Easy, babe.
Isaac Rush.
As the whiskey-scented breath of one of Kansas Citys most wily and successful drug dealers washed over her, Jillian swallowed a curse and backed away. His handsome, biracial face didnt make him charming. His tailored suit didnt make him sophisticated. The tight fingers that clamped around her elbow did make him dangerous, however.
She yanked her sleeve from his grip. Dont call me that.
Now the big Cadillac with the armed chauffeur made sense. Jillian glanced over her shoulder and exchanged a silent nod with the big man. Lynch wasnt what she would call a friend, certainly not someone she would ever want to hang out with or run into in a dark alley, given that his job for Isaac involved guns and fists and breaking clients fingers. But, for whatever reason, the imposing, unsmiling brute had rescued her one night, a lifetime agofrom the very man who was sliding his fingers over Jillians and the door handle right now.
But Lynch wasnt helping her tonight.
Need something I can hook you up with, sugar?
As if sugar was any better than babe, coming from this lowlife. Jillian snatched her hand away from the smarmy touch and stood tall. Shed be taller than Isaac if shed been wearing heels instead of running shoes, but she doubted even that would intimidate him. Theres a reason you havent seen me for ten years. I dont do that anymore. You have nothing I want. I was just giving a friend a ride home. Now if youll excuse me.
Still, with money and Lynch and control of these streets to back him up, Isaac didnt give up easily. He leaned against the door, putting his body between her and getting in. Somebody making trouble for you around here? Maybe I can help.
Youre the only trouble I see.
Tough talk, Jilly. You know, I always liked you. And now that youre a full-grown woman, we can do something about it. Liar! Being seventeen hadnt stopped him from trying to do something about his attraction to her all those years ago. Maybe she should be grateful that his attempted rape had finally driven her to that lowest point where she could agree to entering rehab at the Boatman Clinic. But Isaac was still trying to make his role as her onetime supplier sound like something romantic had passed between them. He brushed his fingertips across the back of her knuckles. I miss seeing you. We used to be the best of friends
With a silent scream pinging inside her ears, she grabbed his hand, twisted his wrist and pinched his nerve in a move her former cop brother, Eli, had taught her. Isaac yelped as his grip popped open and his knees buckled at the awkward position shed put him in. Mr. Lynchs car door swung open, but Isaac put up his free hand to tell him to stay put.
We were never friends. Jillian seethed between clenched teeth as she released her defensive grip and shoved him away. She pulled the SUV door open and climbed in.
I like this new you. Youve got spirit. Its hot.
With a groan at the unappreciated compliment, Jillian slammed the door shut. And locked it.
He was laughing as she started the engine. You know where to find me if you change your mind. About anything.
Not bloody likely.
She leaned on the horn to get Lynch to move. The big black man might have saved her from some serious hurt once, had maybe even saved her lifeand for that intervention she would always be gratefulbut he seemed in no mood to go against his boss tonight. The time it took him to pull a cigar from his trench coat pocket and light it was the time Jillian needed to realize just how helpless she was at this moment. And just how annoyingly right Michael Cutler had been about the dangers of trespassing through No-Mans Land after dark.
Her breath caught in her throat and stuttered out on a mix of fear and adrenaline.
Locked doors couldnt keep Isaac and Lynch out if they wanted in. A bullet could pierce her windshield. They could march Troy and Dexter out here right now and threaten them, and shed do whatever Isaac said to keep the boys safe. When shed been high on coke or desperate for a fix, Jillian hadnt fully understood just how inescapably at the mercy of these two men shed been.
She understood the threat now as clearly as the gun peeking from the holster inside Lynchs coat. Get out of here! She honked again. Now!
Isaac rapped on her window and grinned as she startled halfway out of her seat. You come see me again sometime soon, babe. Ill have something real good for you, I promise. The first line will be on the house.
Then he raised his hand and signaled Lynch to move his car. The instant the Cadillac had pulled back enough for Jillian to squeeze her SUV out, she stomped on the accelerator, peeling away in a blind rush to freedom and safety, leaving Rush and Lynch and the tarnished memories from a past she couldnt quite escape behind her.
Her heart wasnt pounding so hard against her ribs that she couldnt feel the still watchful eyes glued to her every movement as she sped away.