Page 201 of Cross & Crown

him so they were both struggling. “Good Lord,” Alex said

quietly. “You have a leash for him, right?”

Nick tightened the zip tie, and Alex winced. “What was

your endgame here, huh?” he asked. “You followed us hoping

we’d lead you to the treasure?”

“Pretty much, yeah. When the clues led you here, though,

I realized you were as stuck as we are. This isn’t the right place.”

Nick’s brow furrowed, and he glanced again at the others.

Alex’s Irish henchman was standing calmly aside, his hands

tied behind his back, watching. He hadn’t tried to make a run

201

for it. Julian was on his knees, head hanging, chest heaving.

Kelly stood over him, a hand on his back, murmuring words

to calm him.

Nick wiped his wrist over his forehead to stop the water

from dripping in his eyes. As soon as he’d heard Julian give his warning on the bridge, he’d sunk below the ripples and let the

current take him downstream, then doubled back to get the

drop on their unexpected company.

“Okay,” he said almost to himself. “Okay. Hold on.”

Julian glared at him, seething.

Nick turned Alex again, making her stumble as he forced

her to face the others. “Tell us a story, Professor,” he growled.

“From the beginning.”

Alex cleared her throat. “You seem like a CliffsNotes

crowd.”

Kelly stood and shook out his shoulders. He helped Julian

to his feet. JD came closer.

“Okay, let’s start with the basics. Do you know who the

Rosicrucians were?”

“Secret society precursor to the Masons,” Kelly grunted.

---