Page 101 of Garrison's Creed

David gave the driver the new location. She knew the address.Roughly five minutes away. Not a big deal.Maybe something would come out of it.

Counting mile markers, Nicola passed the time by ignoring David. Nothing he did was noteworthy, but she didn’t trust the backstabbing fool. Minimally armed, Nic didn’t want to show that her trust quotient bordered on the negative, but she took some comfort that she could get to the subcompact at her ankle.

She picked at her manicure and smoothed the designer pants. The driver pulled off the highway and into a shopping center.

“Stop in front of the Starbucks, and unlock the doors,” David directed.

A shiver sliced up her spine.Unlock the doors?

David pointed for the driver’s benefit. A tall, well-dressed man waited on the sidewalk facing the storefronts. His shoulders were broad, his stance looked… ready.For what?

The sedan slowed to a crawl, stopping curbside, and the doors unlocked. The man pivoted around slowly, a sinister smile smeared across his face.Not possible.Her stomach lurched, and she jumped toward the door handle.

David’s hand clamped down on her elbow, reigniting the distant memory of its sprain. Her exit was blocked anyway, the door shadowed by an impenetrable force. The driver ignored her, even as she yelled and shoved for David to let go.

She pinched her eyes closed, desperately wanting to wake up. When she opened them, there he stood.Antilla Smooth.

Alive.

Angry.

And so close she could smell her own fear.

Grinning like the grim reaper at a funeral, Antilla opened the door and squeezed into the backseat, sandwiching her between himself and David. The sedan eased forward after Antilla shut the door, then all the doors locked. The noise reverberated in her ears.

“Hello, my dear. How I have missed you.” He leaned against her, his cologne overpowering the small area. One cold finger traced her cheekbone as he spoke, ignoring her batting hand.

“Stop it. Get off me.” She pushed away, but David was on the other side.Shit.

The sick smile hadn’t faded, all bright and white with perfectly lined teeth, ready for display. Her reaction made his grin more vibrant. Made it sparkle.

“Speaking of getting off, that never happened between us. Did it? I intend to fix that today. But first, let’s get through introductions. I understand Gabriella isn’t your true name. Nicola, is it? Lovely.”

Cash had to be following. She needed to see a familiar vehicle out the window. Her stomach bottomed as she swept a look every which way. Nothing familiar. Antilla’s fingers feathered over her cheek, and she lashed out.

“Get off me, goddamn it.” The words ground out but did zip to make him stop.

David laughed close to her ear. She turned, kicking at him, his bag, the door. Anything she could connect with.

“Now to the warehouse,” David said to the driver, then looked back at her. “Antilla and I have things to work out before our transaction is complete.”

“Yes, we do.” Antilla ignored her for the first time. He sounded disappointed or disapproving. She couldn’t tell which he leaned toward more. “The second bomb hasn’t done its job, so I’m not ready to discuss—”

“Second bomb?”

“Not that it’s your business, but yes, Gabri—I mean, Nicola. Second bomb. Addressed to Janet and Rick—”

Nicola slammed her fist into his face, elbowing David as he tried to pull her back. Blood trickled out of Antilla’s nose, and he took a cloth from his breast pocket to dab at it.

“You will pay for that, you little bitch.”

“There isn’t a second bomb,” she challenged him. “Leave my parents alone.”

“There isn’t a second bomb, just like I’m dead, darling.”

David spoke up. “We should enlighten her.” He turned to her. “Nicola, I was confused at first also. This is a very interesting story, so listen, and it will all make sense.”

“Leave my family alone.”

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