew she had temporarily bought King a stay. Only then did she finally slide into the car with her head pounding.

King closed the car door, lighting a cigar with a shaking hand. "Do you need to go to the hospital?"

"No, I have a concussion. I need to lie down and take it easy for a while, but I will be fine. I guess I won't be catching my plane in the morning."

"You booked a plane? You were going to leave without talking to me?"

"I have nothing to say."

"Evie, I'm sorry I jumped to conclusions."

"You're full of s.h.i.t. You've judged me from the moment you met me, just like you did Shade. You're the one who's f.u.c.ked up. I trusted you. I thought you were smart enough to step away from that deal. I was wrong. The next time you screw up, I won't be around to save your a.s.s."

"I did step away. I told Ramos to do his business and get out of town, then Rabbit called and said Ramos had you. He didn't trust me not to interfere. I spent most of my life building my reputation, and it almost got you killed!"

"Thank G.o.d, it wasn't Lily."

"You're just as important as Lily is to me, Evie."

"Don't lie," Evie seethed.

"I'm not lying."

Evie turned away, not willing to argue with him. That's when she noticed Henry had pulled up in front of King's building. "Take me to Penni's."

"Stay the night. At least let me make sure you're okay. You can sleep in the spare bedroom. You have to be checked every so often because of your concussion."

"Penni is there."

"You want to explain to her what happened?"

No, she didn't. It would be hours before Penni would let her sleep if she did.

Resigned to her fate, Evie tiredly got out of the car, moving away from King's touch. Silently, she followed him into his penthouse. She knew the way to his spare bedroom and that's where she went, closing the door on him before he could speak.

She toed off her shoes before lying down on the bed, not bothering to turn down the blankets. Curling on her side, she stared at the emptiness of the bed beside her and fell asleep within minutes. She hadn't slept through the night since her fight with King.

Later that night, King woke her up with a cold drink. When she sat up, gratefully taking a long gulp, he gave her some ibuprofen which helped with her headache.

She was about to go back to sleep when she realized she didn't have her purse. She started to get out of bed.

"What are you doing?"

"I need my purse; it has my phone."

"You're going to leave in the middle of the night for your phone?"

"I need my phone," she said stubbornly.

"Get back in bed. I'll send Henry after it."

"Thank you." Evie lay back down, falling back asleep.

Sometime later, she felt her head prodded.

"Stop, that hurts!"

"Let him check you out."

Evie's eyes flickered open to see an older face staring down at her interestedly.

"h.e.l.lo," he said.

"Hi."

"He's my physician," King said. "I wanted to have you checked out to make sure you're okay."

"It's just a mild concussion."

"She's right," King's physician agreed, straightening from the bed.

"Told you so," Evie muttered then fell back asleep.

Evie woke feeling more clearheaded later in the day. She sat up slowly before getting to her feet, making sure she wasn't dizzy before going to the bathroom. She took her time washing her face, staring at her pale reflection; the dark shadows under her eyes would need a coat of make-up to cover them.

Back in the bedroom, she flipped through her messages then texted Penni she was fine and would be back that afternoon. She then called and rescheduled her flight, giving herself a couple of days before she traveled.

She looked down at the t-shirt she was wearing, surprised. She hadn't imagined King would ever own a t-shirt; it didn't fit his elegant style. She couldn't picture him in jeans and t-shirts. He was the complete ant.i.thesis of the type of men who attracted her.

She picked up her clothes from the chair, getting dressed, and King came in as she was putting on her shoes.

"What are you doing?"

"Leaving. I'm feeling better."

"Stay. You need to recuperate."

"I can do that at Penni's."

He stood with his hands in his pockets, staring back at her with a grim face. "I can't convince you to stay?"

"No." Evie picked up her phone and purse, ready to leave the close confines of the bedroom. She stared back at him coldly as he blocked her exit.

"Evie, I know I f.u.c.ked up."

"How many times do I have to tell you I don't want to talk?"

"Haven't you ever screwed up, Evie?"

"Not when I give my loyalty to someone. Loyalty is everything." She touched the tattoo on the curve of her breast. "I hurt Beth one time, and I will always regret it. I did it because I was loyal to The Last Riders. I broke that loyalty-men who have stood beside me for years-for you. They deserve my loyalty; you do not." Evie walked past him into the living room.

"I'll call Henry."

As Evie heard the defeat in his voice, she wanted to turn around and hide in his arms. The last thing she wanted to do was leave him, but he had showed her he didn't trust her. He had been pretending to care for her to find out a way to hurt her friends, and he had almost succeeded.

While they stood, awkwardly waiting for Henry's arrival, her eyes roved to the television screen behind King's shoulder. There was a breaking news report describing the violence of the last twenty-four hours. They were detailing the gruesome discovery of several bodies at the warehouse, then the shocking execution-style killing of Digger as he was being moved to a safe house. King stared along with Evie as they watched Digger's sheet-covered body loaded into the coroner's van.

"I would have paid him for that one myself," King commented, not making eye contact.

"It wasn't for you." It was for Lily; it would always be about Lily for Shade.

King's phone rang, announcing Henry's arrival downstairs.

King walked her to the elevator and Evie felt the tension climb, sensing King wanted her to stay. However, when the elevator opened, Evie stepped in, her finger pressing the lobby b.u.t.ton. "Goodbye, King."

His hand stopped the elevator from closing. "I know you hate me right now, and I don't blame you. I asked for your trust without giving you mine. I was wrong. It wasn't the first time I was wrong dealing with you, though, and I'm sure it won't be the last. My sister was murdered because I trusted someone's word I shouldn't have, and she paid the price.

"I've made no secret of the fact that I don't like Shade, and I was well aware your loyalty to him came first. Last night, you threw yourself in front of me to save me from him. Whether you know it or not, you made a decision to pick me over The Last Riders.

"I'm moving to Treepoint, but it's going to take me some time to finish up here. That will give you some time to cool down and come to the same realization I have-we belong together. We are f.u.c.king good together. And neither you nor The Last Riders are going to keep me from proving I can be worthy of your loyalty. I'll see you in a few weeks."

Evie didn't say anything, letting the elevator door close on the man she had come to love.

Three days later, her bags were packed once more. Evie stared down at the new suitcases she had purchased containing new clothes. The only things leaving with her she had brought were The Last Riders' t-shirts she used to sleep in. She had also purchased a couple of nightshirts in different colors.

"I'll see you this summer when I come in for the Fourth of July picnic." Penni hugged her.

"Take care, Penni." Evie picked up her suitcase, opening the door. "Be careful around the Predators."

"I will. I have no intention of becoming involved with them." Evie looked at her doubtfully. While Penni was trying her best to avoid the Predators, she hoped her antagonism for them remained strong. She was glad Penni was in and out of town, touring with Mouth2Mouth.

"Bye, Evie."

"Goodbye, Penni," she said with finality, going out the door.

She blinked back tears in her eyes. She was going to miss Penni. They had grown close the last several weeks living together.

Wheeling her suitcase out of the elevator, she stopped at the concierge desk. The new employee had been hired when the old one had let the man kidnap her onto the elevator for a large tip.

Evie reached into her purse, pulling out a thick envelope.

"Keep an eye on her. If you see she's in any kind of trouble, call the number in the envelope. It's her brother."

"I will. Thanks, Evie."

She nodded, handing him the envelope of money before rolling her suitcase outside where the taxi she had called was waiting. The driver put her suitcase in the trunk while Evie climbed into the car. The driver slammed the trunk then got back behind the wheel.

"The airport," Evie said, looking out the window with tears br.i.m.m.i.n.g in her eyes.

"Where you headed?" he asked, pulling out into the heavy traffic.

"I'm going home."

Chapter 21.

The taxi pulled up in front of the small house. It was well-maintained with a pretty, gra.s.sy yard and spring flowers blossoming, lining the white picket fence.

Evie got out of the cab while the driver got her suitcase. Taking it from him, she turned toward the house then headed up the sidewalk. She bent down next to a decorative rock, and turning it over, she located the key Beth had promised to leave for her.

Evie unlocked the front door and stepped inside, pausing inside the doorway to turn on the lights since the shades were all drawn.

"Welcome home, Evie," she said out loud to herself, staring around the empty house.

Beth and Lily had cleaned out all their things, and Evie had signed the papers the day before she left for Texas.

"Enjoy your trip?" Evie stiffened when she heard the voice behind her.

Turning around, she kept her face an expressionless mask. "Brooke, what do you want?"

"Can't I come by and say h.e.l.lo to my sister?"

"You're not my sister."

Her fake laughter sounded off the empty walls. "I saw your taxi driving by as I was coming out of the church. Not much goes on in this sleepy, little town, does it?"

"Then leave. Go back to New York. h.e.l.l, go home to Georgia; I'm sure Mom misses you." Evie was proud of the lack of resentment in her voice.