simply crumpled.
Antony caught Ella. His hands flew over her. “Baby, you good?”
She nodded.
Silence around him. A lot of silence. His head whipped up as he scanned the bar. Antony saw that most of the men were either sprawled on the floor or slowly pushing up to their feet. No one looked to be in the mood to attack again. Good.
“Uh…that way,” the bartender announced. He lifted his dirty cloth and motioned toward the door Antony had spied moments before. “I think Cal is heading out back.” A pause. “Do I get a bonus for that information?”
“Fuck off,” Antony told him. He curled his arm around Ella. “Let’s go.”
On their way out the bar, Ella paused long enough to swipe his glasses off the bar top. She shoved them into her bag.
***
Jacob checked the time on his watch. Ella and Antony had been inside the hole of a bar for about ten minutes. He’d give them another five, then do a little recon work just to make sure they were all right in there. The crowd didn’t exactly look like the friendliest—or the most sober. His fingers tapped against the steering wheel. He’d spent the day trailing Antony, and despite Dex’s worries, not a damn thing had happened. Nothing suspicious at all. Jacob was willing to bet that this so-called tip of Antony’s would turn up absolutely jack shit. It would be another utter waste of time.
“What the hell?” Jacob straightened in his seat. Several people had just run out of the bar. Not stumbled drunkenly, like they’d been doing while he slouched in his ride. These folks were running like the devil was after them. Two men jumped into a truck and fish-tailed it out of the gravel lot. Another guy on a motorcycle almost wrecked his bike as he gunned it and fled.
“Shit.” Jacob slid his weapon under his shirt and hurried for the bar’s entrance. The bouncer was gone. Where the hell had he disappeared to? Jacob stalked in and froze at the sight that met him.
Bleeding men were slumped on the floor. Tables were smashed. Shattered glass crunched beneath his feet. One woman was holding a bleeding nose and cursing inventively and loudly.
He made his way to the bar—stepping over one unconscious man. Make that two. There was no sign of Ella or Antony. His fingers slapped down on the scarred bar top. “What happened here?” Jacob demanded.
The bartender slung a dirty cloth over his shoulder. His hoop earrings swayed a little with his movement. “What the fuck does it look like? Haven’t you ever seen a bar fight before?”
He’d seen plenty. What he still didn’t see…Ella and Antony. “Two of my friends were supposed to meet me here.”
“Good for you.”
“Their ride is outside. I know they came in.” He pushed his hands down harder against the wood as he loomed over the bar top. “Where are they?”
“How the hell do I know where your friends are? What do they even look like?”
“She’s a beauty with straight, blonde hair. Reddish tint. She would have been with a guy wearing glasses who—” But he stopped. It was obvious by the bartender’s expression that he knew exactly who Jacob was describing. “Where are they?”
“Well, now…” He licked his lips. “How much is that information worth to you?”
Jacob smiled at him. Then he struck. His hand flew out, curled around the back of the man’s neck, and Jacob rammed the guy’s bald head down against the bar. “I’m sorry. I think that was the wrong answer.” He waited a beat. “Where are my friends?”
“Out—out back! They went—”
“Thanks so much for your time.” He rushed for the back door. Damn. He wasn’t sure what to expect outside. He’d thought this was going to be another failed search at the bar. But now, with the bodies littering the floor, fear pumped through him. If Ella was hurt…
Jacob kicked open the back door. “Ella!” he yelled.
“Yes?” Quiet. Easy. Close.
He spun to the right. Ella stood there, looking as pretty as you please, not a hair out of place. Her bag was across her body, and her hands were loose at her sides.
“Help!” A croak. One that came from the man Antony currently had pinned against the side of the building. Antony’s forearm was shoved hard to the man’s throat.
“Guess what?” Ella motioned to the croaking man. “Antony found our target, and I think he might be in the mood to talk.” She edged a little closer to the guy. “Am I right?”
His head