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intimidate her. It wasn’t happening. “Fine.” He’d have to wait on the address.
    “Good.”
    Several beats passed where neither of them said a word. She glared challengingly back at him, refusing to be bulldozed or bullied. She read Lucian’s intentions in his eyes just as he likely read hers. She stood.
    “I should be going.”
    All the intensity left Lucian’s face. He shot to his feet. “Can I offer you a ride?”
    She laughed. “Do I look stupid?” His expression was wounded. She sighed. “Lucian, I have no doubt the second I walk through that door you’ll be on the phone with Dugan or some other underling, insisting they follow me. Can we skip the stalking for a change? I’ve been through hell and back over the past month. I think I’m entitled to my privacy.”
    “You know I can’t do that.”
    “Why not?”
    “Because I worry.”
    She shook her head. “How would you feel if someone followed you everywhere?”
    “People follow me every day. I’m in the tabloids. I’m on the news. There aren’t many places I can hide, Evelyn. You know that.”
    “And I know you hate it, so how could you intrude on my privacy in the same manner?”
    “Because it’s
not
the same. You’re on your own and I’m only trying to keep an eye out.” He suddenly frowned. “Why are you dressed like that?”
    She glanced down at her Clemons uniform. Her hand quickly snapped off her name tag, and his eyes narrowed.
    “You got a job,” he guessed.
    “I told you I plan to pay you back. I need money to do that.”
    “Where are you working? I would’ve given you your old job back.”
    “I don’t want any ties, beyond this loan, to you or your companies.”
    His head slowly drew back, and she saw how her words wounded him. “Did what we have mean so little to you?” he asked in a quiet voice.
    “Perhaps you should ask yourself that question.” She picked up her bag and folded the check, slipping it safely inside the zippered pocket. “I have to go. Please don’t have anyone follow me.”
    She turned and he called her name. “Evelyn.”
    Her resolve was waning and she had to get out of there. It was so hard seeing him and not touching him. Her heart wanted to run to him, feel his arms around her as she cried about the injustice done to her, but he was the culprit behind all of her heartache.
    All she needed to do was think of how he’d betrayed her, and the pain was enough to drop her to her knees, cutting off all urge to step closer.
    “Will you continue to pay for Pearl to stay at the rehab?”
    His eyes narrowed. “The fact that you can even ask that shows how little you think of me.”
    What did he expect? He’d completely shocked her when he’d let her go and broken his promise to always protect her. She shrugged.
    “Yes, I will continue to pay for your mother.”
    “Thank you.”
    He shook his head. “I’m glad to do it.”
    She remained facing the door, not wanting to look at him anymore. He stepped close but didn’t touch her. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry.”
    “So am I.” Quickly opening the door, she fled. Her finger pounded into the elevator button as if she were tapping out Morse code.
    SOS. SOS. SOS!
    Not until the doors of the elevator closed behind her did she turn and exhale. She did it.

Chapter 2
    Blockade
    Using a pawn to obtain shelter from an attack
    Scout pressed through the revolving door and rushed into the busiest part of the sidewalk, hoping to get lost in the crowd, thus losing anyone who might be following her. The sooner she was safe, the sooner she could move on with her plans. She needed a bank.
    So long as she stayed in public she wasn’t in any danger. Not that she expected one of Lucian’s minions to abduct her, but she really wasn’t sure what he was capable of at the moment.
    Hustling with serpentine movements from crowd to crowd, Scout made her way toward Edison Street, where there was a financial institution. Going directly there would offer shelter.