“Skeeter, I realize—”

“Which is why this won’t work.”

I froze. “What are you talking about?”

He ran a hand over his head. “You were right. What I did today was stupid. I can’t afford stupid. Especially not now. This needs to end.”

“What does that mean?”

“I can’t let you work for me anymore. It’s putting you at risk. Hell, Rich Lowry figured it out at Gems. If he knew how valuable you are, it won’t take long for anyone else to put it together. Once they do, you’re a sitting duck.” He shook his head. “Shit, you probably already are.” His eyes hardened. “Why didn’t you tell me someone tried to run you off the road?”

“How did you—” I shook my head. He had ways of finding out anything, so there was no point in focusing on the “how” of it. “I don’t think they were trying to kill me. I was driving Mason’s car. Whoever has his name on that list was probably behind it.”

“Maybe, but I’m not so sure. They could have been after you.”

“Why would someone want to kill me?”

“To get to me. To get to Deveraux. To get to that damned deputy sheriff.” He cocked his head with an ugly smile. “Should I go on?”

“That’s nonsense. No one wants me dead. Especially over you. No one knows I’m helpin’ you.”

“That’s not true. Your boy knows.”

“Bruce Wayne?” I asked, offended. “And he’s not my boy. He’s my partner and business associate. He’s scared to death for me, and he wouldn’t tell a soul. He’s sure you’ll get tired of me and put a bullet in my head.”

“And you’re not worried that I will?” he asked, his words laced with menace.

“No.”

“Don’t underestimate me, Rose,” he said with a low growl.

“You’ve told me that before, but I’m not scared of you, Skeeter Malcolm. I think you underestimate yourself.”

His eyes were expressionless as they peered into mine. “I could kill you right now and no one would be the wiser. I know you didn’t tell anyone you were meeting me and no one knows I’m here with you.”

“Not even Jed?”

“Especially not Jed.” He moved closer to me. “I know where his loyalty lies.”

For the first time since I’d pulled up, I was nervous. Skeeter didn’t suffer disloyalty and his justice was harsh. “What in the world are you talkin’ about? Jed is loyal to you, Skeeter.”

“He’s loyal to you first.”

I shook my head, tasting bile on tongue. “No, he—”

“I know he called you.”

His sentence hung in the air and I struggled to regain control of my racing heart.

He released a heavy breath and leaned over his legs, his face in his hands. “I knew takin’ over Crocker’s role wouldn’t be easy. I expected to fight for my foothold, even after I won it. I thought your talent could help me, but it’s only brought me more complications. Now I have disloyalty within my ranks.”

I grabbed his beefy bicep, choking on my panic. “Skeeter, please don’t hurt him.”

He turned to me, surprise in his eyes when he saw my tears. “You care for him?” Jealousy slipped into the end, catching me by surprise. Was he jealous I’d usurped his place with Jed?

“How could I not? He’s protected me, Skeeter. He’s put his life on the line for me more than once—on your orders!”

“You love him?”

His words boomed through the car and I cringed and dropped my hold. “Love him? No! I love Mason.”

“Then why do you give a damn what happens to him?”

“Because he’s my friend.”

“Your friend,” he spat out in disgust.

“Why is that so hard to believe? You’re my friend.”

He shook his head with a sneer. “I’m no one’s friend.”

“Not even Jed’s?” I asked in disbelief.

“No.”

I stared at him in shock. “Why not?”

“I told you. I can’t afford to care about anyone or anything.”

My heart was heavy with the implications of what he’d said. “Then what are you fightin’ for? What’s the point of any of this?”

He turned to face the front again, leaning over his legs. “Power.”

“Skeeter, listen to me.” At first he resisted when I grabbed his hand, but then I tugged it between both of mine. “A year ago, I didn’t have friends and I was miserable. My mother had convinced me that I was a terrible person and I didn’t deserve happiness. But she was wrong. I don’t know who’s convinced you otherwise, but they were wrong too.”

“Happiness?” he scoffed, trying to jerk his hand away. I wouldn’t let him.

“Skeeter, you have to care about someone or something or what’s the point of any of this?”

He pulled loose and opened the car door and got out. Leaning over, one hand resting at the top of the door, he said, “It’s time for you to go.”

“No!” I shouted. “You can’t just dismiss me like that, Skeeter! I won’t let you.”

He leaned his face into the open doorway. “I just did. You’ve done nothing but throw my world into chaos, Rose Gardner, and I’m done. Get out.”