Page 84 of Bulletproof Love

I reach for my waistband, where I always keep my switchblade, especially lately, but his hand shoots out, wrapping around my wrist and squeezing. “What the fuck?” I seethe. “Let go!” I turn to call for Jasper, but his other hand covers my mouth, his expensive cologne wafting up my nose, making me gag.

“Don’t make a sound or I’ll kill you and he’ll never find your body.” I feel my legs shake, wanting to give out, but I force strength into them. “Do you understand, Falin?”

Without any other choice, I nod, and he slowly removes his hand from my mouth. I’ve never seen him, but my body knows who he is. Every nerve ending screams danger.Alexander Orlov.He has to be.

“Quite the happy little family you’ve built here in New York.” He pulls out his phone, showing me photos that make my stomach drop. Blake and Damon walking to the deli. Leon getting on his bike. Jasper and me opening the door to the apartment building. “It would be a shame if anything happened to them.”

“What do you want?” I keep my voice low and steady. The exact opposite to how I feel.

“A little meeting. Me, you, and your friend, Blake. We have business to discuss.” His grip on my wrist tightens, and I bite my lip to hold back a wince. “Don’t think about telling your boyfriends. I’ll know if you do.”

“If you think I’d be stupid enough to meet you—” He moves so his face is nearly an inch from mine. His spittle hits my lips as he speaks.

“You will, because if you don’t, I’ll have my men grab Jasper Shea and he won’t be as comfortable as his pretty little sister.”

My eyes widen, but I school my lips into a neutral expression. I don’t want to give him the pleasure of knowing he’s gotten to me. Fuck. We’ve been right all along. I knew it, but hearing it from his mouth. Knowing he’s put the pieces together, that’s something different entirely.

I spit in his disgusting face. “Fuck you.”

He lets my wrist free to wipe his face with his pocket square as a small laugh leaves his lips. His eyes are still cold as ice.

“Eight o’clock. The address will come by text. You and Hyland only, tell no one, or start planning funerals.” He folds the cloth, shoving it into his pocket. “And Sinclair? I’ll be watching. One wrong move and they all disappear.”

He’s gone before I can respond, leaving me barely able to stand. I rush into the bathroom and lock the door, sliding down onto the floor. Tears threaten to come, but it’s like they’re stuck. I force air into my nose and out through my mouth, cursing under my breath.

How did he find us? What the fuck am I going to do?

My phone buzzes again and I already know it’s him before I even look. There’s no way I’m bringing Blake to him. I’d rather die than put my best friend in harm’s way. A notification pops up again from the DNA site, and I can’t bring myself to care anymore. Not now. There’s no use in finding my missing family if I’ll be dead in less than twenty-four hours.

I splash some water on my face and will myself to breathe normally. Jasper can’t know what just happened.You got this. Get home and figure something out.But what?

When I return to our table, Jasper’s scrolling his phone, smiling at something on the screen. He sees me, and his face falls.

“You okay? You look pale.” He reaches for my hand.

I force a smile, hating myself for what I’m about to do. For lying to him when I’ve asked for nothing but honesty. “Just tired. Tonight’s got me on edge.”

“Me too, but these kitten videos are helping.” He kisses my palm and goes back to watching his phone while I sit there thinking about how fucked I am.

How am I going to keep them all alive?

CHAPTERTHIRTY-THREE

JASPER

Something’s wrong with Falin.I wish I could figure out what it is. If I did something wrong, she’s usually the first person to tell me—loudly and unapologetically.

She’s been off since the coffee shop—distant, barely meeting my eyes, answering in one word responses even when I’m being a smartass.

When she said she was too sick to come tonight, that really tipped me off. This is the woman who worked through three days of no sleep, barely eating because she was close to cracking that code. Tonight wouldn’t be happening if it wasn’t for her. I’ve only known her for a few months, but I know she’d have to be halfway to the grave to sit this out.

“Maybe I should stay,” I say, hovering by her bedroom door. She’s curled up in bed, kittens on her chest, but her posture is too stiff for someone who’s supposedly sick. She pets the kittens, barely meeting my eyes.

“No,” she answers quickly. “You need to be there. For Bailey.”

She knows bringing up Bailey’s name directly will have me by the balls. Well played.

Blake pokes her head in, jacket on and ready to go. “I can stay with you, Fal. The guys can handle?—”

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