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She shook her head. “I’m just being paranoid. I swear someone followed me on the Metro earlier.”

Darci narrowed her eyes. “Followed you how?”

Elise shook her head. “Just some guy watching me while I rode the train. And not in the usual ‘I’m about to pull out my dick and start masturbating’ kind of way. It was more like he knew me and was following me.”

“Jesus, Elise. Why didn’t you say something sooner?”

She shook her head. “Like I said, I’m sure I’m being paranoid. But after Marlie, I figure we all have to be careful. But enough about that. Let’s get out of here.”

12

“YOU getting out of here, boss?” Adara peeked into Bradley’s office as he was shutting his briefcase.

“I am. It’s a bunch of guys, but I’m going to grab a drink with some friends if you want to join.”

Adara laughed. “No thanks. You went viral on the Internet. That means some extreme fan is going to accost you with her phone and things will get messy. You might want to rethink your plans.”

“Your fear of cameras is both amusing and concerning, Adara. Have a good night. I’ll see you in the morning.”

He left the building and climbed into the car waiting for him. Darci blowing off his dinner invitation because she had plans with friends made him realize he had done little with his own friends since coming to D.C., so he’d called up Gage and a couple of others to see if they wanted to meet for drinks.

He walked into the upscale bar twenty minutes later and scanned the room. He pushed through the after-work crowd and made a bee-line for the table with the tall Black man in a suit and the slightly taller white guy in the expensive cowboy hat.

A third man he didn’t recognize sat with them and they were all sipping whiskey. No doubt it was top shelf.

“Gentlemen.” He extended his hand as he approached the table.

Samuel Carter stood and pulled him into a hug instead. “Bradley. It’s good to see you again.”

Gage stood and clapped him on the back of the shoulder.

The stranger stood and shook his hand. “Garrett Oliver.”

“Oliver. Your name sounds familiar.” Bradley pulled out a chair just as a server appeared with a glass of the same whiskey his friends were drinking.

Garrett nodded. “It should. I spoke with your assistant last week. Something about sitting in with your boss’s economic team.”

Bradley snapped and pointed. “Right. You’re in manufacturing and have your finger on the pulse of the economy better than most. I would love to chat with you sometime.”

Garrett sipped his drink and eyed him coolly. “You’re a friend of Samuel’s. I’ll hear you out. Can’t say I’m a huge fan of Atleigh, though.”

Bradley shook his head. “Fair enough. Let’s avoid all talk of senators and economic policy tonight.”

“And talk about the gorgeous women that just walked in.” Samuel whistled and nodded to the door.

“Well, I’ll be damned. This town really is too small.” Gage stood and waved.

Bradley turned around and his heart leapt into his throat. Darci stood near the front with a group of women he recognized from Club Exposure.

“If he’s lucky, Bradley will go viral again.” Gage smirked as Darci spotted them and turned to her companions, looking panicked.

“Excuse me,” Samuel said, picking up his drink.

“Samuel stop,” Bradley hissed. But he was halfway to the women already, and either ignored him or didn’t hear him.

“Lighten up, Givens. You two have some serious chemistry,” Gage said. “Go over there and stake your claim before Samuel scoops her up.”

Bradley turned to find Samuel leaned against the bar laughing with Darci and her friends. The tall soldier cupped her cheek and leaned in to say something in her ear.

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