"You made me talk about my issues,"she reminded him, challenging him.
"I know." Now he felt bad.But not bad enough to spill his guts and tell Marli what a screw-up he was. Inhis work and his personal life. And how he'd cost her best friend her life."If I was going to talk to anyone, I'd talk to you," he said softly,repeating her words to him.
A reluctant smile played about hermouth.
"I guess I'll take that."She shook her head at him. "For now. At least tell me...both your parentsare still living?"
"Yes."
"And you have a sister."
"Yes."
"That's it?"
He paused. "And...and abrother."
"You're the oldest, aren'tyou?"
He looked at her warily. "How'dyou know that?"
"'Cause you're so bossy,"she said sweetly.
"You're the oldest, too,"he pointed out.
She grinned. "I know." Sheswirled the ice in her glass. "So what do they all do?"
"My dad's a cop. Surprise,surprise. Mom stayed at home. She worked part-time from home doing the booksfor some small businesses. My sister is now a lawyer."
"And...your brother?"
Is an asshole, he thought. Pain shotthrough him, but it wasn't like it used to be. That unbearable, agonizingfeeling of betrayal was, amazingly, fading. "He's a computer hardwareexpert. He has his own business and goes around defragging people's hard drivesor something."
She nodded thoughtfully."Why're you mad at him?"
He shot her a sharp look. "Whatmakes you think I'm mad at him?"
"Intuition. Gut instinct. Thelook on your face when you talk about him."
"How about those Padres?"he asked and was relieved when she laughed.
By one o'clock, Marli was yawningbehind her hand and Trey was frustrated. "I guess we pack it in fortonight," he growled into her ear. "Here's the part I really don'tlike. We have to leave separately."
He saw her tighten her lips."That's okay." Determination hardened her voice. She tossed somebills on the bar to pay for her meager bar bill, enough to include a generoustip for the poor bartender who'd brought her two Diet Cokes.
"Go to your car," he instructedher. "Drive home. I'll be right behind you." He looked around thebar. "I'll go first," he muttered. "Stay here for fiveminutes."
Shit, shit, shit. Again, hehated leaving her there. But there'd been no sign of Barnes, so he'd be betteroff outside, waiting in his vehicle to watch her leave.
His SUV, unfortunately, was parkedfour vehicles in front of hers, so he had to watch for her out the back window.He tried to stay low in case anyone else was watching. He looked around. Damn.This street hadn't been so dark and deserted earlier in the evening.
He waited impatiently for Marli,heart thumping slow and strong in his chest. Then he saw her. She was walkingquickly to her car along the deserted sidewalk.
Son of a bitch. His heartjumped into his throat and he almost choked.
Chapter11
A shadow had emerged from the alleybehind the bar, sticking close to the buildings. Trey threw open the door andtried to jump out, twisting awkwardly because he'd been facing backward.
"Marli!" he shouted,reaching for the gun at his back. The shadowy figure stopped, turned towardhim, hands raised and outstretched. The bastard had a gun, too.
Trey dove over the hood of hisvehicle as a bullet popped, then ripped into the fender. He rose up and tookaim, pausing only to ensure Marli was away from his line of sight. He heardMarli scream his name.
"Marli, get down!" heshouted, and squeezed the trigger. It was dark and it was a long shot and...
The guy turned and ran. "Notthis time, you sonofabitch," he muttered as he scrambled around the hoodof the SUV and ran towards Marli. She leaned on her car, hand on her chest,eyes huge and frightened.
"You okay?" he demanded,skidding to a stop. Adrenaline rushed through his veins.
"I'm okay. Are you okay? Trey,my God..."
"I'm okay...I'm going afterhim."
"No..."
He was gone, running before she evengot the word out. He spared a moment's thought for the fact he was leaving heralone again. The two gunshots didn't even attract any attention from people inthe area, which was pretty scary. You'd think people would come running.
Thoughts ran through his mind as heraced along the sidewalk, around the corner and stopped. Gone. Disappeared intothin air. Unless he'd gone back into the bar. Fuck, no.
Barnes had a gun. Now he was reallydangerous--and in a crowded bar.
Trey debated, his mind a whirlingjumble of thoughts. Then he grabbed his cell phone and called 911.
He turned and jogged back to Marli,shivering in her car with the doors locked.
"Attagirl," he murmuredwhen she opened the door for him. She leaped out and into his arms.
"Trey, God, Trey, he shot atyou." She ran her hands over his body urgently. "Oh, my God."
"I'm okay," he murmured,pulling her close. He juggled gun and cell phone. "We need to get out ofhere."
"Yes. Yes."
"My vehicle." He led herup the street. He drove quickly to his hotel, constantly checking to make surethey weren't being followed.
"This is insane," shesaid, teeth chattering again as they went up in the elevator.
"Cops will likely be heresoon." He let her into the room. Once the door closed behind them, he tookher in his arms again and held her tightly. "Jesus, Marli, I thought I washaving a heart attack. Did you know he was behind you?"
"No." She shook her headquickly. "I heard you yell and the next thing I know he's shooting. God,Trey, I was afraid he killed you."
"He dinged my new car, goddamnit."
She stared at him, then grabbed hisface in both hands and kissed him, desperately, urgently. He kissed her back,just as frantically, hands going up and down her back as if to assure himselfshe was there, unharmed.
That was it. That was the last time.He wasn't an idiot. They'd really be looking for him now. Fuck. He knewthey could never catch him, he was way above that, but he also
