I caught the breeze off the bullet that nearly grazed my cheek. Cederick popped open the car door and Buck tried to pull me in but my feet stayed firmly planted on the ground.

Buck got out of the car and looked at what I was staring at. Billy McCarty stood their gun frozen in his hand. Buck seemed nervous like he wasn't quite sure what to do but I let go of his hand and started to walk up to McCarty.

"Lulu, NO!" Buck tried to pull me back, but I easily evaded his grasp. Slowly, I walked towards Billy who gradually lowered his gat.

"Cutting it a bit close, weren't you officer?"

He looked like he wanted to spit nails at me. Instead, of answering he ignored me and walked past me. I knew where he was headed, but I didn't want to look at the man he shot down, the man who was placed at the Lemon Tree to kill me.

A crowd had begun to gather and I wrapped my arms around myself trying to hold it together and not go all blooey. Taking several deep breaths.

Billy ordered someone from the restaurant to call for an Ambulance and the police to clean up this mess. Then he spoke with Buck.

"It's time for you to go home, Buck."

"I'm not leaving her," I heard Buck say and I smiled but said, "Do as he says, Buck. Please?"

I could feel his gaze at my back but I refused to turn around.

"Cederick, will take you home or wherever you want to go. Since it's obvious someone is gunning for Lulu, I suggest you make it a short trip and not some joy ride or you may end up like AJ with a hole through your chest."

"But I...Lulu?"

I could hear all the questions in his voice, but I didn't have any answers for him. My world was tumbling out of control at a very alarming rate.

"Buck Buchanan, isn't it?" I hear Billy say. "You weren't perhaps at the Velveteen the night of the raid by any chance were you?"

I shook my head. "No, need to threaten officer. He was just leaving."

"Yeah, right," I hear Buck say, a car door closed and I watched as they drove away.

More coppers showed up to the scene. Billy was outside with them. I was forced to wait in the restaurant since Billy didn't want me out in the open. He came into the back door and was surprised to find me with an apron on, rolling out noodles.

He raised an eyebrow at me in question.

"Something I learned from Madame Yu...it... it calms the nerves."

He didn't try and stop me he just pulled a stool over to the other side of the Butcher's block.

"You picked a real gem there, Lulu. You know he use to run scams with his brother, playing music while his twin picked pockets?"

"How do you think I met Bruce?" I grinned at him. He still looks like he wants to throttle me.

"Speaking of the evil twin, where is he, Lu? My source says he was in NoLuk territory a little while back?"

I was starting to feel down right wicked and my eyes locked with his, "By source, you mean that redhead from the Velveteen that was staking her claim on you earlier?"

"Careful, Lu."

"Well, if you get to evaluate who I spend my time with I think it only fair. You've managed to jump from the frying pan into the fire with that one. Annie O'Capella has quite a reputation around the boys back home."

His eyes flashed a warning, which I refused to heed.

"Have you slept with him, Lu?"

My grin was down right evil. "Why do you care?"

Within a flash he was around the other side of the table. He spun me around and pinned me with his arms on either side of me. We were practically nose-to-nose.

His gaze at this moment had me more frightened then the bullet that nearly grazed my cheek. Very deliberately he asked his question again, "Did...you...sleep...with...him?"

I tried to turn my face away but he grabbed hold of my cheek and turned me back.

"Answer me, Lu?"

"Did you sleep with her?" I fired back.

He smiled, and let go of my face but still had me pinned. "No, I did not."

"Oh." I felt winded. Suddenly, my bravado left me. "You, care about her then."

"I'm undecided, she's a bit mixed up about what it means to love someone. You did send me her way."

I bit my lip, "I did didn't I. Story of my life. Only myself to blame."

"You didn't answer me."

"Noticed that did you?"

"I'm very observant in that way."

"Yes," I confessed.

"I thought as much."

I bristled all over again. "What's that suppose to mean?"

"That you don't care about him."

"I do too care!" But Billy was shaking his head at me and if I had a clear shot I would slap him right now and he knew it, I could tell by that smirk.

"I've watched how you've tortured Brody during my stint with the McGinty clan. You were the one thing he could never possess; you drove him mad and when you refused me that night we were together... I knew you loved me too. You won't sleep with a man you know you're in danger of losing your heart to."

I looked away, "I'd done it once, and it cost me everything."

"I'm taking you back to my place, until I can figure out a safer place for you."

His arm reached around me and for a split second I thought he may try and kiss me but he simply undid my apron strings and slid the garment from over my head. "Let's go home, Lu."

I took his hand and let him lead me to his car. "Aren't you worried about what Annie might think of all this?"

"I would be if she knew where I lived, or that any of this happened, but I sent her to Caroline Grace hoping she'll get a job at the paper."

"Is that wise considering what she knows about you?"

"She'd go digging either way, at least if Annie's on the books, she'll have a legit reason to be in the places she'll decide to go and that will be one way to keep her out of trouble."

I know I should be happy for him but it hurt nonetheless.

We got to his place and he opened the door and let me in only after he swept the place.

I sat on his sofa and waited. He came over to me and I could tell he was still on the clock, he was all cop.

"Bruce? Where is he?"

I sighed. "My place."

"How'd you get him out?"

"I said, please." I was beginning to tire of all of this.

"No need to get snarky, Lulu. Just getting some answers."

"So what now?"

"The man who was about to shoot you... he was an Irish. Lulu, you're not safe. Not even among your own men."

My eyes stung, but I refused to cry. I felt so alone.

Billy sat beside me. "There's nowhere else to go. I've contacted, Order. He's the only one I trust to protect you."

I laughed, but it was because I didn't know what other emotion to express and it just bubbled out of me. "No one can protect me. If they want me dead, I'm already fit for a toe tag. I'm just a walking corpse."

Billy rubbed his thumb across my cheek. A tear must have escaped and I didn't realize. "I won't let anything happen to you."

I tried to smile. "I know you'll try."

He grabbed hold of my shoulders and stared at me intensely, "Lu, when I pulled that trigger... I didn't do it because I'm a cop."

"I know."

"I'm stepping out. I have a dinner date I have to keep."

This took me by surprise. "Annie?" I hated the jealousy I could hear in my own voice.

He smirked at me. "Actually, no. I'm meeting a mutual friend. Tres. I need to give him the low down and find out what more he may know."

"So, I'm to sit here all alone?"

As if an answer to my question, there was a knock on the door. Billy rose to answer it. Checking the peephole before opening it.

"Right on time," Billy said sarcastically.

"Shut it copper. I'm only here for her."

I stood up suddenly stunned, looking at Brody who was looking very intensely at me.