face people missed the fact they were being outmaneuvered. There was little chance of her getting
away with this blame free, but she decided to own it and go down fighting.
“Good morning, Mademoiselle Keats.”
“Good morning, Claude. Is Dugan around?”
The doorman pointed to the long line of cabs and cars. She spotted the limo at the end of the block.
Taking quick, determined steps, she walked in that direction. Dugan must have spotted her. He stepped
from the limo and gave her a curious look, then checked his phone.
“Ms. Keats?”
“Hey, Big D. I need a ride.”
He met her at the door and opened it. “Mr. Patras didn’t send me a text.”
“He’s in the shower.” The limo driver’s eyes narrowed beneath his bushy brows. “Look, I’m with
you. I’m being honest. Text him if it makes you feel better, but I need to leave now and I’m either
walking or getting a ride from you.”
He shut the door and withdrew his cell again. Moments later he was behind the wheel. “Where to?”
he asked, easing the car from the curb and into traffic.
“Parker Hughes’s apartment building.” His head jerked and she met his challenging stare in the
rearview. “Should I walk?”
Rather than answer her, he brought his phone to his ear and dialed. Lucian was likely just getting
out of the shower, but he wouldn’t hear his phone ring. Deceit sat like heavy oil in the pit of her
stomach, but it was better she deal with Parker than leave it to Lucian.
The entire ride there, Dugan’s phone never left his ear except to press Send again. He never made a
peep, which meant he never got through to Lucian. He did, however, manage to take the longest
possible route from A to B.
The limo pulled to the curb of Parker’s building and she got out. Dugan placed himself between her
and the entrance. “I’m not sure what’s going on, Ms. Keats, but I know this isn’t okay with Mr.
Patras.”
She shifted her weight and tried to reason with him. “Look, Dugan, I need to go in there. I told you
to call Lucian if you want to and I had no doubt you would. I’m not hiding anything. This is only a
detour. Just . . . please let me go.”
She brushed past him and he caught her arm. “Evelyn.” It was the first time he’d ever called her by
just her name. She looked at him and his eyes were softened by age and worry. “You didn’t see him
before. Don’t do that to him again. He loves you.”
She placed her hand on his. “I know. I love him too. That’s why I have to do this. Ten minutes,
that’s all I need.”
Before he could stop her again, she rushed inside and took the elevator to Parker’s floor. The route
to his door was familiar. Had she really lived here only a couple of months ago? It felt like a lifetime ago.
When she reached his door, she took a deep breath, made a fist and knocked hard. She heard
movement inside and knew he was home. The door opened and he stared at her, confusion and a mix
of concern tightening his brow.
“Scout? What are you doing here? Are you okay?”
He looked different from the last time she saw him. His face was no longer battered and he’d gained
more weight. He was still fit, but gone was the gaunt look of years of starvation. He was no longer a
lost cause. He was a man.
“I know what you’re doing.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“With the company Lucian was dealing with. I know it’s you messing with him.”
His expression immediately shuttered. “What? Is he sending you to do his dirty work? Shows how
much he—”
“Oh, cut the crap, Parker. You’re messing with his livelihood.”
He laughed, but it came out more as a snarl. “His livelihood? Are you kidding? He’s Lucian fucking
Patras. He’ll get over it.”
“Will you? What you’re doing is wrong and you know it.”
“What I’m doing is business.”
“Business like the way your dad conducted his.”
His lips tightened. “I’m nothing like him.”
“You may want to check your reflection again, Park. You aren’t playing the game on even ground.
That’s how it all starts, isn’t it?”
It was the first time Parker ever directed his anger at her. He stepped close and hissed, “What do
you want me to do? Give it back? That isn’t how the real world works, Scout. I worked my ass off for
this deal and if I get it, it’s because I’m the better man.”
“Will that help you sleep at night?”
“You have no idea what gets me through the night.”
“Why? Because I’m not there? This is all some pathetic game of revenge because I didn’t want you!
I did want you, Parker. I wanted you to be my friend. But all that crap about just wanting me the way I am was just that. Crap. Having me as a friend was never going to be enough for you, and you ruined