“I’m Maddie now . . .” There were so many buts that went after that. She wasn’t sure where to start. “You’re honest and decent and . . . I get it if what I told you is too much.”

“Would it surprise you that many of the people I deal with in my job every day think I’m a ruthless dick?”

“I can imagine you being successful, but that description doesn’t really fit you.”

“Don’t let vacation Connor fool you. I fight pretty hard for what I want.”

It was the way he said it. His voice dipped deep and heat flashed in his eyes.

The last of her panic subsided. “What do you want?”

“You. From the first day I talked to you.”

She smiled because he made the distinction between meeting her and talking to her. That was her fault but the guilt over the hitting had also eased. That’s what Connor did. He made things better.

“My underwear is wet.” She had to fight off a laugh as she said the words.

“We should do something about that.” He jumped to his feet and held a hand down to help her up.

That lightness she sought, the sensation that was supposed to hit when a person told the truth they’d been hiding, still eluded her. But the burden wasn’t as heavy now.

“You’re smiling.” He helped her into her raincoat. “It’s good to see.”

He put it there. She knew it and she sensed a part of him knew it. “I’m tired of running.”

“We’ll move into your place.” He reached for her arm. “And we’ll—”

“Touch her and you die.”

She heard the voice and looked up. That’s when she saw the gun pointed at Connor’s head.

Chapter 20

Connor froze. The pressure of the barrel against his skull held him in place. He thought about all those boxing sessions and ways he could trip up the man next to him, but every option led to a bullet to the brain.

The other option was to call out for Ben. Yell, then take Maddie to the ground, hoping Ben would get out there in time to stop whatever came next, but that put Maddie in danger.

Both choices sucked.

He tried to send Maddie the silent message to duck and run, but she wasn’t looking at him. Her focus centered on the man over his shoulder and there wasn’t an ounce of fear in her frown.

“Evan?” She sounded as confused as she looked.

“Police.” Ben shifted into view from around the side of the building. He had his gun and walked alone, careful and determined, while Sylvia pushed bystanders back into the parking lot and out of the way. “Put the weapon down.”

Tension still snapped through Connor. Too many people hovered and all of them had guns. That was too many guns for his comfort.