Did he have a thing for her?
“Here’s what we’re going to do. You go back down and just say I’m not here. I’ll get us out of here through the fire escape and get somewhere safe. Did they check out back yet? Did they see my car?”
“I don’t know. They came in through the front. Your car’s registered here,” Aubree said.
“Look, if you’ll just let me make a damn phone call I’ll be out of all of your hair,” Nora spoke up. Decisions being made for her weren’t her cup of tea, especially when they were made by people she didn’t even fucking know!
“That sounds familiar,” Aubree muttered.
“Don’t go there.” Greg shook his head at Aubree, then turned his tense expression on Nora. “Once we’re out of here, you can tell me who you’re calling and why, then we’ll figure out—”
“Oh, fuck this.” Enough really was enough. She’d played the damsel too long, she really needed to get to a safe spot and call Bernie.
“Aubree, go on back downstairs, and I’ll get Nora somewhere safe.” Greg focused on coming up with a plan that might work for a little while, but Nora needed more than that. She needed to get a hold of Bernie and get out of this mess altogether.
Bernie would know what to do, he’d be able to get her out and to a safe location.
Nora walked over to the large windows overlooking the alley and peeked out. Yep, just like she figured. She threw open the window and wiggled her way out onto the fire escape. The blast from the instant heat she stepped into took her breath away for a moment, but she quickly regrouped and found the ladder.
“What the hell are you doing?” Greg hissed from the window. Half his body was already outside, but she wouldn’t let it deter her.
“Look. Thanks for your help, but I’m good. I don’t need your protection. I have this all covered.” The wrought-iron ladder burned against her palms, but she managed to lower it without making too much noise.
“If you think for one second I’m letting you—dammit. Nora!”
She laughed at the incredulous undertone he used. He really expected her to just stay because he said so. Well, she didn’t play that game.
Climbing down the ladder, she was careful to keep her steps as silent as her shoes would allow. Thankfully, she’d opted not go to work in sandals and had worn her skater shoes. Not much of a cushion in the sole, but it made climbing down the ladder easier than her sandals would have.
As she hopped off the last rung, she noticed the jarring of the rig. Looking up, she found Greg clamoring down after her.
“I don’t—” Before she could finish her sentence he jumped off, skipping the last five steps, and landed in front of her with a prepared glare.
“You are working my last nerve.” He grabbed her arm. “I’m not chasing you again, get in the car. And then you can tell me what the fuck is really going on.”
She tried to pull free, but she could see through the window of the back door into the bar that the two cops Aubree had warned them about were still talking to—she assumed—Blake. But they were casting glances down the hall.
“Fine.” She gritted her teeth. At the very least she could use a ride until she could get a hold of Bernie.
And then she’d get away from Greg, hide away from the Santinelli brothers, and figure out what the hell to do next.