Free Code Red by Susan Elaine Mac Nicol Page B

more
of her self-worth bit by bit?
    Robert, the lying son of a bitch, had
promised to marry her after he returned from graduate school in
Toronto. As consistent as her monthly cycle, he’d stopped by the
bank where she worked as a teller, stopped on his way to his
mother’s house a few hours west and remained in town with Jess long
enough to gain his own personal satisfaction. Jess had been nothing
but a whore to him. He never would have married her. He was already
married. She’d met his beautiful wife and daughter at his
funeral.
    What a fool she’d been—for too many years.
And she was still a fool. She bit the inside of her cheek to stop
her tears.
    Adam walked over to take orders.
    “Belvedere Unfiltered. And whatever the girl
wants.” Max puffed out his chest and nuzzled Jess.
    Adam laughed. “You’re in Ohneka, the middle
of nowhere Canada. If you want the fancy stuff, go to New York or
California.”
    “Your best vodka then, whatever it is.”
    Jess needed more fuel to get through this
bleak night. “Two more shots, Adam.”
    He shook his head. “One, and I’m driving you
home.”
    “I’ll get a ride.” She glanced at Max, who
answered her request with a grin. A disgusting grin. But did it
matter anymore? If people thought of her as a tramp, she might as
well play the part. Maybe that would make her feel better than
returning home alone night after night.
    “And you?” Adam nodded toward Mr. Grumpy.
    “A large Coke. No ice.”
    Jess snorted. “Aren’t you the tough guy.”
    A dimple appeared on his left cheek at the
arrival of a restrained grin. “I’m a control freak. The tough guy
thing is just an offshoot.” He caught Adam’s attention. “I’d
appreciate it if you gave Red here a ride home. She’s not coming
with us.”
    Jess’s smile turned into a scowl. “I don’t
think it’s your decision.”
    “My car, my decision.” He frowned at Max and
then checked his watch. Perhaps he was meeting his own special
someone and didn’t want her ruining his plans.
    Adam left, and Max pulled her onto his lap.
His thick finger inched up her skirt. The more pressure he exerted,
the more Jess wanted to rip his hand away and burn her skin with
hot water to clean herself. She wouldn’t, however, give Max’s
friend the satisfaction.
    ***
    “Red” looked like a beautiful fairy, almost
Disney cute. Her red-streaked hair cascaded over her white lace
blouse in flaming color, but her wide dark eyes blazed with a
desperation Kieran had only seen in people shortly before they blew
their brains out. He didn’t need to be a profiler to see that
someone had hurt her. Her parents? An ex-boyfriend? A husband? Damn
it, he had enough work to handle tonight. He didn’t need this type
of distraction. And yet, here she was, right in the middle of his
thoughts and refusing to leave.
    A flash of pain punctuated every tough word
she spoke. For an inexplicable reason, the need to soothe her
spirit fought with his need to get her the hell out of here. She
was in the wrong place at the wrong time. In another life he’d have
asked for her number and taken her to dinner. The reality of his
career, however, made him permanently uncommitted. He’d tried his
hand at marriage, but his wife filed divorce papers three days
short of their first anniversary. She’d claimed he always placed
the needs of the agency before her needs. And she’d been right.
    Red, however, wanted nothing to do with him.
Under the circumstances, that was for the best.
    When the bartender returned with their
drinks, Red tipped back her shot before he or Max lifted their
glasses. Her shoulders shivered slightly as the last drops touched
her lips. Lips the color of ripe cherries or Snow White’s poisoned
apple.
    Kieran shook his head and refocused on his
job. “We need to talk about the logistics.”
    Max ignored him and pawed Red. Kieran held
back the urge to break his nose. Although the man was on borrowed
time and might not have a chance to