Page 141 of Bottles & Blades

“What? You want a fucking medal? It didn’t make one bit of difference.” His words are snapped out. “That bitch’s house has been locked down tighter than Fort Knox ever since he caught sight of you. And now we’ve got nothing remotely useful to lean on him with.”

Relief that Chrissy is safe…

And moreshit.

Because his words have Angela turning and looking at me—her expression filled with icy triumph.

“We haveher.”

The man’s cold gaze comes to mine. “Well, she better pay off”—it swivels to Angela and I watch her flinch then try to hide it—“because with the Duarte deal going south?—”

That pings through my mind.

Duarte is the name of the company Marie found the connection with—Jean-Michel told me last night.

Same as he told me it may be the thing to bring Angela down.

Is it at risk of taking the scary man with the gun down too?

I struggle to bite back the panic again.

Because the man was scary before, but motivated by a potential lifetime in a federal prison?

I don’t love my chances.

“You’re the one who screwed up!” Angela snaps, throwing her hands up. “You weren’t careful and they connected my name to the Corporation. That’s your fault, not mine.”

One second, she’s yelling at him.

The next? He’s backhanding her, sending her down to the floor, her hand clamped to her face.

She doesn’t cry out.

She doesn’t look surprised.

It’s like she’s lived this violence, over and over again.

And maybe she has.

“Someone had to take that risk,” he says icily. “Just so happens that someone was you, so quit fucking bitching about it. Now shut up and get the shit ready for when Jean-Michel shows up.” A beat. “Ifhe shows up.”

“He’s got a white knight complex.” Her tone has grown hard. Sharp. Sneering. Like it was that night on Chrissy’s driveway. “Jean-Michel can’t resist the temptation of a damsel in distress.”

I wince.

Because that’s the truth.

And I’m terrified he’ll do something dangerous to save me…

Like signing something.

Liketransferringsomething.

Like putting himself between that gun and me.

“I have the papers here,” Angela says holding up a stack. “Trustme when I say that he’ll sign.”

“I’ve trusted you for a long time,” the man says, “and while it’s worked out in both of our favors, if you don’t come through on this then none of that will matter.” He steps close, voice threatening. “And if you fuck me over, it’sallover.”

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