Free 36 Hours by Allison Brennan Page A

going to prison, and he had nearly beaten a man to death with his fists. All the jobs she’d sent his way since his release were charity, as far as he was concerned. They’d met a couple of times at her office, but she’d made it clear that their relationship was strictly professional.
    It had bothered him before, but now that Angel was in his life, it bothered him less. He had more important things to worry about than his love life.
    When Jake was certain no one had followed Maddie, nor had she brought in the police, he approached her car.
    She immediately stepped out. She was still the same gorgeous brunette with porcelain skin and sexy red lips. “Jake. You’re okay.” She sounded relieved.
    “Of course I am.”
    “I heard about what happened at your apartment.”
    “They were after Angel.” He gestured for her to follow. “Come with me.”
    “I’ll follow you.”
    He stared at her. “Maddie, if you don’t do this my way, leave now. If you ever trusted me, believe me when I tell you Angel is being set-up.”
    She bit her bottom lip. “Okay,” she finally said.
    She looked surprised when he handed her a helmet. “Put it on,” he said. Then he winked. “It’s the law.”
    She did, then got on Lucky’s bike behind him. Her arms tentatively wrapped around his waist.
    “You’d better hold on a whole lot tighter unless you want to fall off.” Jake started the bike and took off. Her arms immediately tightened and her chest flattened against his back. He grinned and rode faster than he needed through Los Feliz, taking a long, circuitous route back to Cutler’s house. He was confident she wasn’t watching the scenery and wouldn’t be able to give accurate information on their location.
    He pulled straight up the driveway, all the way to the back of the house, before shutting off the bike. Maddie still clung to him. He took off his helmet and said, “Maddie, we’re here.”
    She practically jumped off, tripped, and fell on her ass. He offered his hand to help her up, but she declined. “You did that on purpose,” she said after removing her helmet.
    “Let’s go in.”
    “Where are we?”
    “Better you don’t know.”
    She stopped on the small deck outside the back door. “Why don’t you trust me?”
    “It’s for your own protection. You’re an officer of the court. I think it’s better that you do what you need to do for Angel, then I’ll take you back to your car.”
    She glared at him, but he tried not to read anything into her expression.
    Jake let himself in. Angel wasn’t in the kitchen or living room. A faint hum came from deep inside the house. “Angel?”
    She emerged from the hall. “I set up the equipment in the back bedroom,” she said. “I found chairs in the garage.” She gave Maddie the once over. “I’m Angel.”
    “Madeleine Burke,” Maddie said formally. She, too, was assessing Angel with just as much scrutiny. “I’m a criminal defense lawyer for McCarthy & Horowitz.”
    When Angel didn’t say anything, Jake said, “You’re supposed to be impressed.”
    Angel shrugged. “I’m impressed,” she said in a flat tone. “Can we get this over with?” She went back to the bedroom and Jake followed with Maddie.”
    “I’ve been listening to the scanner Lu--” she stopped with a narrowed glance at Maddie. Jake should expect that Angel wouldn’t trust anyone, though she’d seemed to accept Lucky readily enough. “And,” she continued, “there’s nothing of interest. At least as far as we’re concerned. So, how do we do this? I got a video camera here, a couple chairs, is this like an interview or what?”
    “Maybe you should tell me everything first, then give a formal statement. I can’t edit the tape—”
    Angel cut her off. “Look, Ms. Important Lawyer, I haven’t slept in two days and I’ve told this story so many times, I’m only going to say it once more. I need this over with. Okay? You ask me anything, I’ll tell you the truth. Then I’m