“He likes you,” Micah says nonchalantly. “He told me as much. He said he’d pay good money for a turn with you. A lot of men would. If you like, I can still set you up to take care of some of my more respectful business associates. Like I said, I’ll make sure none of them hurt you. I can even advise them to . . . to put some effort into it, give you a little fun. Normally my cut is seventy percent, but your mum was good to my niece, so for you I’d bring that all the way down to ten. So you see, there would be very good money in it for you and it’s a lot less complicated than playing cat-and-mouse games with the Gables.”

Carefully, I pull Micah’s hand away from my face and turn to look at Javier as he begins to caress me. “¡Quita tus manos de mi!” I hiss.

Javier looks up at Micah, who gives a slight nod. With some reluctance Javier removes his hand.

“Have it your way, Sweet,” Micah says with a sigh. “It was just a suggestion. But I really do want to help you.” He reaches forward and takes the duffel bag off the seat and puts it in his lap. When he opens it he reveals bundles of money.

“There’s fifteen thousand dollars in here,” Micah says, holding up a handful of hundreds. “It’s all for you. I should think it’s enough to cover the rent for the shithole you live in for quite some time.”

“Why are you paying me, Micah?” I say coolly.

“Because,” Micah says with a light laugh, “I’m very good to my friends. Of course, when someone makes the mistake of becoming my enemy, well, then I’m not so nice. But you don’t have to worry about that because you’re never going to make that mistake, are you, Sweet?”

I swallow hard and stare down at the floor.

“I believe I asked you a question.”

“I won’t make that mistake,” I say quietly.

He smiles and again relaxes back in his seat. “It’s like I said, you’re beautiful and smart. Such a wonderful combination.”

He gets my purse and puts it on top of the duffel bag, then pulls my phone from his jacket again. “I’m just going to put your cell in your handbag . . .” he begins, but when he opens my purse he sees my gun. He pulls it out carefully and studies it. Beside me Javier grins.