Page 14 of Diamond in the Rough

“You’re looking good.”

Maddox felt good until he closed the door. The space was too small, and he resisted the urge to bolt from the car. Tom pulled off from the curb before he could act on his urge.

“I think that car’s followed me.”

Maddox didn’t turn to look; he used the mirror and hummed his agreement. The two men in the car behind had their eyes fixed on Tom’s vehicle. They didn’t glance out their side windows once or speak to each other. They had tunnel vision for him and Tom.

“James said they would. He bought me time, that’s it.” Maddox said.

“What do you wanna do?”

“Lead them in circles.”

Maddox leaned back in his seat and stared out the window. The sky was grey, and rain streaked down the windowpane. It reminded him of the first night Jake had come into his life. The mad car chase through the city when he’d thought he’d missed his shot…

“He’s not giving up easy, Boss.”

Maddox pinched the top of his nose and sighed. “We’ll do a swap then.”

“I’ll call Amber.”

Swapping vehicles was simple enough.

Tom parked outside a convenient store, and Maddox climbed out. The suspicious car pulled up a few spaces away, and one of the occupants got out.

Maddox strolled through the store to the staff room door and snuck inside. He passed through the stockroom and went into the loading bay. Workers looked his way, but a stern glare had them hurrying to avert their gazes.

Maddox pulled open the car door, trading one cramped space for another that smelled strongly of perfume.

“Boss.”

“That should do it,” Maddox said.

Amber pulled away and checked her mirrors. “Looks like we’re clear.”

“Drive a few circles to make sure.”

“Yes, Boss. What’s the plan with the bitch?”

“Antonia. We’ve got her name now.”

“I still prefer bitch.”

“We go in, we get her, and we take her for a ride.”

“All the way off a cliff.”

Maddox nodded. “But first I want names. We have to deal with all of them.”

“Sometimes I love my job, far more than I should.”

Amber’s lips spread into a sadistic smile, and Maddox mimicked it.

They pulled up outside the block of flats, and Maddox craned his neck to see the top of the tall building. “What number?”

“Seven.”

“Maybe we don’t need to go for a drive. Maybe we’ll get the names, and she’ll have an unfortunate slip from the seventh floor.”

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