Page 81 of Diamond in the Rough

Maddox turned and glared out the window. The countryside blurred, and his head throbbed. His throat itched, and he clawed at his neck before coughing into his closed fist.

“What’s the plan, Boss?” Tom asked.

Maddox heard the slight wobble in his voice, the nervousness. He sighed and let his anger at Tom go. He didn’t have time for it. They had to act quickly before his escape hit the press.

“We’re gonna get Jake,” Maddox said.

“Hospital then,” Amber said.

“But first, we’ve gotta go to my apartment.”

Amber shook her head. “Your apartment’s too risky.”

“I need to get something.”

“What?”

“Our getaway plan.”

“Plan X?” Tom asked.

Maddox nodded. “It’s in a briefcase in the safe.”

Amber looked over her shoulder. “Right, drop me off. I’ll go inside and get it.”

“No, it’s got to be me.”

“Why?”

“Because the safe’s booby-trapped. I’m the only one that knows how to disable it.”

Chapter 14

Jake hobbled out of the hospital and looked up and down the street. Sam had brought him clothes but hadn’t brought any shoes with him. The pavement was ice on the soles of his feet, and he scanned the path for glass and stray stones. He’d stolen a box of strong painkillers from another patient, and they rattled with each step he took. Jake made his way to the taxi bay and slipped into the back of a car.

The driver turned around. “Brandon?”

Jake blinked, then nodded. “Yep, that’s me.”

“You’re fifteen minutes early.”

“Eager to get going.”

“You said theatre on the phone.”

Jake hummed. “A few stops on the way, though.”

“You didn’t say anything about stops.”

“Must’ve slipped my mind. Not a problem, is it?”

The driver lifted his shoulder. “Guess not. You’re the one paying. Where to?”

****

They pulled up outside his flat, and Jake patted the driver’s seat. “Wait here.”

“Where else was I gonna wait?”

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