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eight.”
    “I wasn’t due here at all.”
    “Yet you were wise enough to show,” Alex said.
    Without waiting for an invitation, Jesse sat on one of the chairs opposite Alex’s desk. Alex Covington’s intimidation did not work on him. All it did was piss him off. He said, “Why did you involve Lauren in this?”
    Alex lowered himself back into his chair. “I have neither the time nor the inclination to have this discussion with you,” he said. “You were hired to perform certain jobs which -”
    “That’s just it,” Jesse said. “I never agreed to what you’re asking.”
    “Until your recent indiscretion, you had proven yourself to be a valuable asset to this firm,” Alex said. “You performed responsibly, discreetly, and professionally. You proved your worth, which is why you were chosen to complete the tasks at hand.”
    “I suppose I should be flattered?”
    Alex didn’t respond. He simply stared at Jesse while rapping his fingers against his desk.
    Jesse sighed. “Look, I told you I won’t do what you’re asking with the murder case. Under no circumstance would I ever do it. And as for tailing your wife, that would definitely be awkward. But, regardless of Lauren, that’s just not my thing. None of this has anything to do with Lauren.”
    Alex leaned forward. “It does now.”
    “This should be between the two of us. No one else.”
    “Forget Kara,” Alex said. “I’ll deal with my wife in other ways. However, the other task is not up for debate. You will complete the job or I will put an abrupt halt to your career.”
    “I don’t give in to threats.”
    “I don’t make threats, Mr. Ryder. I make only promises.”
    Jesse stood. “I won’t do it. I got out of law enforcement because I wouldn’t play the games and bend the rules to win. I’m certainly not about to start doing it for you.”
    Alex snorted. “Do us both a favor and get off your moral high horse.”
    “Christ, you want me to mess with evidence so that your client can walk free,” Jesse said. “Your client is a cold-blooded killer. What makes you think he won’t do it again?”
    “I don’t care whether he does it again,” Alex said. “I care about winning.” Alex pushed his chair back and rose. He leaned forward, pressed his hands against his desk and glared at Jesse. “My client is an important man. He takes care of me and I do the same for him. That’s how it works, Mr. Ryder. I’m surprised you haven’t learned that by now.”
    “That’s how it works in your world,” Jesse said. “And that’s why I refuse to live or work in your world.”
    “You’re willing to give up your career and my daughter over your virtuous code of ethics?”
    “I don’t plan on giving up either.”
    “We’ll see.”
    Jesse glared back at Alex. He was in deeper than he cared to be with this man. He’d known Covington’s reputation when he’d taken that first job. The job had been minor. He’d thought he could handle it. And he had. He just hadn’t counted on things escalating so quickly.
    Alex drummed his fingers on the desk. His face showed controlled anger. He said, “You could have gone far with us. Walk away now and you will lose all you’ve worked for.”
    Jesse turned and strode to the door. “Don’t be so sure,” he said. He walked out before giving in to the urge to pound Covington’s face into the polished wood.
     
    ***
     
    Jesse had spent the past half hour taking out his frustrations on the weight bench at the gym. His arms throbbing, he slammed the bar against the bench as if Alex Covington’s head lay between them.
    Would it be any easier had he not gotten involved with Lauren? Less complicated, yes. But he’d still be backed against a wall. How the hell had that happened?
    “Bad day?” Tim asked.
    Jesse glanced at the next bench, where his best friend since childhood was working out. “You could say that,” he replied.
    “Work?”
    “Yes and no.” Jesse stood and stretched his back.