“Go,” he told her.
She hurried inside, not all that surprised to see Joaquin sitting across from her. He wore a tailored suit, the jacket unbuttoned, as were the first couple buttons of his white dress shirt. “Here’s your money,” she said, offering him the bag, ready to get the hell out of his limo.
“Good.” He knocked on the window.
The door across from Remy opened. Her muscles tightened and heart raced as Lars slid onto the leather seat next to her. She felt the weight of his stare and she looked him right in the eye.
“Ms. Brennan has cleared her debt with me,” Joaquin said, gesturing toward the bag. “That concludes our business, Mr. Violi.”
Lars smiled. “Excellent news.”
Joaquin’s cool and calm eyes flicked to Remy. “Now, before you go, I want you to understand that in a show of good faith, I am now offering you my protection.”
Remy had to force her mouth not to fall open.
“Her.” Lars snorted. “Why?”
Joaquin glared.
That’s it. No words. No sound. Just a single look had Lars hanging his head.
“I’m going to ask you a question, Mr. Violi,” Joaquin said. “Lie to me and you won’t leave this car alive.”
Remy felt the truth of his statement in the power of his voice. She forced herself to exhale through her nose when the car spun a little, reminding her she needed to breathe to get out of the car alive too.
“Are you planning on killing Ms. Brennan tonight?”
Remy jerked her gaze toward Lars, feeling the ground drop under her as Lars nodded and said, “Yes, sir. That was the plan.”
“That plan is aborted,” Joaquin said easily, like they were discussing the weather. “Ms. Brennan is under my protection now and cannot be touched. Call off your men.”
Lars reached into his pocket and had his phone to his ear. “The chick is under King’s protection. It’s over.” He ended the call, lifting his gaze to Joaquin.
“Let me make this very clear to you, Mr. Violi. I do not appreciate the heat you bring to me,” Joaquin said. “Had you succeeded with your plan and killed Ms. Brennan, you would have implicated me.”
“No, man—”
Joaquin narrowed his eyes. When Lars went silent, Joaquin continued, “Here is the only plan going forward. You’re going to get out of this car and forget my name. Do we understand each other?”
Lars’s skin lost all its color. “Yeah…ah, yeah.”
“Good.” Joaquin gestured at the door. “Get out.”
Remy stared with her mouth now hanging open. She watched Lars run away like a coward. Though, when she glanced back at Joaquin, she realized that now she sat alone in a car with a man who had scared the scariest guy she’d ever met.
Joaquin tapped the window again, then the bodyguards were driving them out of the parking garage and down the road. “Your debt is clear,” Joaquin said. “Our business here is done. When the limo stops, get out and go home, Ms. Brennan.”
She let out a nervous laugh. “You won’t hear me argue with you there.”
She could have sworn his mouth twitched.
“Boss, we’ve got a problem.”
Remy glanced out the front window and saw the exact problem.
Asher stood in the middle of the road. His weapon was aimed at the driver’s head.
* * *