“You need to leave this establishment and not come back,” Shaila declared.

Shaila’s husband, David, came from the back room to stand beside his wife. He held a cell phone in his hand.

“I’ve got 911 on speed dial,” he told McGrady. “If you don’t leave, you’ll have a police escort to help you off the property.”

“You ban me from your coffee shop and when it mysteriously burns to the ground because you don’t have protection, you’ll know you caused it.”

Azelie stormed up to him, snatching his phone from his hand while his attention was on the shop owners. She backed up several feet from him while she found his photos and quickly began to delete the pictures of the merry widows, Doug, Carlton and herself.

“You little bitch.” McGrady crossed the distance in two long strides. He brought up his fist.

“Go ahead,” she taunted, holding her own phone up. “I’m sending to Billows everything you’re doing. You hit me and you know there’s going to be hell to pay.”

McGrady’s face twisted into a maniacal mask. He couldn’t seem to stop his aggressive behavior. At the last moment, he opened his fist, so it was his palm that hit her in the face.

“You dare threaten me? When Billows is tired of you, who do you think he’s going to give you to? I’ll remember this and treat you accordingly. I always have access to his women when I want them.”

Everyone in the coffee shop stood up as Azelie reeled backward. She might have gone down, but Doug caught her before she fell.

“I’ve called the police,” David announced.

“Got it on video,” several voices claimed. “We need to keep him here until the cops arrive.”

“Try it,” McGrady snarled, already moving quickly to exit the shop. He shoved Doug and Azelie out of his way as he stalked out.

Shaila handed Azelie an ice pack for her face. She took it absently as she watched McGrady get into his car. He stuck his hand out the window and flipped off the coffee shop.

“Shaila, he might really try to burn down your business,” Carlton said. “He’s a vindictive little bastard, if you pardon my language, ladies.”

Azelie found herself shaking. She sent the video to Billows before she thought it through. Before she was too afraid to do so. What does he mean? she texted. The moment she hit send, she decided that might not have been the best idea. It would bring on a confrontation with Billows she wasn’t ready for. But when would she ever be ready? She couldn’t have McGrady threatening the merry widows or Doug and Carlton. She followed up with a text telling him the police had been called and she planned to press charges. Everyone in the shop was a witness to what McGrady had done, and she had no choice.

Billows texted back WTF but didn’t answer what McGrady meant when he claimed Billows shared his women with McGrady. She thought that silence was significant. Billows had some kind of arrangement with McGrady. There was too much confidence in McGrady. He’d publicly struck her, knowing others were using their phones to record everything he said and did.

A chill went down her spine. Andrii had warned her that McGrady was vindictive. He’d told her the man had gone to prison on several occasions for domestic violence, yet he was always able to get out. To her, that meant Billows aided him. Billows had money and clout. He knew people. He paid people off. Cops, maybe even the district attorney. Not only had she put herself in harm’s way with McGrady, but quite possibly with Billows as well.

She had no choice but to follow through and press charges against McGrady, however. Everyone in the coffee shop had witnessed what happened. McGrady was long gone, but Doug and Carlton had the license number of his car. The police would be able to find him quickly. She sighed. There was no going to her classes today. And she wasn’t going to work, no matter how many times Billows called her.

More than anything, she knew she would have to face Andrii. He would most likely regard this as one royal “fuckup.” It turned out to be a very long afternoon talking with law enforcement.

*   *   *

Maestro had never been so terrified for another human being in his life. The moment he saw the security feed Code sent to him from the coffee shop, his heart nearly stopped and then went into overdrive. He had studied McGrady, the way he did every target. The man was unusually cruel and vicious to any woman in his life. It didn’t matter if he dated them for a night or a month, the results were always the same. The woman ended up brutalized, often so badly she was hospitalized. He’d gone to prison a few times for domestic abuse, but he always seemed to get out. Clearly, Billows had political pull.

What the hell was Azelie thinking confronting the man? Calling the cops on him? Swearing out a complaint? He’d made it clear that they would take care of the man. Now, if McGrady turned up dead or just disappeared, as Azelie’s man, Andrii would be considered a suspect. The police would want to interview him.

Swearing under his breath, he unlocked the door to Azelie’s apartment and stormed inside. She sat in one of her comfortable chairs facing the entrance, clearly expecting him. He wasn’t about to be moved by her tears. Ignoring the way his gut knotted at the sight of her looking so miserable, he stalked across the room to sink into the chair beside hers.

“Do you remember what I told you about fucking up?” he demanded.

He could barely look at her. She looked devastated. Totally shattered. He could see her distress wasn’t about the day’s events. Azelie looked up at him without flinching, but he could see that overwhelming emotion, the one that was so second nature to her. She’d disappointed him. Gone against the one thing that meant the most to him—keeping herself safe. She knew she’d screwed up, but even the threat of punishment didn’t seem to be the defining criterion.

Andrii didn’t want to read that look on her face or see the utter devastation in her eyes. He wanted to yank her across his knees and carry out the threat he’d professed he believed in to his brothers and sisters in the club. A physical punishment would impress the weight of the sin on his woman. She would be far more apt to remember never to do such a thing again.

“Yes.” She whispered her answer, still looking straight at him. Not flinching.

Azelie had declared numerous times that she didn’t go along with corporal punishment. She didn’t believe it was right. She wasn’t into pain. What had she said to him?

It would be hard enough knowing I disappointed you without you treating me like a child, incapable of making my own decisions.

He scrubbed his hand down his face. His hand shook. “You scared the holy hell out of me, Azelie. Don’t like the feeling.”

She pressed her lips together and brought her knees up, tucking her feet onto the cushion of the chair. Protecting herself. She thought he was going to yank her across his lap. Strangely, he’d lost all desire to punish her. That look she had on her face was testament to him that she knew she’d fucked up and she detested that she’d disappointed him, just as she’d told him would happen. He had no idea what to do or say.

“I’m sorry, Andrii. Really, really sorry. My temper got the best of me. Temper and fear for my friends. My brain short-circuited for a few minutes, and by the time I could think straight, it was too late.”

“Has Billows reached out to you?” His tone was harsher than he intended, and she winced, but she didn’t look away.

She shook her head. “I texted him at the time, demanding to know what some of the things McGrady said to me meant. He didn’t answer me.” She rubbed the pad of her finger across one eyebrow. “I’m terrified to see him. He knows I spoke with the cops. I really made a mess of things.”

Maestro made up his mind. The team had decided they were going to raid Billows’ building and look for any signs of abducted women. At the same time, they intended to interrogate Billows.

“You’re going to stay home tonight and tomorrow. Not leave this apartment. And you’re going to tell me where you keep the key to the underground rooms,” Andrii declared. “I know you have one. You keep it in a charm that looks like an envelope. It’s nowhere in this apartment.”

There was silence. She remained huddled in the chair, knees drawn up protectively, her eyes large, watching his every move. He couldn’t imagine what was going through her mind. Doubtless nothing good. He’d just made his demands and hadn’t given her an explanation. His anger was still roiling in his belly, and he didn’t know where to put it.

“Don’t you fucking look at me like that. We’re a team. You signed up for this shit when you took me on. Clearly, I signed up for a rough ride when you lose it and don’t think about your safety. I need to know where the key is.”

He didn’t take his gaze from hers. He needed to see every expression crossing her face. Everything. Did she trust him? Was she going to give him what he needed even though she had to have a million legitimate questions?

She pressed her lips together and then they parted. He found himself holding his breath, waiting for condemnation.

“When I exit the club, there’s a small knot that’s hollow in the hall panel just as you reach the door. I place it there. I don’t want any reminders on me anywhere.”

Her voice was very soft, but she didn’t falter. She just gave him the information, no questions asked.

“You’re to stay in this apartment for the rest of the night and all day tomorrow. Wait for me to come to you. I don’t care if you have important classes. We’ll find a way to make them up. Just be safe. Lock yourself in.”

She nodded.

“I have to go, but I’ll be coming back to you.”

She nodded again.

Maestro stood, towering over her where she sat, knees drawn up, her blue eyes fixed on his face. “I’m coming back,” he said again and leaned down to brush a kiss along her temple. He didn’t dare do anything else. She looked forlorn. Abandoned. Frightened. He didn’t have the time to reassure her. His team was going in for a rescue mission and to take Billows alive in order to interrogate him. It was extremely important for them to get the names of those higher up in the ring.

“Don’t forget there are bombs under the floor,” she murmured.

“I’m aware. I’ll be safe. You don’t forget that I’m in love with you. Stay safe.”