Page 123 of Mob Princess

An hour

Justin

Fine. Cross me Nik and he’ll still pay. I don’t work alone.

Lina

I know. You better tell me enough that if this shit really goes sideways and I need to get out I know who not to run to.

Justin

Run to me.

Lina

One hour be there. I have no patience left.

Justin

I know what that means. See you there

She sighs before she looks up at me. Then she closes her eyes and sags against my shoulder.

“I know that went back and forth way longer than you wanted. But the first step to breaking Justin is to whip up his fear of abandonment. He knows what I’m like when my patience is gone. He’s seen it with Ewan and Colt. He saw it when we were teenagers. I directed it at a few guys who worked for my father. He’ll change course to placate me. He’ll be more conciliatory because he thinks he has to win me back over to his side.”

“The abandonment—is that the BPD?”

“Yes. There are things from his past, like I said, only Ewan, Colt, and I, along with a few other people know. That’s what I need to use in person. I know you don’t want me to see him. You’re practically vibrating with anger that I suggested it. Trust me on this, Sean. I can’t be absolute about anything someone else will do. But I know Justin, and I know how he’s predictable. He said he wants me back in Boston, but he only disagreed with New York being my home because of you. He didn’t disagree that Montreal is home. He said nothing about my grandfather, which makes me think he believes Montreal is safe for him. He knows Boston won’t be because of Ewan. Unless he put a hit on Ewan too, he can’t stay.”

“How do you know he’s here?”

“The drones. If he got photos of us somehow, it had to be that way. He has the kind that can take photos, and he’s an expert at using them. He does surveillance for Colt.”

That reminds me of something. I clench my jaw. She kisses it where the muscle sticks out and puts her lips to my ear.

“I will explain what happened when he watched me once you and I are somewhere we can really talk. We need to head back to Manhattan.”

We’ve been sitting in my parents’ garage, alone in the car since the others already went inside. She slides her phone back into her pocket and climbs out on her own since the garage door is shut.

No one’s said anything about what happens next, so I have to fill them in. Her arrangement to meet Justin won’t go over well. If anyone is going to stop her, it’ll be my mom.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Lina

I’m exhausted. More from that text conversation with Justin than everything that happened with Lucy. That took mental and physical strength. Texting Justin took emotional strength. Sixty minutes is going to cut it tight to get back into Manhattan. I feel badly that I wasted the drive into Queens.

Sean’s explaining to the others the change in whatever their plans were. I’m upstairs getting cleaned up as best I can without spare clothes here. The way I killed Lucy ensured the blood splatter went away from me. I’m not at my best, but I’m also not covered in anything gory. I don’t expect a knock.

“Come in.”

“Nikki?”

“In the bathroom.”

I step out to see Ally with some clothes over her arm. She holds them up.

“I know we’re not the same size, but we’re close in height. Maybe something will work. When Finn told me Mair and I needed to come here, I knew it could be an hour or a few days. I brought stuff with me. You’re too tall for Mair’s clothes.”

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