“That’s all I know. I don’t know the details, but Jayden did something in the past that bit Vadik in the mobster-butt. And he’s not happy about it. It was just dumb luck for him that Bernard knew me well enough to call in a favor. It’s been Jayden all along that Vadik’s wanted.”
“It’s going to be okay,” I tell her. “Nothing’s going to happen to him. He’s safe in the van.” Thank God for that.
My heart beats fast, a bird fluttering its wings inside my chest, rattling the cage bars.
He’s going to be okay. He’s going to be okay.…
As long as no one goes looking for Connor’s van, Jayden will be safe.
Us on the other hand…
Landon presses his ear to the door and listens for a minute. He draws his gun and points at the wall, indicating for us to stay close to it. Then he twists the doorknob and cautiously opens the door.
He checks to see if the coast is clear and gestures for us to follow him. Granny is behind him. I bring up the rear, keeping an eye on our surroundings. Whoever was guarding Granny’s room didn’t bother to stick around. They must have wrongly assumed that Granny was no match for Gabrielle.
Which is good news for us.
The entire corridor contains nothing but giant wooden barrels lined up on either side of the space. Anyone could be hiding between them, and we wouldn’t realize it until it’s too late.
The wooden ceiling above us is steepled. At the far end is what looks like an exit. At the other end are low voices: two males and a female. Something about the female’s voice sounds familiar, but all the voices are too low to hear what they’re saying.
Well, I’d say it’s a no-brainer where we need to go.
Except, Landon doesn’t seem interested in heading for the exit. He’s listening—and for a fleeting second, fear causes his eyes to flare slightly.
But it’s gone just as quickly.
He points at me, and my grandmother, after which, he points at the exit. He wants me to take Granny to safety, but why isn’t he planning to come with us?
A third male voice adds to the mix. Jayden’s voice. Whatever’s going down isn’t looking too rosy. And now Landon’s decision to stay behind makes sense.
My heart rate kicks up again, my breath follows suit, and the sensation of a giant spider crawling along my skin ambles up my spine.
I look behind me at my grandmother. I need to get her out of here, but if Jayden is in trouble, I can’t abandon him. I need to save him…and then ream him out for disobeying Liam’s order to stayinthe van with Connor.
From the expression on Granny’s face, it’s clear that she also has heard Jayden. And she realizes that not only is Jayden in trouble, Landon wants me to turn my back on the man I love to get her out of here.
She points to herself…and then to the space between the two giant upright barrels standing next to us.
I nod in understanding.
It’s not safe for her to go to the exit herself, and we have no idea what’s on the other side of the door. So as long as Landon and I don’t get ourselves killed, she’ll be okay if she stays hidden for now.
She squeezes her body between the two barrels. Once she’s hidden, Landon and I creep forward, listening to the conversation around the corner.
“You won’t be walking out of here a free man,” Jayden says, “so you might as well put down your gun and let her go. Killing a federal agent won’t score you any points. The criminal system’s funny that way.”
So the cavalry is here…so to speak.
Except it doesn’t sound like the FBI is doing too hot right now, if what Jayden is saying is any indication.
“Says you,” a male voice I don’t recognize says. It’s an older voice with a strong Russian accent. It’s also rough and unperturbed at how things are unfolding.
Mainly because from the sound of things, they’re moving more in his favor than they are for the good guys.
For now, anyway.
Landon peers around the massive wine barrel, careful not to be spotted. He straightens. “Vadik has Virginia hostage and is holding a gun to her head.” He keeps his voice to slightly above a whisper.
