Page 79 of The Price of Power

“The FBI agent protecting me tonight,” Theo explained. “He went out about fifteen minutes ago to pick up some dinner, but he should be back soon.”

Now, I did roll my eyes. How the hell had Theo managed to survive on his own this long?

“FBI agents don’t just leave someone they’re protecting because they get a craving for fried chicken,” I told him. “This agent is probably Gabriel’s mole, and he left you alone for the hitman to find.”

I didn’t think any more color could drain from my brother’s face, but I was wrong.

“Holy shit.” Theo’s voice trembled as he finally relented and let me pull him out the door.

I made a beeline for the elevators, pressing the button and praying as I listened to the mechanism inside whir to life.

Please let the car be empty. Please let the car be empty.

For once, someone up above appeared to be listening to me. No one was inside the elevator when the doors finally opened. Even better, no one who looked vaguely like a D’Angelo was hanging out in the lobby when we reached the ground floor.

Still, I wasn’t about to risk breathing a sigh of relief. I knew this wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.

I handed Theo a baseball cap I’d bought from a souvenir shop on my way over and told him to pull it down low. As we hit the door, I slipped the hood of my sweatshirt up to obscure my face.

Even in a city as crowded as New York, two curly redheads stood out.

“Where are we going?” Theo asked as we stepped out into the warm summer night.

“Down to the piers,” I told him. “From there, we’ll get you on a ship that can take you all the way to Canada.”

“You got me cruise tickets?” His eyes lit up again at the idea of another good time.

“Not exactly,” I said. Not even close. “There are some small, independent cargo vessels down there. For the right price, their captains can be talked into smuggling contraband over the border.”

Theo shot me a confused look out of the corner of his eye as we kept up a brutal pace toward the water down the dark sidewalk. “Are you saying I’m the contraband?”

“Exactly. Now, keep your head down,” I told him. “It took me all day to come up with this plan, but it’s not going to work if you get recognized before we make it to the waterfront.”

“But I can’t hide out in some nasty, cramped dinghy all the way to Canada.”

I really wasn’t in the mood to listen to his complaints. “If that’s how you feel, then go back to the safe house and try your luck there.”

“No, thank you,” he whined. “I’m just saying there has to be a more comfortable way to get me out of the country. If not a cruise ship, then maybe a ferry or a private speed boat.”

That was it.

I stopped short. Spinning around on the street, I looked up from my hood just far enough to pierce my brother with an angry stare.

“I don’t know what you think is happening, Theo, but this isn’t a joke. I am out here risking my life trying to save your sorry ass,” I said through clenched teeth.

“I know, Liv,” he said. “I just?—“

“You know?” I cut him off, confronting him head-on. “Not sorry, or please forgive me? Just I know?”

“Liv, I?—“

“Of course, you knew.” Stepping up, I poked my finger hard against the dead center of his chest. “From the first moment you and Mom sent me out here to ‘negotiate with the creditors,’ you knew what kind of danger you were sending me into. You just didn’t care.”

“Come on, Liv,” Theo said with his usual devil-may-care shrug—the one that had allowed him to charm his way out of all kinds of trouble before. “You’re fine. I knew what I was doing. Gabriel D’Angelo may be tough, but he isn’t the kind of guy who would hurt an innocent woman.”

Heat filled my face as anger burned hot in my blood.

“Don’t you dare tell me what kind of man Gabriel is,” I said, my low and biting. “You don’t know the first thing about him.”

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