Page 30 of Cruel Ice

“I believe my employer wanted to have a word with you,” James declared. “That’s hard to do when you’re running away.”

Keith tried tocrawlaway.

He didn’t get far.

Shadows surged from the surrounding darkness even as Declan grabbed the back of Keith’s shirt and hauled him to his feet. When the shadows moved toward Declan, Marley rushed forward to put her body between him and whatever threat this was going to be.

“Stand down, PI.” A deep, rumbly voice from the dark. “We’re part of his security.”

Her eyes narrowed. A big shadow had spoken. She had the feeling that the guy was deliberately keeping himself hidden. Another big shadow waited to the left. The shadow to the left sidled forward—staying out of the flickering light—and shut the bar’s back door. The better for them to not be disturbed.

“Oh, God.” A whimper from Keith. “You’re going to kill me, aren’t you?”

Declan shoved the bartender against the side of the building. “That really depends on you, Keith.”

Wait,what?She cast one more worried glance toward the shadows. Declan didn’t seem concerned about them, so she figured one shadow must be the SEAL and the other had to be the Ranger who’d tailed them in the SUV. James just stood there, looking completely out of place. As for Declan…

She crept closer and tapped his shoulder. “We’re not here to kill anyone, right?”

Declan grunted.

“His PI is confused,” the rumbly voice said. “Maybe she should wait in the limo with James.”

“I do hate violence,” James declared as he picked a piece of lint or string or something from his suit. “My monitoring job is done. I kept eyes on the bartender—even when he was taken in by the angry detective for questioning. Now, he’s all yours.”

Marley watched as James turned and headed around the building. He didn’t look back.

“Hey, PI,” the rumbly shadow said.

“The name is Marley,” she snapped back. “And we arenothere to kill anyone.” There. Much better. A declaration, not a question. She ignored the shadows and focused on?—

“Please, lady, help me!”Keith cried. “I haven’t done anything! Oh, God, oh, God! You’re going to cut off my fingers or something, aren’t you? Going to slice me open? Going to put me in damn cement shoes and sink me in the river?”

“Why would you think all of this?” Marley demanded. Declan had one hand on the bartender’s chest. The other was loose at his side.

“Because he’s the mob!” A high cry.

“You really shouldn’t have fucked with him,” a shadow noted. “Bad mistake.”

“I didn’t!” Keith shook his head. “I didn’t do anything, I swear!”

Declan did not free the man. “You put something in my drink.”

“No, no! I didn’t! I gave you exactly what you wanted. I opened the bottle of scotch.A brand-new bottle!And I poured you a glass. You saw me open it. You were right there! Hell, you even insisted on the new bottle. You picked it out.”

Marley tensed. Her gaze cut to Declan’s profile. The light flickered. On. Off. On. She stood to the side, so she only saw the right side of his face. The side with the scar that slashed across his skin.

The light flashed on. Went off. Darkness. So much darkness. Then…on.

The cut of the scar made Declan look both dangerous and almost…evil.

He’s not. He’s not evil.

Her hand pressed harder to his shoulder. “Declan, let the man go.”

Declan’s head swung toward her. He looked at her like she was crazy. She wasn’t. She was being the rational one.

“He’s surrounded,” she told Declan. “Not like he can escape, not with your two security shadows waiting to pounce. And the man is clearly terrified.” What had Declan called him? Keith? Yes, Keith. Parker had also said the bartender’s name when she’d been eavesdropping back at the hotel suite.Keith.

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