LITMIR.BIZ

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could follow. Her heart wrenched with the sound of frenzied barking.

      “In the living room,” Wade ordered her.

      Afraid Wade would do something about the barking, she did as he said. But as soon as she made it to the living room and faced Wade, Maddie’s barking stopped. She was running next door.

      “You’ve been sneaking around again,” Wade said, stepping close to her with dangerous eyes.

      Had he seen her? When?

      “What were you doing at my store three days ago?” he asked.

      “What are you talking about?” She played ignorance, the same as she’d done the last time he’d come accusing her of spying on him and his friends. That time she’d followed him when he’d met some men she hadn’t recognized. Nothing had been exchanged, but she suspected he’d gone to discuss one of his illegal gun deals, deals that he expected her to execute for him.

      He leaned in to bring his face close to hers, the gun at his side as though he didn’t think he needed it to keep her under control. “You know damn well what I’m talking about. You’re supposed to be working with me, not against me.”

      “If working with you means breaking the law, I’ll pass.”

      With a smirk, Wade straightened. “You’ve already done that. And if you don’t start doing what I tell you, the cops are going to find out.”

      Because he’d tell them. Soon, he wouldn’t be able to threaten her like this. Soon, she’d be able to call the cops herself and have him arrested. But for now, she had to be patient.

      Remy spotted Lincoln at the back door. She’d left it unlocked for him, hoping he’d retrace Maddie’s path. Sure enough, he had. Wade’s back was to him. Careful not to shift her eyes, she used her peripheral vision to watch Lincoln enter.

      “I’m only going to ask you once more,” Wade said.

      Before he could repeat the question, Lincoln put the barrel of his pistol against the back of Wade’s neck. “Put the gun down.”

      While Wade’s face morphed into deep, angry lines, Remy stepped back. He crouched and put the gun on the floor, rising with his hands away from his body, palms up.

      “Step away from it,” Lincoln commanded next.

      With an evil glare at her, Wade did as he was told.

      Remy knelt for the gun as the two men faced each other.

      “Why do you keep harassing Remy?” Lincoln asked.

      When Wade didn’t answer, he searched the man’s pocket until he found a wallet. One-handed, he flipped it open and found a driver’s license. Shaking it free, he let the wallet drop and read the name. Wade Nelson.

      “Is this address current?” he asked.

      “Go to hell.”

      Lincoln studied the license. “Why are you here?”

      “Just let him go,” Remy said.

      “Why don’t you ask her why I’m here?” Wade said.

      “I’m asking you.”

      Remy had a sick feeling that Lincoln was asking Wade because he suspected she was hiding something, and he had a better chance of finding out what that was with him. Remy could only wait and hope Wade didn’t reveal anything.

      “How much do you know about her?” Wade asked.

      Lincoln backed up, still holding his gun. “Why did you come here? What do you want from her?”

      Wade glanced at Remy, smug with the knowledge that he could expose her. She hated him for that. Lording it over her.

      “You’ll have to get that from her,” he finally said.

      He wasn’t going to tell him anything. Remy inwardly sagged with relief. Revealing certain things he knew would do damage to himself, too. If Wade ratted her out now, she’d never cooperate with him.

      “Get out of here, then,” Lincoln said.

      He was letting Wade go without pressing him for answers. But why had he looked at the driver’s license? What could he learn from that?

      Wade picked up his wallet.

      Lincoln handed him his license. “If I see you here again, I’ll send you on an ambulance ride.” Taking the gun from Remy, he removed the clip before handing it to Wade.

      He took it, and furious eyes turned to Remy. “You’re going to regret this.”

      Not if she could help it. She was in a race against time now.

      Wade yanked the door open and slammed it as he left.

      Lincoln turned to her. “What was that all about?” Beating her was enough, but threatening her with a gun took it to a new level.

      She didn’t say anything, just imagined what his reaction might be if she did, if she told him everything. Confiding in someone would be refreshing. But she could trust no one with that. Not anymore.

      “Why is he threatening you?” he asked.

      “Where’s Maddie?” she asked instead of answering.

      His mouth pressed together ever so slightly, disappointedly perhaps, but his eyes gave nothing away. “I left her at my house.”

      “I’ll go and get her.” She started for the back door.

      “Remy.”

      Spinning to face him, she said, “Don’t ask questions, Lincoln. Number one, I barely know you, and number two, I can’t tell anyone about Wade.”

      “Why not?” He approached, his strong, confident strides making her wish she could trust him. And more.

      As he came to a stop, she almost gave in. But good sense intervened and she turned again, this time going out the door.

      “What kind of trouble are you in?” he asked from behind her.

      She went through the broken gate and opened his backyard gate.

      “I can help you,” he said.

      Could he? Against Wade? Maybe, if that was all it entailed. But it was far more dangerous than that. No. No one could help her. As always, she had to take care of herself. She could depend on no one else. Besides, if Lincoln knew how she’d crossed paths with Wade, he might change his mind about helping her. And she could not risk that.

      Chapter 2

      The next afternoon, Lincoln settled down on his sofa with a turkey sandwich and a football game. A bark at the back door was his daily signal to get back up. Maddie stood on the other side of the sliding-glass door, beyond the nose smudges he’d given up cleaning. A toy was on the step between her paws, her tail wagging excitedly.

      He opened the door. “You’re early.”

      She trotted past him, going to the pantry. Facing him, she sat, tail wiggling away.

      He chuckled and gave her the requisite treat.

      When she finished, she jumped up onto the sofa with him, curled up with her head on his leg. He rubbed her ears and watched her eyes slide closed.

      Any minute Remy would be here to get her. He was looking forward to it. More conversation. Picking through her secrets. Why he was inclined to involve himself in those secrets put him in check. People with secrets had a tendency to lie. What did he want from her? Her mystery or her body? Her body might not be worth the mystery. She might be the kind of person he hunted for bail jumping. He hadn’t called the cops because he still wasn’t sure she fit into that category.

      After a while, it dawned on him that Remy wasn’t coming over. Standing, he went to the front door and opened it. No sign of Wade’s car. Remy’s

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