there was an issue with the engine when all I wanted to do was get back to you before it was too late
and tell you what a jerk I’d been.”
He called!
This was exactly why she should’ve locked herself in the bathroom ten minutes ago. Information
like this was detrimental to her cause. “Were you alone?” she rasped, unable to meet his gaze.
“Of course I was alone. I was at my father’s. I was miserable here without you and figured, what the
fuck, might as well drown in all the screwed-up parts of my life.”
She blinked as her throat tightened. “So no one went with you to Europe?”
“Evelyn, why— motherfucker—did he say I wasn’t alone? That son of a bitch!” He pivoted and she
tensed, fearing he’d punch one of her walls and break her tiny apartment. He turned on her. “The
phone technician said your cell got wet.”
“Yes, but I never—” She gasped. Parker! He must have heard it ringing when Lucian called. “That fucker!”
He came toward her and grasped her shoulders, his expression rigid. “Evelyn, I want you to stay
away from him. He’s underhanded and he doesn’t play by the rules that he wants everyone to believe
he does.”
“Oh, you don’t have to tell me.”
“I do.” He shook her. “There are things you don’t know. There was a woman—”
She jerked out of his grip, her hands going to her ears. “I don’t want to hear this!”
“I’m being honest with you. You need to listen. You need to know what kind of person he is. He
hired a prostitute who looked just like you and sent her to the penthouse.”
“Oh my God.” She was going to be sick.
“I didn’t touch her. I knew he was behind it. I sent her away, but I think she stole the lease to the
apartment I rented for you and I think that’s how he found you. The only other person who could’ve
told him was Slade, but Slade didn’t know.”
“Slade? What does he have to do with any of this?”
Lucian sighed. “Part of the deal was I give Parker a job. He was your friend and I had no problem
helping him. It wasn’t until he made his other conditions known that I realized my first instinct about him was right. He’s a prick. I gave him a job as a bellhop—”
“At Patras? I knew I saw him there!”
“You saw him?”
“Once. At night. I went to visit the girls at the salon.”
“Well, he only worked there for a short time. He somehow crossed paths with Slade and Slade
found out about our deal. He offered him a job making several times his salary at Patras on the spot.”
“What’s wrong with that guy?”
“Who knows? I stopped trying to figure him out, and I’m in the process of buying out his shares and
dissolving our partnership. My point is, Parker Hughes isn’t a man you can trust or afford to
underestimate. If he comes here, I want you to call the cops or me.”
“He doesn’t know where I live.”
“Nothing remains a secret forever. Just promise me you won’t talk to him.”
“The bastard broke my phone and lied to me. I want nothing to do with him and told him so
yesterday.”
It was stupid to be so angry about a phone in light of everything else, but she couldn’t forgive him
for that additional transgression of honor. When she realized her phone was broken, she was
completely cut off from Lucian, and her mind couldn’t deal with that. She’d fallen apart all over again and it was Parker’s fault. All for what?
“Promise me, Evelyn.”
Not a difficult thing to do. “I promise.”
He nodded and stepped back. Glancing around, he asked, “Is there anything you need?”
“No.”
Lucian swallowed. “Believe it or not, I’m proud of you. Your home’s small, but nice. You did this,
Evelyn. You.”
His praise touched parts of her she’d censored off, and she didn’t need him poking her softer sides.
Besides, she couldn’t take full credit for her independence. She wouldn’t be there if not for him.
“Thank you.”
He stepped closer to the stairs, but hesitated. “I’ll have a new phone delivered today—”
“No, Lucian. I can buy my own phone now. I’ll get one.”
His lips thinned, but he didn’t argue with her. “You’ll call if you need anything?”
She nodded.
He mimicked the motion. “Lock the doors. I’ll talk to your landlord about getting some cameras in
that alleyway. I’ll contact FPD about those two men and make sure they never bother you again.”
She had no doubt. “Good-bye, Lucian.”
“I’ll see you soon.” He turned and headed out down the steps. Before the door clicked behind him,
he muttered into his phone to Dugan that he was ready.
She turned and pressed her head into the wall. Her brain was too tired to think.
Chapter 7
A Picture’s Worth a Thousand Pains
Scout dragged the order across the scanner as the woman in line chatted about the weather. The
steady blip of merchandise being tallied had become the symphony of her days over the past few