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“Because they’ve spotted the bikes and will come in. If we appear first, we can act as if we’re looking for someone.”

“Like who?”

“We can give them one of the club girl’s name and say it’s our sister.” Hemlock leaned around enough to see the cop car stop and the light went straight down the alley.

“Time to move.”

Before they could move, the cop turned off the spotlight and hit the blue lights. They thought they were definitely humped until the cop took off with sirens blaring. Both men let out a breath.

“Let’s get the fuck out of here,” Vicious said as he stepped around the door. He was done with abandon buildings.

Hemlock stepped out and handed him his guns. Vicious thanked him.

Maybe they needed a therapist to talk to. It seemed all of them had some kind of damage from their past that haunted them. Fuck, he was thankful that Sway knew how to handle his nightmares and his moods. Straddling his bike, Vicious waited on Hemlock to saddle up. “I might need a beer.”

“I might need one too,” Hemlock said and rolled out of the alley.

Chapter One

It had been a grueling day for Charlie Rose Cote. Working three jobs was wearing on her. It took everything and then some to pay for her room at the Continental Inn and Suites. She lived there because her ex-boyfriend Crispen lived in the luxury apartment she paid for in Montreal. It wasn’t like she had wanted to live in that upscale apartment building. No. She would have been fine with a second-floor shoebox anywhere. But her being young and stupid, she had believed Crispen and his lying, cheating ass when he said, “Charlie, I love you, baby girl.”

Two months into the relationship Crispen had talked her into putting the apartment into her name. After three months of living together, she caught him in bed with her now ex-best friend. And she was still paying for an apartment she never wanted and didn’t live in at all to keep her credit from being ruined. Seven more months and she would be free of that god forsaken lease and anything to deal with Crispen.

Stepping into the building, she decided she needed a drink. The hotel bar, tucked just off the lobby, was a cozy spot that drew all sorts—from karaoke-loving regulars to trivia fanatics. Tonight,however, was different. It was a quiet Thursday evening at the Oasis Bar, free of karaoke, trivia, or DJs. The dimly lit space buzzed with soft chatter, its usual chaos replaced by a calm hum.

She found a seat at the sparsely filled bar and settled in, glancing around while waiting for the bartender to take her order. The simplicity of the evening felt refreshing—a rare moment of quiet in a place often brimmed with energy.

“What can I get you, miss?”

At least he didn’t call me little lady. “Bushwhacker.”

“Coming right up.”

Taking out her phone, Charlie checked her work schedules. To her surprise, she was off for the next twenty-four hours—from all three jobs. She couldn’t even remember the last time that had happened.

Maybe she should celebrate. A long, hot bath, ordering a pizza, and daringly going to bed a whole half-hour later than usual.

She let out a sigh. Gah, she was too young to feel this old.

“Here’s your drink. Would you like to open a tab?”

“No, I’m just having the one.” Sliding her credit card to the bartender, she picked up her drink and took the first sip.Delicious.Looking around, she caught the eye of an attractive guy sitting four chairs down. When he smiled and pointed to the seat next to him, she shook her head no with a smile. She watched him smile back as he raised his whiskey glass to her.

Turning back around, Charlie faced the bar lost in thought as she sipped on her drink. A shadow fell across, bringing her attentionback to her surroundings. Another guy was leaning into her space, making her feel uncomfortable.

“Looks like you need a man in your life tonight,” the guy four seats over stated.

“No thanks.”

“Come on sweetie, take a chance,” he replied to her as his eyes briefly shifted between her and the man crowded in on her other side.

Charlie stared at him and thought, why not? “You know what? I think I will.”

“Now we’re talking.”

Easing out of her seat, Charlie picked up her drink and slung her purse over her shoulder. Without hesitating, she walked straight over to the attractive man sitting alone. Sliding onto the empty seat beside him, she flashed a confident smile, her earlier disregard fading as she met his gaze. “Hello.”

The shit-eating grin that spread across Hemlock’s face couldn’t be contained. He’d been told multiple times that his smile could be deadly. Like a moth to a flame, the pretty brunette was pulled in. “Hello.”