Page 108 of Rescued Heart

The window between the backseat and the driver wasn’t rolled down. Nathan sat in the seat facing her.

She reached for the door handle, but Nathan moved to the seat in front of the door, blocking her exit.

He rested his ankle on the top of his knee. “Always drama with you.”

“Standing up against illegal activity isn’t drama.” Bianca swallowed. “What are you doing here, Nathan?”

He smirked. “Didn’t Carter tell you that I’d be at dinner too?”

The limo jerked forward, but Bianca didn’t take her gaze off Nathan.

She scooted over. “Carter seems to have had a lot on his mind—or should I say, his ribs have been on his mind because one was broken. Do you know anything about that?”

Why couldn’t she have a police wire on her now?

She positioned her heels so the spike faced outward.

Nathan tracked her movements. “Easy, Lady B. You’ve always been the levelheaded one between us. Let’s not go on ignoring some of your good qualities.” His eyes then wandered to her legs. “Though you do have so many. I’ve missed those.”

Bianca pulled her dress down with her other hand. “You have two seconds to tell me why you’re actually here, or I’m telling Justin to pull over.”

Nathan chuckled. “So feisty. Tell me again why you settled on fake dating that firefighter.”

“I was a fool.” She should have dated him for real, but she’d lost her chance.

Nathan hummed. “Then there’s still hope for us yet.”

“Justin!” Bianca leaned forward and knocked on the glass behind Nathan. “Pull over. I think I’m going to be sick.”

Nathan yanked her beside him. “It’s past time for you to shut that pretty mouth of yours. No need for theatrics—though you are a gifted actress, which will prove useful. I just have a favor. One you should have given the night my lawyer asked you to testify for me. Not against.”

Bianca scooted away. “You mean the lawyer who took a bribe to get your charges dropped? I saw that too. No, thank you.”

Nathan shook his head. “Is it really a good idea not to help out the man who backed your movie when it would have shut down without his help?”

Bianca blinked once. Twice. “You’re the newest producer? How? Why?”

Nathan pulled a golden case with a logo of a crown on it from his suit jacket and tugged out a cigar. “Money always talks, sweetheart. We’ve come full circle again. I need a small favor in exchange for the production money. It’s only fair since I landed you this job in the first place.” He lit the end of his cigar, and the puffs of smoke made Bianca wrinkle her nose.

He drew a long inhale from the cigar and blew an oval-shaped smoke ring up toward the light in the center of the limo. “You’re going to be my alibi.”

“I didn’t lie for you before. Why would you think I’d do it now?”

“Because you need me this time.” He shrugged and put out his cigar on an ashtray she hadn’t even known existed in the corner. “Or at least my money.”

She may not be wearing the police wire, but she could at least record their conversation. She slid the phone out of her purse. Kept it pressed against her leg. She unlocked the screen. Only needed to pull up the video button.

Except Nathan grabbed her phone.

She reached for it. “Give it back.”

Something flashed in his eyes. Something she’d never seen before. Hate. Fear. Or both.

Had she ever really known this man?

He pointed the phone at her. “You will do this. Without me, this movie gets shuts down. Carter won’t be happy. Once again, your name will be smeared in the press. You’re still trying to buy back your mommy and daddy’s love and?—”

“Stop. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

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