Page 78 of Boss Daddy

Mark shrugs, flashing an easy grin. “Forgot my wallet,” he says, patting his pocket for emphasis. “Heard something on my way back and figured I’d check in. Didn’t mean to scare you.”

I study him for a moment, my gaze narrowing. He looks relaxed and casual.Toocasual. His eyes flick to Erin, who says nothing. I can feel her body tense up.

“All good,” I say. “Just being careful. There’s cash back here and robberies aren’t exactly a rare occurrence in the city.”

Erin exhales beside me, her tension easing slightly. “You scared the hell out of us,” she says.

Mark raises his hands in mock surrender, his grin widening. “Didn’t mean to. Next time, I’ll knock louder.” He takes a step back toward the door. “Anyway, I’ll grab my wallet and head out. See you tomorrow?”

“Yeah, sure” I reply. “See you tomorrow.”

One more quick wave and he’s gone. I stick my head out into the hallway and watch him walk toward the front of the house. Satisfied, I shut the door again and let out a sigh.

A few minutes later I hear the back door open and close. Quiet fills the space but not my mind. I set the gun on the desk, my hand brushing Erin’s arm as I glance at her.

“We’re okay,” I say softly. “But I’m going to have a conversation with Mark tomorrow about coming in the back door and sneaking around like that.”

Then, something occurs to me: James. Where the hell is he?

“I’m going to look for James,” I say. “Stay here.”

“Okay.”

Gun in hand, I make my way through the dim halls toward the front of the club. No sign of James anywhere. It’s unlike him to just vanish like that.

I hear a noise behind me. I pause, gripping my Glock with both hands as I turn, gun raised.

“Hey! Easy!” It’s Erin, her hands raised.

I sigh, lowering the gun. “Didn’t I tell you to stay in the office? It’s safer in there.”

“Come on, you should know better than to think I’d let you wander around out here alone.”

“And what were you planning on doing to help? Run behind the bar and whip bottles of Jack at any intruders?”

She shrugs. “I’m quick on my feet. And I’m not going to sit around and wait.”

No sense in arguing with her, that much I’ve learned.

“Come on. Stay close. I want to check out the front of the house and see where the hell James got off to.”

Together we walk toward the bar. The main floor of the club is on the other side. At first, all seems quiet. Too quiet.

Mark stands near the entrance but something about him is off. Gone is the easy, affable grin he usually wears. His face is hard, his eyes cold, and the shift sends a jolt of unease through me.

“Mark? I thought you left.”

He shrugs. “Something else I forgot. Man, I need a little list or something to check off before I head out of here.”

Erin steps close to me, sensing something’s wrong.

“Where’s James?” I ask.

Mark shrugs again, his expression unreadable. “Don’t know,” he says simply.

Just then, two large men emerge from the shadows behind him, their presence sucking the air out of the room. Both are built like linebackers, their sharp eyes scanning as though sizing up the space—and us. The larger of the two, bald with a jagged scar running along his jawline, steps forward.

My hand tightens on the Glock as I lift it, aiming directly at the larger man. “Get the hell out of my club.”

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