Excerpt

I followed Hannigan out of the ballroom, the closing of the door behind me shutting out the music and indistinct chatter. Only a handful of people milled about in the hallway, making it easy to spot him. I hung back, pretending to be interested in my phone. He walked through the glass doors out onto a patio and made a left turn that took him out of my line of sight.

I smiled. On a night like tonight—frigid and February in Detroit—the chances of there being anyone else outside were slim. I couldn’t have planned it better myself.

Outside, a shiver coursed through me, as much from anticipation as the chill in the air. Sconces revealed wrought iron tables and chairs and a barren garden on the patio. The sounds of men’s voices and the cloying scent of cigar smoke wafted from around the corner, followed by the same boisterous laugh that had drawn my attention earlier. I crept in that direction, careful that my footfalls didn’t alert them to my presence.

I peeked around the corner of the building. One of the sconces shone on Hannigan, who puffed on a cigar. The other man had his back to me. I swallowed the lump in my throat. I would’ve preferred for Hannigan to be alone, but no matter. I had to do it. Nothing could stand in the way of me taking Hannigan out. Not even the reality that I would go away for a long time—much longer than my ten-year bid. Because this time, they could say it was premeditated—and it was.

At least I’d be going back for something I actually did.

Before I lost my nerve, I walked around the corner, my hand behind my back resting on the butt of the gun.

“This sure as hell beats dinner. The food isn’t even that good.” Hannigan clapped the other man on a broad shoulder with his free hand. “See, this is why you’d be good for city council. You have all the bright ideas.”

The other man responded with a deep chuckle that caused a twinge in my gut. “I appreciate you for saying that. I hope that means I have your endorsement.”

My steps halted. That laughter. That voice. I knew this man.

I hadn’t meant to gasp out loud, but it just came out. Two pairs of eyes focused on me, the man who’d had his back to me before facing me now. Darkness shrouded his expression, but I didn’t have to see his face to know he wasn’t happy.

Miles said something to Hannigan that I couldn’t hear before tossing his cigar in a nearby ashtray and walking toward me.

I stood there like my feet were made of cement blocks, at a loss of what to do next. My hand tightened on the butt of the gun. Did I take the shot anyway? Miles seemed to be purposefully using himself as a human shield, blocking Hannigan from my view. When Miles stopped in front of me, I could see his disapproving glare up close. I couldn’t deny how good he looked in the black tuxedo that was tailored for his tall frame, nor how good the subtle, leather-and-spice cologne smelled on him.

The sound of his voice snapped me out of his spell. “Thank you for relaying the message,” he said loud enough for Hannigan to hear from a few yards away. “Please lead the way.”

I didn’t move, sizing him up with the eye of a fighter. I was well aware that we weren’t little kids anymore. Back then, I used to kick his scrawny ass in sparring matches at his uncle’s Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gym. Now, he had the advantage of being a head taller and about fifty pounds heavier than me—all hard muscle—but his physique wasn’t the deterrent it probably was for most people. All I had to do was take him to the ground. But the fact that he was a damn cop made me hesitate.

Did I really want to go to jail before I had the chance to kill my mother’s murderer?

“Don’t. Even. Try it.” He spoke in a low, husky tone near my ear, his warm breath on the side of my face sending an involuntary shiver through me that had nothing to do with the weather.

It could never be said that Miles Colter didn’t know me.

He wrapped a strong hand around my elbow and pulled me back the way I’d come at a faster pace than my legs could keep up with. I peeked over my shoulder, noting the growing distance between Hannigan and me with a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.

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