Mastered (The Enforcers 1)
She had to work tonight until closing, and no matter that her girls had told her she could always take a nap after giving them the scoop, Evangeline knew she didn’t have a prayer of going back to sleep. Not with the vivid details from the night before still playing over and over in real time in her memory.
No, she’d simply leave early and go on. Get caught up on some of the things that had piled up over the last few weeks and had been largely ignored by the other workers.
But first, she’d give her friends what they wanted—what they deserved—because they’d never held back from her, nor would they ever.
Then she’d worry about what to do about Drake Donovan. Just as soon as she looked up every piece of information she could find about just who this man was and what he could possibly want with someone as insignificant as her.
Evangeline was exhausted when she stumbled out of the pub an hour after the official closing time. Her feet were killing her, swollen from the many busy hours rushing drinks to customers in very uncomfortable heels. She was sorely tempted to take them off and just walk barefooted home. She’d been so frazzled by all that had occurred the night before and the exhausting interrogation from her roommates that she’d forgotten the pair of comfortable flats she brought to work to walk home in. Now she was stuck walking ten blocks in the wee hours of the morning in shoes she wanted to toss into the nearest trash can. At least she had an even larger amount than her already generous nightly tips stuffed into her pocket, so her misery was a little more bearable given that she could send more than usual back home to her mother.
She was so dead on her feet and already dreaming of at least twelve hours of sleep that she didn’t even see the man outside the pub until she nearly bumped into him. Her adrenaline spiked and her heart nearly pounded right out of her chest as she stumbled back, assuming a defensive position.
A scream lodged in her throat as she frantically assessed the potential threat. Then she recognized the man, but realizing she knew him only ratcheted up her fear, and her first instinct was to run for her life.
Maddox, Drake’s minion, stood nonchalantly in front of her, effectively blocking her escape, his stance deceptively casual. She nearly allowed hysterical laughter to escape her mouth at the idea of having time to pry her too-tight heels from her feet and run for her life because this man would have her before she got the first shoe off.
“My apologies for frightening you, Evangeline,” he said in the same gentle tone he’d used at Impulse when he’d rescued her.
“Why are you here?” she stammered out. “How did you even know where to find me? What do you want?”
She sounded desperate and frightened, but she didn’t even bother trying to disguise that fact. What woman wouldn’t be terrified in her situation? She was surprised she’d even been able to articulate the questions for him that had come out more of a squeak than any sort of actual coherent speech.
Maddox’s expression was bland but there was a hint of warning in his eyes. “It’s not a good idea to keep Drake waiting. You were to be at your place at seven o’clock sharp and I had strict instructions to take you straight to him. And he is a man who expects—demands—obedience and compliance. In all matters.”
Her unease was fast paralyzing her as the last of his words sank in. All matters? He demanded obedience in all matters? Who did he think he was? God? What the hell had she gotten herself into by allowing herself to be coerced into going to that damn club? Damn it, but she should have just listened to herself and refused to set foot in that place. Where was her spine? Oh yeah, she didn’t have one.
He made a deliberate show of checking his watch before his gaze returned to hers, warning still clearly visible.
“It’s now four in the morning, which makes you nine hours late, and Drake doesn’t wait nine hours for anyone.”
Evangeline bared her teeth. “Good! But if that’s the case, then why are you here? By your own admission Drake waits for no one and it’s been nine hours. If he’s not waiting for me, then why are you here scaring the crap out of me?”
Amusement flashed in Maddox’s eyes. “It would appear he’s making an exception for you. My advice is not to make him wait any longer by standing here arguing at four in the morning.”
Evangeline’s mouth dropped open. “Are you serious? What gives him the right to order me around or expect me to comply with his demands, like I’m some minion or one of his employees?” She shook her head, because this had gone way beyond creepy. Even more so than the bizarre events at the club and in particular in Drake’s office. “You’re all crazy! Certifiable. Besides, I had to work. You know, that thing called a job, in return for which you receive a paycheck? Some of us don’t have the luxury of taking off on a whim. I have bills to pay and a family to support. I need this job, and I’m sure as hell not blowing off work just because the almighty Drake Donovan decided he wants my presence for God only knows what reason. That would make me as insane as the rest of you!”