“Fuck, it is cold,” Harlow said, trying notto shiver.

“I heard we’re getting snow overnight,”Hailey said.

Harlow had noticed that Hailey seemed tobe more matter-of-factabout everything. There was no real warmth to her. She simplystated and didn’t laugh or giggle. There was no fight inside her.Harlow didn’t like it and had no idea how to bring the sparkleback.

They stepped into the back of the shop,and Harlow was pleased she had started to set the heat so theywalked into a nice warm buildingand wasn’t freezing her tits off.

Hailey didn’t say anything as she walked herway back into the shop and then turned on the lights. It was stilldark, even though it was morning. These were the days Harlow hated.The days were so short and the darkness swept everything up in itsmoody glow. It was a pain in the ass.

She put the coffeepot on to startpercolating.

Hailey stared at the shop. Her back was tothe window and Harlow looked at her. The other woman nibbled herbottom lip. She wasbarely holding it together, and all she wanted to do was promiseher it was going to be okay. The only problem was, she didn’t knowif it was going to be okay.

Harlow opened her mouth, about to saysomething, anything that might help the pain, but there were nowords good enough as far as she was concerned. There was nothingshe could say or do that would make any of this okay.

Only, she didn’t get a single word out.

The sound of a roaring bike engine wasdrowned out by the sudden onslaught of bullets.

Hailey screamed and Harlow yelled for her to get down.

The bullets kept reigning down on them.Harlow didn’t get chance to see, but she didn’t like that Haileyhad stopped screaming.

Pulling out her cell phone, she wasn’tsurprised by her hand shaking.She dialed the only person she thought couldhelp.

“Help!” She yelled the word and thendropped her cell phone. The bullets had stopped, and as they didHarlow crawled across the broken glass. It didn’t matter that itcut her knees or shredded her hands. All she caredabout was getting toHailey. Her friend was on the floor.

Tears filled Harlow’s eyes as she saw thatHailey had been hit multiple times. “No, no, no, no, no. It’s goingto be okay. I swear it’sgoing to be okay. I promise you.” She ignored the tears and heldonto Hailey’s face. “Look at me.”

“I’m getting cold,” Hailey said.

With the windows completely shot, thefreezing-coldtemperatures were seeping into the shop. At least, Harlow hopedthat was what it was.

“That’s fine. It’s cold out. You’re going to be fine. I promise.Help is coming.” She’d put the call straight to Hunter and now allshe needed to do was wait. Wait and hope he would answer thecall.

“I’ve got you. I’ve got you.” Harlow wasclose to tears. She hated this.

Blood oozed from Hailey’s shoulder, andwhat appeared to beherhip. They were the sights she could see.

“It’s going to be okay,” she said, trying tomake promises she didn’t know she could keep anymore.

She spotted Hailey’s cell phone a fewinches away and reached for it, dialing foran ambulance. As she began that call, fearran down Harlow’s spine as someone entered the shop. Flicking herhead up, she saw it was none other than Cadeon himself. Harlow gotto her feet.

“We meet again,” he said.

Her hands clenched into fists. “So we do. Towhat do I owe this pleasure?” she asked.

“Well, you see, Harlow, I was going toleave you alone. I was having alittle fun with you that day in the bar. I thought it wouldbe quite hilarious if you turned your attentions to me, and well,we started to fuck.”

“I’d never do that.”

“Ah, but you see, you’d fuck the oldguy.”

Harlow glared at him. Her friend was dyingbefore her eyes, and he wanted to talk aboutsex.

“It would have been so funny to see thosefuckers’ faces when youbrought me around for dinner.”

“But I ruined your plans, didn’t I?” sheasked. This was probably not the wisest of moves, to point out tothe mad biker that she’d spoiled whatever plot he had been hoping to achieve. “Because Ispotted you a mile away. Trust me, I know what scum lookslike.”