The honking and cursing, which is relatively normal for New York City, intensifies as people hit their brakes to avoid hitting her.
“WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?” She yells over the commotion.
The biker never even turns her way. His field of vision stays on me, and just when Val is a few feet away, he takes off, but not before pointing to a tree behind him.
I cross the street like a normal person and rush over to her.
“Are you fucking crazy? What if he was armed?” At that thought, I glance around for my security and from.
“Where the fuck are your guards?” Val asks is coming to the same conclusion as me.
“I don’t know,” I admit and glance over at the tree.
A white gift bag with a bow sits on the ground where the biker indicated.
“Fuck, he wanted me to find that.” I turn Val around to see it, and she curses.
“Think it’s a boom?” At this point, I wouldn’t put anything past this guy.
“It’s probably a whip and gag.” She stares at me like I’ve grown a second head.
“I do watch porn, you know.” She laughs as she gets closer to the bag.
“I don’t hear any ticking.” I roll my eyes.
“No fucking funny. I’m calling Alfie. If he’s paying for my detail, he needs to know they’re slacking.” I take out my phone and dial the familiar number, but it rings to voicemail.
A cold sense of dread rolls down my spine.
“He always answers.” I look up at Val in shock.
“Marco,” Val says, and I groan.
But she’s right.
I search for his number because, God knows, I barely call it and hit dial. It rings four times before he answers.
“Busy,” I tamp down my temper cause that could mean he’s killing or hiding a body.
“I’ll keep it short. My detail is missing, and Alfie isn’t answering.” I hear a grunt followed by several curses in Spanish.
“Go home. Text me when you arrive. Don’t leave until I say so.” The phone goes dead, and I look at Val.
“He said to go home and not leave.” We’re only a few blocks away and were planning to head there anyway, but being told that is like being punished for no reason.
“Wow, this is crazy.” She shakes the bag, and I cringe.
“Careful!” I hiss as I look around.
“It’s not a bomb. It is, however, the craziest gift to buy a stranger that I’ve ever seen.” No way.
“Even worse than yesterday?” She nods and hands me the bag.
I look inside and find my favorite chocolate truffles, a bottle of Midol, and a heating pad. Under it all, another note. I open it and take a deep breath before reading it out loud.
“Stay in her bed won’t keep me away. I’m coming for you soon.” I look up at Val and frown.
“He got in again.” I shrug.
