Page 143 of Guarding Grace
“We haven’t caught him yet, but having the case to give back to Russo means this is almost over for you.”
I took in a huge breath. “So I can go out?” Warmth flowed over me as I envisioned myself walking to Starbucks in the sunshine without a bodyguard.
“Not so fast, Tiger. Not until Lucas gets agreements from the bad guys that everything is settled. I gotta go now. Stay safe.”
It wasn’t as good a sendoff aslove you, but I wasn’t sure we were there yet, so I mirrored his words. “You stay safe too.” With the craziness behind us, we’d soon have a moment to talk.
After lunch,I had just finished a customer follow-up when my cellphone rang. The screen readunknown number, but Mrs. Fletcher had said her husband was going to call me. “Hello?” I answered cheerily.
“Don’t move,” the cold male voice said. “I can see you. Your pretty little girl, Marci, will die if you try to alert that short lady or your other guard dog.” His voice was pure evil.
A chill ran down my spine as I heard sobbing in the background. Quickly, I swiveled my chair to look out the window. The asshole had to be in one of the taller buildings around us, if he could see into my office.
“I see you looking for me. That’s good. Stay facing the window.” Mr. Evil added a sinister laugh. “I have a knife to pretty Marci’s face. Say hi, girl.”
My heart lodged in my throat when I heard Marci whimper in the background, “Please don’t hurt me.”
“If you phone anyone, I slit her throat. I can see into your office. If you try to write a note or send a message, I slit her throat. Nod if you understand.”
I nodded. “Please don’t hurt her.” Marci’s innocent face was all I could think of.
“Follow my instructions exactly, and she’ll be just fine. Otherwise I’ll cut her again and again so you can hear her scream as she bleeds out.” Mr. Evil laughed.
Sadistic fuck.I shifted the phone to my non-trembling hand and whispered, “What do you want?”
“Put your phone on silent—we don’t want any noise calling attention to you—and do exactly as I say.”
CHAPTER 33
Grace
The tremorsin my hand got worse as I waited for his instructions, still facing the window.
Marci sobbed in the background. “Shut the fuck up,” Mr. Evil said. “You’re going to leave the building and walk south to the bus stop,” he told me. “Sit down when you get there, and I’ll call you with further instructions. Nod if you understand.”
Gripping the phone angrily, I nodded. I didn’t know how, but this fucker was going down for threatening one of my people. Terry’s threat about a bullet sounded a lot better right now. There was a special place in hell for someone who would threaten to murder a sweet girl like Marci.
“You’re going to leave the building now without anybody following you, and without letting any of those guards know you’re gone. You understand me?”
“How?”
“You figure it out. Sweet Marci is depending on you. If I see anyone following you, she dies…painfully. If you’re late?—”
“I get it, asshole. I’ll get there.” Maybe that wasn’t the smartest thing to say, since I had no idea how to do that yet, but I refused to cower. I’d find a way for Marci. I had to. Then I’d let Terry loose on him.
Marci cried uncontrollably.
“Shut up, bitch,” he said angrily. “Or I’ll tape your mouth shut.”
“You can’t do that,” I told him. “She has asthma.”
“Another reason for you to hurry.” He laughed. “No funny business?—”
“You have to let her go if I come to you.”
“Of course.” He laughed that evil laugh again. “I can’t wait to get rid of her. You have five minutes. Remember, I’m watching you. Warn your guards, and she dies. Tick-tock, tick-tock.” The line went dead.
It was decision time. I stayed facing the window. But there weren’t any alternatives, so there wasn’t a decision to be made.
