Lance sighed. “Yeah, but I let you fellas go, and honest as you’re being right now, a bit of time passes and you get to thinking, and you change your minds. And then you come back and we have to go through this all over again.”

“We won’t come back,” the ex said.

“Better safe than sorry,” Lance said.

There was a long silence when no one said anything. Snow had covered the car. They couldn’t see out the windshield. Apart from the broken window they were completely cocooned. The night was deathly silent.

The friend whimpered. The ex was more stoic. That was probably why Sam chose him. Less of a pussy.

Lance had made up his mind. He knew men like this. If he wanted to look out for Sam, they had to die. It was harsh, but no one ever said life was easy.

“That’s enough chit chat,” he said. “Come on. Let’s go.”

“No,” the friend begged.

“Come on, buddy. Take it like a man,” Lance said.

“I can’t die,” he blabbered.

And then Sam’s voice. “Lance.”

He looked up.

She was looking in through the broken window. Lance had two guns in his hands and the two men were covered in blood.

“What is this?” she said.

“They found us,” Lance said. “They know where I live. Now I have no choice. I’ve got to kill them.”

“Kill them?”

“This isn’t a game,” Lance said.

“You don’t have to kill them,” she said.

“As long as they’re out there, you’re not safe.”

“I called them,” Sam said, starting to cry. “It’s my fault they’re here.”

“You let us go, you’ll never hear from us again,” the ex said.

Lance let out a long sigh. “I don’t know,” he said.

“You have my word,” the ex said.

“Your word?”

“Yes, sir.”

“And I can count on that?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I can take that to the bank?”

“Yes, sir.”

Lance sounded skeptical.

“And your word?” he said to the friend.

“For the love of god, yes,” the friend said.

He looked out the window at Sam.

The bartender and Laurel were there too. They were all staring at him like he was the psychopath.

“And you’re going to stop calling them?” he said to Sam.

“Yes,” she said, tears falling over her face.

“I’m sorry,” Lance said. “But I don’t buy it.”

“What?” Sam said.

“They’ve got to die. If they live, they’re going to come for you again.”

“No,” she cried.

“Come on, fellas. Let’s go.”

“No,” Sam cried again. “Lance. You can’t do this.”

Lance looked at her for a long time. Then he said, “I’m going to regret this.”

“You’ve got to let them go,” the bartender said.

All three women were looking at him, their eyes wide, like they couldn’t believe what they were seeing.