Page 65 of New Rules
“In a few days,” I replied.
I wasn’t trying to be vague on purpose. It was actually the same response Ray had given me. He had a lot to do to close his life up in Texas, but he’d promised to call me tomorrow and tell me exactly when he’d be back, so I’d let it go.
“Cool,” Diego replied and then pulled out his phone while he waited for his food.
Delia, however, was such a hoot to work with, and I was secretly hoping she would want to keep working some bar shifts with me even after we figured out this burglary mess—whenever that might happen.
The hours slipped by easily with her at my side, quickly turning into the kind of shift that didn’t feel like work. Before I knew it, it was about thirty minutes before closing time.
The pub had slowed to a near crawl, leaving only one couple left at a high-top table. They were deep in conversation and oblivious to the rest of the world. They weren’t causing any trouble, so I was in no rush to make them leave.
“You can head out if you want,” I told Delia, wiping down the counter.
It was my turn to close anyway, and with Diego here, I didn’t need her sticking around just to keep me company.
Once she left, the quiet settled in a little deeper, especially since Diego was the silent, broody type to begin with.
I moved through my closing routine—wiping down the tables, restocking the bottles, straightening stools, and helping the final waitress, Chelle, close out all her tabs and get her tips in order.
With ten minutes left before closing, I handed Diego the keys to lock up the front once the last customers left.
I tallied the money up and placed it in the safe just as Chelle finished cleaning up and restocking. Diego walked us both out to our cars, dropping me off first where I had parked in the main lot, and then they walked over to Chelle’s car, which was across the street.
I’d no sooner pulled out of the parking lot than I had to turn around after realizing I had left my phone on the office desk. I chose to pull right up to the front door since it was closer. Unlocking it, I walked over to the security panel to turn it off, but I realized that nothing had beeped when I’d opened the door.
Why wasn’t the alarm on? I knew I’d turned it on when we left.
Did Chelle and Diego have to come back for something, too?
As I walked to the office, I felt the hair on the back of my neck rise, a prickling sensation racing down my skin.
It was a warning—the kind you learned not to ignore.
But I realized it a second too late.
I turned into the office just in time to see Diego pulling the money bag from the safe.
“It’s not what it looks like,” he rushed to say.
“Well, what the fuck is it, then, because it sure as hell looks like you’re stealing money,” I yelled.
“Tammy,” he started to say and then paused.
Before I could say another word, he bolted toward me at full speed. Just as he shoved past me, I yanked the bag from his hands and made a move toward the desk where I kept a gun hidden in the drawer.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t fast enough.
I heard the familiar click of a gun’s safety followed by Diego’s sharp voice behind me.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” he said, as though the words softened his harsh tone. “Just give me the money and let me leave.”
I slowly turned to find him standing rigidly, his gun aimed straight at me.
“I’m sorry I have to do this, Tammy, but I need the money.”
My gaze locked onto the weapon as I assessed what I could do in the split second I had. Compact handgun. Unsteady grip. Finger too close to the trigger. His free hand extended out, palm up, waiting for the money bag.
Think.
