Page 54 of Crossroads of Innocence
“Enough,” Nicole said, quiet as a mouse.
Jenson hiked up one eyebrow and glowered down at his wife. “Excuse me?”
“I said enough. Jude is in trouble. Not being dramatic. And now we don’t know where she is. So can we please just look for her?”
Pride puffed Wade’s chest, and he took a step closer to Nicole to shield her from Jenson’s clear disdain. His phone buzzed against his leg, and he plucked it out of his pocket. “Hey Cruz,” he said, accepting the call.
“Where are you and Jude? I came back to the retreat to talk to you.”
The urgency in Cruz’s voice set Wade on edge. “We’re at the hospital.”
“You both need to get back here as soon as possible.”
“Why?” Wade demanded. “What’s up?”
“Benji Blitz’s brake line was cut. He didn’t get in an accident because he was injured and disoriented. Someone wanted him dead, and they made sure it happened,” Cruz said. “We don’t know who that person is, but chances are high that person will come after Jude next.”
“Shit,” Wade said, spinning in a circle to glance up and down the halls. Willing Jude to appear.
“What?” Cruz asked.
“I don’t know where Jude is.” Sweat coated his palms, and he avoided the curious stares of Jude’s family. He had enough to worry about without explaining to them a new element of danger had just landed in their lap like a bomb.
“Well, you better find her fast before somebody else does.”
22
Wind bit into Jude’s cheeks as the pretend doctor escorted her out of the hospital. Walked her right out the employees’ entrance without anyone aware of her plight. He kept a firm grip on her elbow, and a smile on his clean-shaven face.
He hadn’t made a move for a weapon as he marched her outside, but he didn’t have to. She couldn’t risk him following through on the threat he’d made to open fire inside the hospital. A threat that could destroy dozens of lives. And if he was who she assumed he was—someone related to the crime family out to get her—then she had no doubt he’d have zero qualms about killing as many people as possible. Especially if that meant finally ending the job Benji Blitz had been sent to finish—her. “Who are you? Did you come to help Benji?”
He laughed, a deep and vicious sound. “Oh, I helped him all right. Now shut up and walk.”
Goosebumps erupted under her leather jacket. “Did you cause his accident? Did you kill him?”
He smirked down at her before focusing on the parking lot and marching her forward.
A flash of recognition jolted her. “You’re the guy in the photo I took.”
He tightened his grip, digging his fingers into her flesh beneath her thick jacket.
She yelped and squirmed away from him. Having her suspicions confirmed only heighted her fear. The mafia hadn’t just sent a hitman parading around as a detective down to Tennessee to kill her. The nephew whose very freedom was at stake had traveled hours to see her death through himself.
He jerked her close to his side. The smell of stale cigarettes and grease rolled off him.
Her stomach heaved. Nothing but the sound of the wind interrupted their hurried footsteps. The sky was blue, the perfect white clouds almost mocking her. Trees surrounded the hospital—a smattering of fields just beyond to one side, downtown Pine Valley a few miles south. The parking lot was filled with cars and trucks, and she was steered toward a sleek black SUV with tinted windows parked in a handicap spot in the front row.
Panic clawed at her throat. If she got in that car, chances were low she’d ever get out. If there was a good time to run, it was now. His gun—or at least the gun he claimed to have—was out of sight. Which meant if she was fast enough, she could put enough distance between them before he could secure his weapon and get off a clean shot.
She just had to figure out the best direction to go. She couldn’t head toward the hospital or that would put too many other people in jeopardy. East of the building were hilly fields that would make her an open target. North was the best route. She could use the vehicles as cover as she fled into the forest. From there she could call for help.
A hard yank on her arm brought her back to the moment. “Hurry the hell up.”
She tripped, kicking up a few stones and a puff of dust rose in the air.
A low growl urged her to pick up her pace as a plan formed in her mind. She had to act now. Pitching forward, she stumbled over her feet and onto the asphalt. She landed on her hands and knees. Pebbles embedded into her palms. Pain shot up her arms and she winced.
“Get up. Now,” her abductor hissed.
