Page 216 of Cross & Crown

“Everyone have a gun on them now?” Alex called. “Is this

what boys do for fun?”

Nick grunted, afraid to move with so many nervous and

inexperienced personalities involved. Not to mention Julian,

who would definitely blow out the brains of an ally to save his husband.

“Okay,” Nick said slowly. “No one move, let’s talk this

one out, huh? Bottom line, Cross is here for Cam and the

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rest of you are here for treasure. I think we can accommodate

everyone.”

“What are you here for, cop?” the man on the ground

asked.

“I heard they had doughnuts,” Nick said through his teeth.

“Treasure?” the woman in the bonnet asked. She was

nearly screaming. “What are you talking about?”

“The Continental payroll,” Nick said to her. “Know

about it?”

“Of course,” she said, wiping a hand over her face. “You’re

in the wrong town! The Continental payroll was stolen from

Buckman Tavern in Lexington!”

“It would have been brought this way,” JD said, speaking

to the entire room. “I remembered why we had to break into

that bookstore. I remembered everything, Nick.”

Nick glanced up at him briefly, afraid to take his eyes off

the kidnapper on the floor for too long.

“They took me from my hotel room,” JD continued.

“Alex, I’m sorry, I didn’t leave you guys. Two men came in

with guns and said I was dead if I didn’t come with them.”

If Alex responded, she did so silently, because Nick heard

nothing from behind him. JD’s blue eyes pleaded with Nick.

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