Page 45 of For the Birds

I didn’t answer, my ears straining to listen.

James and I were silent for nearly ten seconds before he said, “Rose. I’m sorry.” The fear in his voice scaredme.

My heart skipped a beat. “What are you sorryfor?”

“I had Brett watchin’ you, and when he saw you were with that vet, I called him off. This is my fault.”

“This isn’t your fault,” I whispered. “You’re not responsible forme.”

James paused, then said, “Your voice hasn’t been breaking up. See if you can pull up yourmap.”

I glanced down at my phone—there were two bars, but the app still wouldn’t load. I scooted out from under the desk and pulled a solid threebars.

The app had finally started to load when I heard the doorknob jiggling. I glanced up in panic, about to dive for the desk, but there wasn’t any time. The door opened, and I saw a man I recognized standing in the doorway. He’d been at the parley three weeks ago. He was one of Buck Reynolds’ men. Tim Dermot.

He reached a hand toward me. “Give me the phone.”

I wanted to protest, but the gun pointed at my chest helped me change my mind. Still on my knees, I handed it to him. He snatched it from me and promptly dropped it on the ground behind him. If it had been a living entity, the three shots he pumped into it would certainly have killedit.

I jumped and let out a gasp before he turned back to me. “Who were you talkin’ to?”

Should I lie? The truth seemed better in this instance. “Skeeter Malcolm. He knows where I am, and he’s comin’ to getme.”

Okay, semi-truth.

A small smile spread across his face. “That’s what we’re countin’ on.”

Well, crappy doodles.

“If you’re countin’ on him comin’ for me, then why shoot my phone? Why not just offer him a polite invitation to joinus?”

“Because we’re not stayin’ here.” He leaned over and grabbed my upper arm, tugging me to my feet. “Time togo.”

“I think I’d rather just stay here and wait for James.” Dammit. I’d used his realname.

Dermot’s eyes lit up. “James, huh? So Buck’s right. You two arescrewin’.”

I jerked free of his hold. “My personal life is none of your business.”

“Everything to do with James Malcolm’s life is our business. If you’re part of it, then it is our business.”

I could continue arguing that we hadn’t slept together, but that meant nothing. It was obvious James found me valuable—the hows and whys didn’t much matter.

The more details I gave Buck Reynolds, the more leverage he wouldhave.

“I won’t be any part of tryin’ to hurthim.”

His only answer was to grab my arm and drag me out of the office.

My head swam when I saw the bodies of the two guys who’d captured me lying on the floor in puddles of blood that soaked their clothes. Tim continued to drag me toward the loading dock doors.

“What do you want?” I asked. Instinct told me to resist, but from the looks of it, Tim Dermot and his two buddies had just busted in to rescue me. Or take me hostage themselves.

Again, he stayed silent as he marched out the door with me in tow. I saw two guys standing next to a car. The one facing me was wearing a grim expression, probably because his arm was bleeding. The other guy was wrapping a piece of gauze around it for pressure. He tied a knot and then pivoted to faceme.

Standing in front of me was none other than Buck Reynolds.

I’d just jumped out of the frying pan and into thefire.

“I take it you’re here to kidnap me too,” I said, sounding sassier than I felt. I was about to pee my pants with fear, but I didn’t want them to knowthat.

A grim smile twisted his lips. “Hardly. I’m here to hireyou.”

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