Jill dragged her tired body across the threshold of her apartment, pausing long enough to turn the deadbolt, and click the lock in the door’s handle. Exhaustion beat at her like a steady drumbeat. She hadn’t realized how much work still remained to finish before opening day. Thinking about it made her brain hurt.
After the fiasco with the smashed window, and Lucas showing up worried about her, she’d finally convinced him to go to his meeting. Harper stuck around for a while after he left, and in between deliveries of equipment, she’d unloaded a ton of boxes filled with baking supplies, sorting and stacking all the ingredients for making incredible pastries. Harper turned out to be a huge help, bouncing around with energy to spare. Who knew her friend raced around like the bunny in that commercial who never stops?
Several people dropped by, mostly Boudreaus, and Jill knew they were keeping a protective eye on her. To be honest, it made her feel special, knowing she had so many people who cared about her. Even Dante called enough times she’d finally told him she’d quit answering the phone if he didn’t stop. It was kinda nice to have her overprotective brother watching over her, even if she didn’t need it. She was a big girl, more than able to take care of herself.
Tossing her purse on the hall table, she eased her tired, swollen feet out of her shoes and slid them under the table, too. With a sigh, she slumped onto the couch, and leaned back against the comfy cushions. She needed a hot bath and a cold drink, not necessarily in that order, but couldn’t rouse the energy to get off the sofa.
When her phone rang, she groaned. Like a dolt, she’d left the stupid thing in her purse. Climbing to her feet, she snatched her purse up and dug until she found her phone. The ringing stopped right as she swiped to answer, switching over to voicemail.
“Well, if it’s important, they’ll leave a message or call back.”
Headed toward the kitchen, she wasn’t surprised when it rang again, showing Dante’s name on the caller ID.
“Hey, Dante. Yes, I’m home. No, I’m not planning on going out tonight. You can take the night off babysitting and go have some fun.”
“Good evening, Ms. Monroe. I’m afraid I’m not your brother. He was kind enough to loan me his phone, since I assumed you wouldn’t answer if I called.”
A shiver of unease crept up Jill’s spine at the sound of Emmanuel Benevides’ voice. Where was Dante? She doubted he’d simply handed his phone over to Benevides without a qualm.
“What do you want, Mr. Benevides?”
“I think we should talk, Jillian.”
The way he said her name made her skin crawl. Why hadn’t this guy gotten the message she didn’t want to see him?
“I guess I’m going to have to be blunt. I’m not interested in talking to you or seeing you. There is no scenario where I want to spend time with you.”
“I’m aware you don’t have a high opinion of me, querida, but that’s because you don’t know me. I tend to intimidate most people—except you. I’m not asking much, just a few hours of your time, getting to know one another.”
“I’m sorry, but I’m already seeing someone.” Okay, maybe that’s a little half-truth, but I kinda, sorta been seeing Lucas.
“Perhaps I can dissuade you, show you I’m not the person you think me to be. I believe we have a strong connection…”
“Where’s my brother?” She’d had enough of Benevides’ innuendos and serious lack of comprehension. There wasn’t a chance in Hades’ handbasket she’d get involved with him. He was a criminal, to say nothing of what he’d already done to her brother. The chances were higher she’d jump into a live volcano before she’d date him.
“Please, Jillian, before you decide, I’m outside with your brother. Won’t you allow us to come up?”
Something about the way he enunciated the words, devoid of any emotion, told her she didn’t have much of a choice. She couldn’t risk harm to Dante because she refused to see Benevides.
“Fine.”
She ended the call and wiped her sweaty palms, feeling icy tendrils of fear spreading through her. In less than two minutes, the knock sounded on her door. The camera showed Benevides standing beside her brother. Taking a deep breath, she undead the locks and opened it.
“Dante, are you alright?”
He shot a glare at Benevides, and then pulled her into his arms. “I’m fine, Sis. Let’s talk.”
Dante steered her toward the living room, leaving Benevides to close the door. She heard the soft snick, followed by footsteps. Standing with her arms crossed, she didn’t offer Benevides a seat. She wanted him gone, because her ingrained Southern hospitality wasn’t up to the challenge of being nice to an uninvited guest. If he didn’t like it, he could show himself out.
“Okay, you’re here. Now what?” Try as she might, she couldn’t quite keep the hostility out of her tone.
The corners of his mouth twitched. With Dante at her back, she felt a modicum of safety, though she couldn’t help wondering if Benevides had his ever-present goons close by. Probably. He didn’t strike her as the type to go anywhere unprotected. Dante’s hand squeezes her shoulder, a not-so-subtle signal to ease back on the antagonism.
“Sis…”
“I know. I apologize, Mr. Benevides. I’ve had a long day, and I’m tired. What is it you want from me?”
“I thought we might have a civilized conversation. Get to know each other a little better. I’m sorry you had a tough day. I hope there weren’t any…difficulties.”
She knew it! She’d speculated all day long about whether Benevides was behind the damage to the bakery. The gloating tone in his voice convinced her he was behind the vandalism.
“Nothing I couldn’t handle with the help of my friends.”
“Ah, I presume you mean the Boudreaus. Such fine upstanding citizens.” Derision peppered his words, almost mocking, and she wouldn’t stand for it.
“The Boudreaus are the finest, most generous, kindest people I know. They’re didn’t hesitate to step in and offer assistance when something happens to one of their own.”
“And are you considered ‘one of their own’?”
“Yeah, she is,” Dante answered before Jill even opened her mouth.
“Dante, I think it’s time you left. Jillian and I have much to discuss, and your presence is no longer required.”
Dante’s glare should have peeled the paint off the walls, yet Benevides appeared unmoved by the other man’s ire. Jill’s glance bounced back and forth between the them.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“Dante—”
“Don’t argue with me, Sis. I’m not budging from your side. I wish I’d never dragged you into this mess, that you’d never met Benevides.”
“Leave. Now.” The steely edge in Benevides’ voice brooked no argument, and Jill felt her brother waver, indecision warring with fear. She felt the tight grip of terror squeezing deep in her chest. She couldn’t let anything happen to Dante.
“It’s okay. I think Mr. Benevides and I need to clear the air.” Shooting daggers at the older man, she squeezes Dante’s forearm. “He won’t be staying long.”
“Jilly—”
“I promise I’ll call you in thirty minutes. If you don’t hear from me by then, call 911 and Rafe.”
“Really, Jillian? Surely you don’t see me as a threat.”
“Since you apparently won’t take no for an answer, Mr. Benevides, I clearly need to take precautions. Dante, go. I’ll be fine.”
Dante hesitated for several seconds, before his shoulders slumped. She knew a bitter inner battle raged within him, but he acquiesced.
“Thirty minutes. Not a second more.”
“I promise.”
With a hate-filled glare at Benevides, he left. Jill felt in her gut that he’d be sticking around outside, but at least she got him out of the immediate line of fire, though she doubted Benevides would have taken things to that extreme. Not here, where any number of witnesses might pop out of their apartments at the sign of a struggle, or heaven forbid, the sound of a gunshot.
“Jillian, I don’t intend to harm you. Far from it. The last thing I want is for you to fear me. I simply want to get to know you better. We met under unfortunate circumstances, which I truly regret. Perhaps we could start over.”
She wrapped her arm across her waist, trying to figure out what game Benevides was playing. He couldn’t possibly think she’d be interested in anything but him leaving her alone. Yet his eyes, his entire expression, shone with…hope?
“I’m afraid our first meeting left an indelible impression, one not easily dismissed. You brought my brother to use as collateral to recoup his gambling debts. Your demand for repayment wiped out my savings. I barely had enough money to cover my rent. It’s kind of hard to look past that.”
She watched warily when his hand reached inside his jacket pocket, and he pulled out a check and handed it to her. When she noted the amount, her mouth dropped open, shock riveting through her. The amount was ten times what she’d given him to obliterate Dante’s debt.
“I can’t take this.”
“Jillian, I assure you, there are no strings attached. I admit I haven’t always been a good man. Since I met you, even under those inauspicious circumstances, I’ve changed. You’ve changed me.”
“Mr. Benevides—”
“Emmanuel, please.”
“I’m sorry, Emmanuel. I applaud you wanting to change, become a better person, but I had nothing to do with your transformation.”
Especially since I don’t believe for a minute you’ve changed your ways. Your heart is still a lump of coal in your chest, and you’re really creeping me out.
“I understand your hesitance to accept my words at face value. I’d like the chance to change your mind, querida.”
“Are you asking me to date you?”
“Yes. I believe we will be perfect together.”
“I told you, I’m already involved with somebody else.”
“I can make you forget this person.”
“I don’t want to forget him. I love him with every beat of my heart. I always have and I always will. My feelings aren’t capricious or foolish. I chose him long ago, and have stayed loyal and true.”
Her front door reverberated under a pounding fist. Benevides’ scowl showed he wasn’t happy with the interruption either. When she started toward the door, he grabbed her forearm, his grip tight enough it hurt.
“Do not answer.”
“Jill!” Lucas’ voice swept over her like a wave of tranquility. He was here, an old-fashioned white knight, riding to the princess’ rescue.
Benevides frowned at the sound of Lucas’ voice. “This man’s voice sounds familiar. Who is he?”
“Lucas Boudreau, the man I love.”
“Boudreau! I am becoming exceedingly tired of all your Boudreaus foiling my attempts to woo you.”
“Jill, if you don’t answer me, I’m breaking down the door.”
“Your friend is going to attract unwanted attraction. Perhaps you should open the door.” He released her arm and she darted across the space, her hands fumbling with the locks, they trembled so badly.
“Lucas!” She flung herself into his arms, feeling them wrap around her like bands of steel. In his embrace she felt welcomed. Cherished.
“Please come in, Mr. Boudreau.”
Jill felt Lucas tense beneath her hands at the sound of Benevides’ voice.
“What are you doing here, Benevides?”
“Why don’t you come inside, and we’ll chat. I must admit, you certainly fooled me. You played your part exceptionally well. I’m not normally so careless when meeting new people. Let’s chalk it up to being distracted, my thoughts on the lovely Ms. Monroe.”
“Leave Jill out of this.”
“How can I? Here I am, trying to court the lovely lady, only to find out she’s besotted with a double-crossing liar. Don’t tell me, you only visited my club because it’s part of a job. Which Boudreau are you again? I know you’re not the sheriff, I’m all too familiar with him. Are you the FBI agent? Maybe the private investigator?”
“Close,” Lucas answered. “Investigative reporter.”
“Looking for an interview? You could have simply asked.”
“I’m sure you’d love seeing your face splashed across the internet, playing the benevolent do-gooder, helping out the helpless and downtrodden masses by providing entertainment.”
Benevides’ smile sent a chill down Jill’s spine. She couldn’t fathom why he toyed with Lucas like a cat who’d spotted a big, juicy mouse, but icy fear struck her square in the chest. He was up to something sinister, but what?
“People come to my clubs to have a good time.”
“And lose every dime they have. I guess that’s secondary to having fun, right?”
“Luke, Luke, Luke. I’m a simple businessman providing a service.”
The sound coming from Lucas didn’t sound remotely human. It was more of a predatory growl. Her eyes widened, and she stared at him. What she saw had her taking a step back, but his arm tightened around her waist, pulling her against his side, anchoring her in place.
“The service you provide, Benevides, is despair, anguish, and heartache. Siphoning away every penny from people until all their options are gone. Right now, though, I don’t care. All I want is for you to leave Jill alone. She doesn’t need somebody like you in her life.”
“Somebody like me? Mr. Boudreau, what she doesn’t need is a person like you, pretending to be someone they’re not. You entered my establishment, pretending to be somebody you weren’t. Lied to make my manager believe your intentions aligned with mine. While all along you intended to set me up for alleged criminal activity—which you cannot prove.”
“Lucas, please,” Jill whispered, “let’s get out of here.”
He looked down into her eyes, and she read the concern in his gaze. “Okay, baby, I’m taking you home.”
Jill let out the breath she’d been holding, because everything would be alright. Until it wasn’t.
“I’m afraid I can’t allow that, Jillian. Mr. Boudreau and I have unfinished business.”
Jill spun around at Benevides’ voice, ready to blast him once and for all, and get him out of her apartment. Only her mouth clamped shut at the sight of the gun. She zeroed in on his hand, steady, unwavering, the muzzle pointed at Lucas, who stood still as a statue at her side.
“Put down the gun and let her leave, Benevides, and you and I can handle our business like men.”
“Seriously, Lucas? I’m not leaving you here with this man holding you at gunpoint. By the way, that was a very sexist remark. Don’t do it again.”
Lucas brought her hand to his lips, placing a brief kiss along her knuckles. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Please stop. This maudlin display turns my stomach. Jillian, step away from Mr. Boudreau.”
“No.” Jill couldn’t have moved anyway; her feet seemed superglued to the floor. She wasn’t about to give Benevides a clear shot at an unarmed man, especially the man she loved. Not happening.
“Jill, do what he asks. It’ll be okay, I promise.”
“I can’t—”
Lucas put a finger to her lips. “Yes, you can. You can do anything. You’re strong and brave. The bravest woman I’ve ever known.”
“Exactly, Mr. Boudreau. Did you know Jillian stood up to me the first time we met? Looked me in the eye, her defiance a distinct change from the reaction I get from most people. She went toe to toe with me, defending her brother.” Benevides glanced at Jill. “He doesn’t deserve you defending him, by the way. Did you know he’s already been back to my place? All those promises he made you, empty and worthless, just like him.”
Jill’s heart broke at his words. She’d believed Dante when he swore he hadn’t been back. The promise he’d been attending Gamblers Anonymous. Had that been a lie, too? When her eyes met Lucas’, the truth was evident. Benevides wasn’t lying.
“Jill is an amazing woman, but she’s not yours. Do you really want to drag her down in the slime with you, Benevides? She deserves better.”
“I can give her the world, Mr. Boudreau. Anything she wants, I merely have to snap my fingers and she’ll have it. Everything I have is hers.”
“Everything paid for with blood money, right? Why don’t you tell Jill where you get all your income? Oh, wait, she already knows. Illegal gains from dishonest gambling, leaving carnage and chaos and wrecked lives in your wake. Jill, has Benevides ever told you how the money he rakes in gets funneled to the cartels in Mexico? What’s your specialty, Benevides? Human sex trafficking? Drug smuggling? Or do you deal in stealing little kids for dirty old men?”
Watching Lucas’ face as he shot accusations at Benevides, Jill knew he was sending her a message, trying to make her understand, his eyes flashing. He gave a subtle jerk to the right, though his disdainful gaze never left Benevides, not for a second.
“Mr. Benevides, is it true?”
Benevides took a step toward her, his hand outstretched, and she retreated, not wanting him any closer.
“Jillian, querida, don’t listen to this idiota. He spews hate-filled nonsense. Yes, I own clubs where gambling occurs. You know this, because of your brother.”
“Where does the money go? Is what Lucas said true?” She couldn’t keep her voice from quavering, because thinking about others in danger because of the man standing in front of her turned her stomach. Nausea rose to the back of her throat, and she struggled to keep from throwing up. Benevides truly was a monster if he did any of those things.
“Go ahead, Benevides, tell her the truth. You’re gonna kill me anyway, might as well get it all out in the open.”
Jill couldn’t believe how Lucas taunted the other man. The man still holding the gun pointed straight at Lucas’ chest. Did he have a death wish?
“I, personally, have no dealings with what happens with the money once it’s out of my hands, my darling. It’s true, I run the American clubs, but I’m not the only boss. The clubs are all co-owned with my brother.”
“Go ahead, tell her who your brother is, Mister Big Man.”
“Lucas, shut up.”
“Mr. Boudreau, you are a hair’s breadth away from disaster. Please stop talking.” Benevides took another step toward her, and this time Jill stood her ground. “My brother is Javier Escondido.”
Jill felt the air whoosh out her lungs. As naïve as she was about a lot of things, even she’d heard of Javier Escondido. Drug kingpin, head of the Escondido drug cartel south of the border, he was a legend among law enforcement for being as slippery as an eel.
“Javier Escondido is your brother?”
“Half-brother, actually. I promise, you’ll have no contact with him.”
“Of course I won’t, since I’m not going to be dealing with you again. I want my life back, without drug cartels, gambling, or stalkers. I want my bakery to open. I want my brother to get professional help.” She didn’t add that she wanted Lucas safely away from the monster standing before her, but she wished it with all her heart.
“Jillian, you don’t mean that. You are meant to belong to me. Not this—”
“Jill, hit the floor!”
Instinct kicked in, and she did exactly what Lucas yelled, landing so hard it knocked the wind out of her. She watched in stunned disbelief when Lucas dove across the space separating him from Benevides, reaching for the gun. Wrapping his hands around Benevides’ wrist, the two men wrestled for control.
Everything seemed like a slow-motion black-and-white old-time movie, as each man battled for control, chest against chest. Struggling to gain the upper hand, Lucas pushed at Benevides, and she watched his foot skid across the hardwood.
At the sound of a gunshot, she pushed herself upright, eyes glued to the two grappling men. The gun tumbled to the floor, both men frozen in place. A grimace of pain flashed across Benevides’ face as he slumped to the floor, his back landing against the leg of the table.
Lucas took a step backward and looked at his blood-soaked hands, shock written on his face, before he turned toward her. Without hesitating, she flung herself into his arms, her hands touching him everywhere.
“Are you hurt? Did he shoot you?”
Lucas shook his head. “I’m fine. Benevides is the one who took a bullet.”
She leaned her head against his shoulder. “I almost lost you. I don’t know what I’d have done if…”
“You’re never going to lose me, sweetheart. Never.” He glanced at Benevides, blood leaking through the hand he’d clamped to his shoulder, his body slumped in defeat. Reaching into his pocket, Lucas pulled out his phone and hit a button.
“Hopefully, the whole thing recorded, and he’s gonna get tossed into jail. Let me call 911, get the police here.”
“It’s over?”
“Yeah, baby, it’s over.”