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Kinda like how you won’t even forgive yourself?Nikki wondered.

“Have you been here before?” she asked, abruptly changing both conversations.

Picking up his brown coffee mug, he nodded as he took a sip of the bitter hot liquid. The tiny little mountain town held all sorts of memories that he would rather forget.“Yeah. I’ve been coming here off and on since I was a kid.”

“Oh?” she asked, doctoring her own coffee with a splash of cream and two sugar packets. “So, you know the waitress, then?”

“Nope. Haven’t seen her before in my life. Which is perfect, actually. But the cook, on the other hand...I know himreallywell,” he said, glancing to the opened window between the kitchen and the bar.

Following his gaze, she looked toward the window and locked her eyes on the man working in the kitchen. An older gentleman, perhaps in his mid-fifties. Surly and dirty looking, with a deep scowl on his face that made him look like every villain she had ever seen on tv. Clearly, the man wasn’t happy working behind the greasy cooktop.

“Looks like he’s having a hard day,” she muttered, bringing her coffee to her lips.

“Hard day? Nah, I wouldn’t worry about him. Tony’s life isn’t too rough. Now hiswife’slife, on the other hand...her life is the hard one,” he stated, his voice low so only she could hear.

“What do you mean?” she asked, leaning in to listen.

Shrugging his broad shoulders, he placed his mug on the tabletop and eyed his love. There was a method to his madness. Hopefully, she would take his bait. He would love to see her play again.

“Well, you see. Tony has a little bit of a drug habit, but not a lot of money. So, when he can’t get his drugs, he likes to take it out on his sweet wife. He’s put her in the hospital six times already. Cops want to lock him up, but she’s dropped the charges every single time. Says she loves him too much and that he will never do it again. It’s a lie, though and everyone knows it. Tony’s nevergoing to stop beating her. She’s going to die soon, Sweetheart. He will kill her next time.”

Ohhhh, he beats his wife? Did you hear that? Something ought to be done about this lowlife. Dontcha think?Nikki quipped from the back of her mind.

Frowning at her captor, she gripped her ceramic mug and slammed a mental door in her alter-ego’s face. She knew exactly what they both wanted her to do. She would be damned if she was going to fall for the sob story. There was only one life she was going to allow herself to ever take, and it sure as hell wasn’t the cooks.

“Pity,” she muttered, taking another sip of her sweetened coffee.

Noticing her lack of enthusiasm, Kade pushed out a loud breath and leaned back in his seat. “Well, we’ll be here for a few days, maybe it’ll give us something to think about, huh?”

Replying with a shit eating grin, Lexi felt a surge of triumph as she watched utter annoyance dance across his face. He really thought one little mention of some random man beating his wife would make her revert to her old ways? Obviously, he didn’t know her as well as he thought he did.

“We’re only going to be here for a few days? So where will be headed next?” she asked, curious to know the agenda.

Chewing on the soft flesh of his inner cheek, Kade paused a moment and thought over his answer carefully. He knew he needed to be vague but didn’t necessarily want to lie to her. She did have a right to know what her future entailed.

“Back home. There are some loose ends that need to be taken care of. After that, we’ll head into the City. I have some business I need to attend to,” he stated evenly.

Freezing like a deer caught in the headlights, she felt her heart plummet to the floor. Remembering their conversation from the night before, she swallowed hard.

“Business? And does thisbusinesshappen to involve Bloodbayne?” she asked, her voice shaking ever so slightly.

“Yes,” he replied, deciding that he did need to be forthright with this information. “It does. But like I said, he won’t hurt you. I won’t let himeverhurt you.”

Blinking at him, she sat dumbfounded.Holy fuck. He was actually serious.

“You’re talking like I’m going with you to see him,” she said nervously. “Please tell me that I’m not.”

Staring blankly at her, he plastered a mask of false indifference over his handsome face. He didn’t want to take her to Bloodbayne, but the situation was completely out of his hands. This was the only way his Boss would spare her.

“Well, I’m not going!” she spat loudly. “You can just fuc—"

“You don’t have a choice!”he hissed angrily, his deep voice hovering above a whisper.“WE don’t have a choice!Now, please! You said you trust me so just...just fucking trust me, will you?”

Narrowing her eyes, she folded her arms over her chest. She didn’t understand why his silly plan was rubbing her the wrong way. It wasn’t like he would live long enough to see it through.

Because Lexi, if Kade plans on taking you to see Bloodbayne, that means Bloodbayne already knows about you. Do you see the problem, now? Kill Kade and Bloodbayne will go after you. OR you can let him live and be protected from Bloodbayne. Huh, seems like a no brainer to me! But what do I know, right?Nikki said.

Letting out a sigh, she raised her right hand and pinched the bridge of her nose between her middle finger and thumb. Things were going to get messy, no matter what. She was damned if she did and damned if she didn’t. Why were things always so damn difficult?

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