Page 51 of Devious Madness

“Leave him out of this,” I argue.

“If he tries to drive off with you in this cab, he dies.” Rurik’s finger rests on the trigger.

I’ve seen what he’s capable of. He’s not lying. This isn’t a bluff.

Or maybe it is.

“He can’t shoot you once the car is moving; just go.” I sink back against my seat, hugging my bag to my chest.

A bead of sweat rolls down the side of the driver’s face as he stares at me through the rearview like I’m a complete basket case. Which I probably am at this point. I’ve been knocked out, kidnapped, spanked, almost stabbed, and now I’m being kidnapped again. I’d say that’s enough for any woman to start losing her marbles.

“Please. Lady, just get out,” the driver begs, swallowing hard as his eyes land on the gun pointed at him.

When he lets them travel further to the mobster holding it, all color drains from his face.

“Fine!” Defeated, I grab the door handle. “You need to put your gun away if you want me to open the door.”

Rurik stands to his full height, tucking his gun back into its place before yanking the door open for me. As soon as I’m out of the cab, he slams the door and the cabbie peels away. Tires screech as he hightails it down the long drive to the front gate.

“You didn’t need to scare him like that.”

“He’s not the one who should have been scared.” He grabs my bag, yanking it from me and taking it back to his car.

I start to climb the steps back to the house, but he grabs my elbow and pulls me to the passenger side of his car.

“At least let me say goodbye to Megan.” I tug back.

“You did already. You told her you’d call her later.” Hepicks me up and plops me in the seat, shoving a long finger in my face. “Don’t move.”

I’m tempted to push the door open as soon as he closes it, but the murderous look he has plastered on his face suggests I shouldn’t push it. Just this one time, I’ll play it safe. I mean, he did just threaten to shoot a completely innocent man.

Megan’s in the window looking out at me with a knowing grin. She’s only there a moment, before she gets tugged away and the curtain falls back over the glass.

“All you had to do was promise that you weren’t going to lock me up. You’re the one who went all mobster on me.” I tug the seatbelt away from my neck to keep it from strangling me as he drives toward the gates.

I’m slightly surprised there aren’t tire marks from the cab driver peeling out of this place.

“I can’t protect you if you won’t listen.”

“I understand Marco is a problem. I get that. And after what happened with Megan, I want to him to pay for that.” I sigh.

“It’s not just Marco.” He grips the steering wheel tighter, steering us back onto the highway headed toward downtown.

“The detective?”

“He’s an issue too, but still not the most dangerous.”

“If it’s not just Marco, and not the detective, then what?”

“It’s not about your debt anymore. The DeAngelos touched Alexander’s wife. It’s full out war.”

Images of bombs exploding and buildings burning to the ground while shrill screams of terror play in the background fill my mind.

“So even if I pay Marco back every thing he thinks I owe him?” There’s really no point in my asking.

I already know the answer, but it’s gotten too quiet in the car. The silence pricks my skin.

We’re driving deeper into the city. Magnificent skyscrapers surround us on both sides. The sun has started to fade, casting the city into the shadows. Lights sparkle from the buildings like little homing beacons calling their people home.

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