Page 31 of Blood and Sand

So, this guy’s a local, or he’s been following me a lot longer than we thought.

It was information I wanted to give Rey, but I couldn’t risk the killer seeing me speaking.

“Okay, DeeDee,” Rey said through the earpiece in my ear. “I’m right here with you, okay?”

The gadget was so small it was non-detectable to the naked eye. It was comforting to hear his voice, but it was still terrifying to know someone was coming after you, with no explanation for the where, why, or even who that person was or why you were even chosen.

“Blood and Sand for the lady,” the bartender said with a smile as he set the drink in front of me.

“Shit!” Rey said.

My favorite drink.

Only those close to me knew this used to be my favorite drink, and only those who were close to me knew I hadn’t had a drink since my college years and why.

“Um, I didn’t order this.” I pushed the drink back to the bartender, who couldn’t have been more than twenty-two. Most likely a college student just trying to survive.

“I know, ma’am.” He jerked his thumb toward the end of the bar. “The man at the end of the bar did.”

“Who?” I asked as I looked at an empty barstool.

“Hmm…” The bartender shrugged. “He’s not there anymore.”

“Can you describe what he looks like?”

The young man wiped his blond hair out of his eyes. “Hmmm…let me see. Blond hair but darker than mine. Bright green eyes. Thin. Scruffy beard. Mid-thirties. Southern accent, but not from around here southern. That’s all I got.”

“Thank you,” I said.

He walked off to the other side of the bar, and I discreetly looked around the room. I didn’t see anyone who fit that description, but I knew he was here somewhere. He wouldn’t leave until he got me.

“Rey, did you hear any of that?” I whispered, hoping the wire picked up my voice. I did my best to hide my mouth.

“Who…i..t?” Rey asked in my ear, but his voice was coming in and out.

I focused on the room once more. I wasn’t alone in here. Two more agents were discreetly placed around the room, but I think this guy was too smart to bite. Although he’d told me to come alone, he knew there was no chance of that.

Feeling eyes on me, I zeroed in on the long, narrow hallway at the back of the bar leading to the stock room, office, and bathrooms. A man standing in the doorway smiled. Familiarity hit me instantly, and then fear. It couldn’t be him.

I slipped off the barstool and made my way toward the hallway. I made eye contact with one of the agents. He stared but made no acknowledgment of me. Heading in the stranger’s direction, he quickly turned away and disappeared farther down the hallway into the darkness. I entered the room I thought he’d entered, which was Lucky’s office. I had expected to see him waiting for me, but he wasn’t. The last person I’d expected sat on the edge of Lucky’s desk like she didn’t have a care in the world.

She hadn’t changed since the last time I’d seen her. She still looked like she was one step away from the street.

“Well, look what the cat dragged in,” she said, her smile sinister.

Hate was a strong word, but she hated me more than I realized. Was I surprised to see her? No. She always popped up whenever I was in town. Her being here tonight was no different.

“Chanel, I don’t have time for this.” I turned to walk out.

“You make time unless you want Delaney to die.”

I released the doorknob and faced her as shock barreled through my system.

“You had something to do with this?” I asked, taking a step toward her. If I could get close enough, I could take her down. “Where is she, you stupid bitch?”

“Dee…there…we…can’t…” Rey’s voice came through the earpiece again, but it was still going in and out, and I had to assume he couldn’t hear me, either. This wasn’t good.

The office door opened. I whipped around, expecting to see one of the agents but instead saw the man I hadn’t ever expected to see again. A primal fear shook my body as he took a step toward me.

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