Page 28 of Sinister Engagement

“No,” I interrupted him. “I don’t have a specific place. You’ll need to find a motel or something to hide up in. Grab some food with the money I gave you and stay put until I can come for you. There’s enough money there in cash and on the card to last you for several weeks as long as you don’t stay somewhere too expensive. Motels—Ron. Stay where they don’t have any CCTVs.”

He looked like he was going to be sick. I had to move this along. My eyes darted back to the street. That fucking sedan had turned back around. This time, it was slowing at a nearby light. The backdoor opened. “It won’t be forever,” I said quickly. “The phone I gave you is secure. Call me if there’s an emergency, otherwise, I want you to wait for me to call.”

“W-what are you going to do?”

Hope like hell that one of my contacts would come through in time for me to get him. I stepped out from behind the sign and waved my hand for a taxi. A yellow cabby caught my eye and pulled up to the curb. I stepped back to where Ron stood. Two men in black where coming down the street.

“Switch cabs often,” I pushed the words out in a rush as I latched onto his arm and practically dragged him towards the taxi. “Use the cash,” I snapped.

“But—what—!” Ron didn’t get to finish his sentence as I slammed the door closed on him.

“JFK airport, please,” I told the man in front before glancing back to Ron as he cursed and rolled the window down. The men were getting closer.Why the hell did I choose to wear heels today?I wondered absently. “Use the chaos at the airport to switch cabs,” I said, lowering my voice and leaning halfway into the cab as I tried to keep an eye on the men coming. I turned to the cabby. “There’s a two hundred dollar tip in it for you if you can get him there as fast as possible, sir. He’s late for a flight.”

The cabby’s eyes widened. “Yes, ma’am!” He nodded excitedly and then—just as every other cabby in New York when there was a hefty tip involved, he threw caution to the wind and sped out into traffic. My lips twitched as I heard Ronald shriek just before the taxi was out of range.

Now, time to figure a way out of—I turned the opposite way the men were approaching and ran head first into a massive chest. I stumbled, nearly going down on my ass before the man’s hands gripped my elbows and steadied me.

Startled, I adjusted myself. Having been to New York several times on and off, it was a rare occasion when someone was kind enough to catch a person when they fell or ran into them. Chivalry wasn’t dead, after all.

My eyes lifted. My lips parted. A thank you and apology were on the tip of my tongue and as soon as I met the man’s eyes, every word in my vocabulary dried up and shriveled into dust. Every word except one.

I gaped up at the man and let that word spill from my lips as shock overtook me.

“Gaven…”

Gaven’s face was hard. Lethal. His eyes were like twin chips of ice as he glared down at me. “Hello again, Angel,” he said. “Or should I call you wife?”

I was so fucked, and not in a good way.

---