bourbon. A saxophone wailed from the stage, a low

he had ordered a whiskey, neat. It burn

The adrenaline from the hotel was fading, leaving behind

tables, heading toward the back of the club. The

vintage copper mirrors reflected her face-pale, comp

ap. The water rushe

ror, a sha

ast stall. The doo

t. Beneath the scent of lavender soap and air

. Bl

forensic accountant, the woman who could spot a discrepancy

door cra

th. It was large, rough, an

nto the cramped stall. Her b

her ear. It was deep, str

drove her elbow back, ai

und of agony, and his grip loosened. He slid down the wall, dragging her with h

ht filtering under the door. Helena looked at h

te shirt underneath was soaked red at the abdomen. His face was

rist. His pulse w

into shock fr

ady. "I'm not a doctor, but you're bleedi

rk, but she felt the weight of his gaze. It was hea

creaked open. Heavy footsteps echoed on

lls," a rough

went to his waistband, pulling out a smal

the gun. The metal was

dle this,"

She reached up and messed up her hair, pulling strands loose.

d pulled out a small spray bottle of

front of their stall. A

normal voice. She pitched it higher, slurring her w

y, stomping her foot against the floo

the air, filling the small sp

nding s

ce outside muttered. "

treated. The mai

the bathroom, save f

he tank. He let out a breath t

ing," he

rding the blood soaking into her expensive dress. She r

of the thick velvet and pressed it hard into the gash in his side. "

d her, his eyes glinting in the dark,

said, her voice sharp and clini