Eyes widening, Nikki asked, “Is he in there?” She bent to take off first one sandal, then the other. “It’s awful late for you to be going out. Did you two fight?”

Pam looked toward the apartment building. “If you two are fighting, maybe we should console him.”

“Stay away from him.”

Reese lifted his brows.

Nikki and Pam both went still.

Into the ensuing silence, Alice said, “Well.” She lifted her chin, hitched her purse strap up her shoulder, and aimed a dead stare at each of the ladies. “Reese is working, and I’m on my way out to see a friend. So please, just call it a night.” As she started away, she said over her shoulder, her voice still firm, “And leave. Reese. Alone.”

Each lady nodded.

Alice turned to continue on her way—and two shadows emerged from the darkness.

Shit. So close to home. They were counting on Reese being well and truly gone. That, or they didn’t consider him a viable threat to their plans.

His phone vibrated softly again. Glancing at it, Reese saw Trace’s message: Be patient.

Already sliding out of the van, his bare feet making not a single sound as he crossed the parking lot, Reese dodged from car to car until he had Alice within reach.

Now, knowing he was close enough to protect her, now he would wait.

* * *

ALICE WAS STILL muttering about Nikki’s and Pam’s audacity when the men came out of nowhere—just as she’d known they would. But knowing it and experiencing it were two very different things. The shadows took shape, became ominous, and then they were right there, leering at her, intimidating with their intent.

From behind her, she heard a third man say, “Ladies,” and the next thing she knew, Nikki and Pam were corralled up by her.

Alcohol dulling her discretion, Pam flirted with the stocky fellow gripping her arm. “My, aren’t you a big one? Not quite as big as Reese, but—”

Alice snapped, “Shut up, Pam!” She would not have Reese’s name bandied about.

The man looked Pam over. “You like them big, honey?”

“Doesn’t every girl?”

Nikki pointed at Alice with impressed glee. “You naughty little slut!” She smiled and missed a step, bumping into Pam, who pitched forward and almost fell. “You’ve been playing the field, haven’t you?”

“Yeah, she has.” The guy nearest Alice showed a toothy smile. “She gets around, don’t you, doll?”

Fearful for Nikki and Pam, and knowing that Reese was probably annoyed with the complication to his plans, Alice tried to defuse the situation. She needed to remove Reese’s admirers from the scene. “I, ah, I was on my way to meet a friend.”

“Right.” The man moved closer until his body touched hers. “Us.”

Pam said, “Keeping all the beefcake for yourself? Greedy, Alice. I can see not sharing Reese—”

“Reese,” Nikki purred, as if savoring the thought of him.

“But no reason to hog these sweeties, too.”

Alice gave a silent prayer that Pam and Nikki would shut up and go in.

They didn’t.

“Never figured you for the orgy type,” Nikki added. She walked her fingers up her captor’s chest.

Because she doesn’t realize she’s been  captured. Panic had Alice’s vision closing in. She shook her head to clear it. “I don’t know what’s going on here, but I think—”

“You know exactly what’s happening,” the bruiser interrupted, and he settled his hands on her shoulders.

Alice lurched away but didn’t get far, not with the men forming a solid wall around her.

They laughed at her impotent fear.

Alice dug in. “I’m pretty sure you plan to kidnap me.”

Everyone stopped.

Nikki swayed on her feet, looking around at the men. Alarm finally started to settle in past her buzz. “What’re you talkin’ ’bout?”

“Who wants to kidnap you?” Pam asked.

Alice opened her mouth to speak.

And a fourth man said, “Alice is just teasing. Isn’t that right, Alice?”

Shaking head to toes, Alice watched as the man left the backseat of an SUV. He was younger than the others, probably no more than his mid-twenties. Dark hair and darker eyes...he might have been attractive if he didn’t scare her so badly.

Only the sure knowledge that Reese was close, keeping watch, helped her to remain calm.

The bastard behind her bumped into her again, deliberately nudging her toward the newcomer. She felt like a sacrifice, small and insignificant...just as she had so long ago, before Trace had helped her escape.

Before Reese had come into her life.

Alice tried to keep her shoulders back, her chin up, but it wasn’t easy. “Where’s Cheryl?”

“She’s at my place, waiting for you.” Hand extended, the new man walked right up to her. “You’re Alice, right?”

Not taken in by his handsome face or slick demeanor, Alice ignored his offered greeting. But Pam, clearly reassured, reached out for his hand. “I’m Pam.”

His cold gaze transferred off Alice’s face and instead he caught Pam in his sights. As if pleased, he took her hand in his. “Very nice to meet you.”

Pam smiled dreamily. “This is my friend Nikki.”

Nikki wiggled her fingers in a silly hello.

“Woody Simpson, at your service.”