Page 9 of Blood Ties

“Niv!”

There was arguing on the other side about not trashing their restaurant. It sounded like an employee and someone else. Then there was an odd popping sound before something heavy hit the floor and someone slammed against the door.

I decided on the lesser of two evils for the time being and crawled out the window. Firm hands grabbed my hips and lowered me to the ground. Without a second’s pause to catch a breath, we were on the move again.

At the end of the narrow alley, a dark car stopped. The passenger window rolled down and the guy in the passenger seat stared at us. I dug in my heels, prepared to run the other way, but Nick’s hand held firm and he stopped me. “It’s okay.”

Two heartbeats and we were on the move again. Once we reached the car, he opened the door and I dove into the warm interior. He was right behind me. As we peeled away from the curb, I saw someone stick their head out of what looked like that bathroom window.

It all happened so fast, but I could’ve sworn we made eye contact, though that had to be impossible because the windows were tinted dark as night.

“What the hell is going on? Were they shooting at you or me?” I demanded, pushing my fear back down my throat. It was impossible to slow my breathing down and my heart was pounding.

“I have no idea who that was, but I think we need to talk.”

“No shit!” I shouted, my heart trying to bust through my ribs.

“Someone is trying to kill you.”

My mouth fell open and I stared at the man I believed I was meeting to discuss commissioning a sculpture. “Whoareyou?”

He ran a hand through his dark hair, leaving it sexily tousled. There was an obvious internal struggle going on before he steadily met my gaze.

“Who I am doesn’t really matter. But I know that someone has a hit out on you.”

“We were supposed to be meeting about my art and now you’re telling me I’m the target for some hitman?” I was practically shouting, but neither he nor the two men in the front seat seemed fazed by my tone. “Where are you taking me?”

“Somewhere safe,” he vaguely replied.

“Did my father hire you?”

Nick’s attention snapped to me and his dark brows were pulled down as he silently studied me. Through it all, he remained mute, but his expression told me his answer was no.

“I need to call my dad,” I muttered and wildly dug through my purse, cursing that I couldn’t have brought something small today. Before I could find the stupid electronic device, Nick was placing a hand on my purse, pressing down to still my search. Then he pulled my bag from my hands.

“You can’t call anyone. In fact, I need you to turn your phone off. Now.”

“Are you insane?” I blurted out, reaching for my purse. It was imperative that I call my father.

“I wish I were. Now it’s either that, or I throw your bag out the window.”

“Oh my God. This can’t be happening.” My parents were incredibly wealthy. It didn’t make sense that someone would try to kill me when they could hold me for ransom instead. Unless this wasn’t about money. From what I’d gathered over the years, my dad had a lot of enemies.

“My dad is gonna lose his shit,” I muttered. He’d been against me moving to Chicago for school and he’d really hated it when I wanted to stay. He’d wanted to hire a security team for me, but Mom and I convinced him that wouldn’t be necessary.

“What?” Nick seemed confused.

“Nothing. Fine. Shut it off.”

Somehow, he opened the top of my purse, reached in, and immediately found my phone and shut it off. I had no idea how he did that with everything I had in there.

He dropped it back in, then he was on his phone, furiously typing away.

“How is it okay for you to be on yours?” I huffed as I crossed my arms over my chest. “And how do I know you’re not kidnapping me?”

A humorless laugh was his initial reply. Then he looked up from his phone and his unearthly blue eyes locked on me. “Because my phone is disposable and because I said I’m not.”

A burner? I knew what kind of people had burner phones. Unease settled in my guts. I glanced out the window trying to see if I could tell where we were.Maybe I can jump out and run.

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