Page 28 of Buck Baxter and the Mysteries of Love

He fired a bullet that shaved off the side of my shoe and ricocheted into the cornerstone of a nearby building. I flinched, my feet dancing, something that made the German cackle with glee.

“Laugh it up, chucklehead,” Stella snapped. “You won’t think it’s funny when Buck and I kick your ass into next week.”

Hammer only grinned back. “Oh my, how I shall enjoy silencing you forever. Now, let’s take that ride together.”

Stella tied the rope behind my back as the German ordered, “Tighter!”

We were in the rear of the limo with Harry, his hands bound behind his back and the Nazi pointing his gun between the three of us.

The car was cruising through the streets of the city, the window separating us from the twins open so that Hammer could bark his orders at them as well. “Avoid the traffic. Easy on the corners. Take the quietest route possible to the far end of the river, as far from the police as possible. And don’t try anything foolish, otherwise everybody dies.”

As Stella finished tying my hands, I glanced at Harry beside me. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

“No, but I sure as hell wouldn’t mind breaking a knuckle or two on this guy’s face.” He glared at Hammer who simply laughed back at him.

“You’re telling me. I owe this guy a shiner or two myself. So, what happened?”

“I’m not sure. It all happened so fast. I finished lunch with my parents when suddenly the limo pulled up and this asshole stepped out waving his gun. He’d already tied up Lois and Lucy in front, then he worked on my ropes. Of course, when my father finds out about this, there’ll be hell to pay.” He turned his head to the German. “You do realize any contract Herr Garbutt hassigned with Hart Industries won’t be worth the paper it’s written on, not once my father finds out his investors are capable of kidnapping.”

“Oh, Master Hart,” smirked Hammer. “We are capable ofsomuch more than kidnapping.”

“He’s right,” I said grimly to Harry while keeping my gaze leveled at the German. “The Feds are dead. Whatever plot they uncovered, it cost them their lives.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of Stella—the only one of us not yet bound—suddenly lunge toward the German.

Swiftly he pointed his gun at her and she pulled herself back.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” the German informed her calmly. “Otherwise you’ll regret it.”

“I got news for you, ya schlub. I pretty much regret everything, no matter what I do. That’s just the kinda gal I am. So quit tellin’ me what to do.”

“Oh, but if I kill you now, you’re going to miss the rest of today’s excitement.”

I eyed him suspiciously. “What kind of excitement?”

Hammer gave a sly smile. “The kind that goes…kaboom!”

“You’ve got a bomb?” Harry breathed. “You’re going to set off a bomb?”

“No,” came the simple answer. “We’re going to set off two. And that’s just beginning.”

“Why?” I demanded. “Why the fuck would you want to march into our city and start blowing things up?”

“To teach you a lesson, Mr. Baxter.”

“Me? What’s any of this got to do with me?”

“Our question precisely. Your meddling is proving quite problematic. Now it’s time for those you care about to suffer.”

Panic set in. “Those I care about? Who? Tell me who?”

“Firstly, your friend from the Far East. She seems very good at unraveling clues and leading you down all the rabbitholes where you don’t belong. But we all know what happens to naughty bunnies. In the end, the wolf gets them.”

“Madame Chang,” I gasped. “Don’t you dare fucking hurt Madame Chang.”

The German laughed. “Mr. Baxter, we’re not going to simply hurt her. We’re going to blow her barge to kingdom come.”

“Stop the car!” I screamed at both the German and the Logan twins in front.

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