Page 48 of Stuck with My Bossy Protector

“He’s right where you left him,” I hiss.

“Did we have him?” he questions with an amused expression. “Tim, look around and bring him in here.”

I still can’t see any faces. One of them sounds familiar, but I can’t say for sure. His voice is muffled.

“Sit down,” he orders, gesturing to the couch.

Mia is still clutching my arm as we sit down on the couch. She doesn’t say a word.

“Look, take me out of here,” I say. “I know Vincent is pissed. Take me back to wherever he is, and we’ll handle this. You don’t need her. She’s nobody.”

“She’s a witness,” he replies calmly.

“Man, we haven’t seen your faces,” I insist. “Just take me.”

“Stop it,” Mia murmurs. “Don’t do that. Don’t sacrifice yourself.”

“You don’t get it,” I tell her. “They want me. They are here for me.”

“Tie them up,” the first man orders the other.

The other man produces zip ties from his pocket and quickly binds our hands behind our backs. The guy in charge pulls off his ski mask. My blood runs cold as I recognize him. It’s Gary, the man I gave a sworn statement about. He should be in prison, and I should be safe.

Gary smiles at me. “Uh-oh, now she’s seen my face.”

“She won’t say anything.”

“I bet you’re pretty surprised to see me, Noah? You thought I would be locked up for good, and you were just going to get away with it. Turns out, I decided I didn’t want to go to prison.”

“They’ll be looking for you,” I warn him. “My flight plan is logged.”

“I know,” he grins. “Your buddy was reluctant to give it up, but we can be very persuasive.”

“No…” the word is out of my mouth before I can stop it. The implication of his words hits me with a crushing force.

Gary chuckles, seeming to enjoy the look of despair on my face.

“You’re not as untouchable as you think you are,” he says, the smile never wavering. “Didn’t think we’d find out you were working with the Feds? Come on, you think we don’t have people on the inside?”

I don’t know what to say. I should have known. Why did I think I would be protected? I should have kept my mouth shut and hired a better lawyer. Mia sits silently beside me, her eyes sharp and alert. She’s not crying or hysterical, just watching. I admire her calm, even in this nightmare.

“What’s your plan?” I ask, my voice steady.

Gary grins a cold, cruel smile. “You’ll know soon enough.”

Tim returns and notices that the other two have removed their masks. He pulls his off and shoves it in his pocket. “I found the biologist. He’s dead.”

Gary looks at me. “Damn, Noah. I didn’t know you had it in you.”

“I didn’t kill him,” I say with disgust. “Are you really going to pretend you had nothing to do with this?”

“Wasn’t me,” he laughs.

The tension in the room is palpable. I glance at Mia, trying to convey some semblance of reassurance. Her gaze meets mine, and I see fear, but she doesn’t let it show.

“We don’t have to do this,” I say, returning my attention to Gary. “You’ve got me. Let her go.”

Gary laughs a harsh sound. “And miss the show? Not a chance.”

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