Marie-Terese’s first thought was that Vin didn’t wear sneakers—or at least he’d had on flat-soled loafers both nights.

Odd, wasn’t it: Her main concern was whether or not Vin was involved, not that Mark was sending people after her from jail. The thing was, though, she’d run from her ex once before—and she could do it again. But the idea that she was falling for another violent man wasn’t the kind of thing she could get away from so easily.

“Trez, do you have any idea when the…” She glanced over at Robbie, who was drawing shapes on his window with his fingertip. “Do you know when it happened? Last night?”

“After you left.”

So it couldn’t have been Vin….

“Your man’s in trouble, by the way.”

“Excuse me?”

“Vin diPietro. His face is all over the news. Guess his girlfriend ended up in the hospital, and she’s saying he was the one who put her there.”

As the second round of drama hit, Marie-Terese took her foot off the gas and deliberately looked up as she came to an intersection. Green. Green means go, she told herself. Go means gas. She carefully eased her foot down and the Camry responded with all of the gusto of a ventilator patient.

“By any chance,” Trez murmured, “were the two of you together late last night around ten?”

“Yes.”

“Then take a deep breath. Because according to the news, that’s when she said it all went down.”

Marie-Terese exhaled—but only briefly. “Oh, my God…what’s he going to do?”

“He’s out on bail already.”

“I can help him.” Although as soon as the words left her mouth, she wondered whether that was true. The last thing she needed was her face on the news: There was no way of knowing whether she’d been “safe” from Mark thus far because he was leaving her alone…or because people he’d sent after her just hadn’t found her yet.

“Yeah, maybe you should try to stay out of it, though,” Trez said. “He’s got cash and connections, and lies are always revealed in the end. In any event, can I tell the police you’ll talk to them now?”

“Yes—but have them wait with you.” The last thing she wanted was the cops in front of Robbie again, so the club was the place for her to meet them. “I’ll call the babysitter right away.”

“One last thing.”

“Yes?”

“Even though you’re out of the business now, a past like ours has a long reach, feel me? Please be careful of everyone around you, and when in doubt, call me. I don’t want to alarm you, but I don’t like these attacks happening to people who’ve been tied to you.”

Neither did she. “I will.”

“And if you need to leave Caldwell, I can help.”

“Thanks, Trez.” She hung up and looked at her son. “I’m going to have to go out for a little bit this afternoon.”

“Okay. Can Quinesha come?”