Page 50 of The Heiress

“How often does this happen?” Jace asked.

Dombrowski scratched his head. “We get trespassers every month or so. Nothing serious. More intentional and coordinated efforts about twice a year.”

“And is this a more intentional and coordinated effort than you were expecting?” Jace said.

Dombrowski glanced at Georgia. She nodded once, giving permission. “This was intentional, coordinated, and unexpected. The man we killed was well trained and carrying professional equipment.”

Jace sucked on his teeth. “And it just so happened a few days after Sam arrived.”

“He gets it!” Georgia’s hands waved as she spoke.

“What’s the next move?” Jace asked.

Georgia huffed. “I’m going to scare the piss out of everyone who knew she was here. Threaten to sue them into the sun and back if they breathe another word. And then you’re taking her back to Calusa Key where you can hide her.”

For the first time since this very strange conversation began, Jace turned to me, his gaze locking with mine. “She’ll be safe with me.”

“You better make good on that fucking tattoo, Malone. Anyone fucks with my daughter you make them pay with their goddamned souls.”

I blinked at Georgia’s fury and ruthlessness.Thiswoman was a force. Someone willing to get down in the dirt and do what was necessary. She was a fighter.

“How long?” he asked.

“Until I get their balls in a vice. Or until Samantha decides. Both would be my preference.”

The muscles of Jace’s shoulders and neck worked, his jaw jutted forward. “If they have her name it doesn’t really matter does it? She’s a target either way.”

“Not if she wants out. The Feyereisens only care about her stake in the company. If she walks away she becomes a nobody to them. Not even gum on their shoes.”

I suddenly realized just how big the target on me was. Giant and blinking. Enough to send a team in the cover of night to what? Kidnap me? Kill me? Take a picture? Was anywhere safe?

Jace cocked his head to the side, catching my gaze again. It was as if he heard my question and his answer was,Yes. With me.

18

Isat on Jace’s bed as he dumped his suitcase and repacked it with fresh clothes. Ever since the proximity alarm woke us up I’d been in a fog. Some sort of shock, maybe? I couldn’t think quite straight and my body seemed to move a split second after I thought it should. Everything was a little fuzzy. The lights, the sounds, the smells.

Until Jace stepped inside his closet, shoved the clothing rack aside, and revealed a hidden door. My attention suddenly snapped into focus.This is weird. Pay attention.Then he unlocked that door and swung it open. The door was lined with guns and gun accessories. Inside were shelves and racks with more guns, ammunition, knives, and bulletproof vests.

“Jesus, Jace. You have an armory hidden in your bedroom.”

“And I’d lock you in here if I thought it would keep you safe.” He produced a black duffel bag and started loading it with rifles, sheathes and holders, all the weapons he thought he’d need. The vest went on top before he zipped it all closed. Then he checked the gun at his back and the second at his ankle, before affixing a knife to his other ankle.

“Where are we going?”

He locked the gun closet and swung the clothes back into place. “The club for tonight. Tomorrow somewhere else.” Either he didn’t know or he wasn’t willing to let the information out into the void until necessary.

After the incident in Key West, Jace and I booked tickets on the next hydrofoil to Fort Myers. Dombrowski wanted a paper trail of us leaving like normal citizens. The hydrofoil was much faster than road tripping all the way up the Keys, across the Everglades, and then up the west coast, and it was easier than trying to get a flight. Once we arrived at the docks Jace rented a car while I conveniently “disappeared” through the shops and then down the sidewalk. Just another tourist wandering the strip of Fort Myers Beach’s shops. The road traffic was noisy enough that it drowned out the sounds of waves and the asphalt was so hot I could swear it was melting the soles of my shoes.

I met Jace on the designated side street, relieved to see him leaning against the passenger door. And then we were off, driving up the coast to Calusa Key.

“Leave your cell phone on the counter. Anything else they can trace, too.”

Dombrowski was surprised and impressed to discover we already had prepaid cell phones on us, but he gave us another set along with cash and an untraceable credit card for emergencies. Cash was still better. I spent most of the trip memorizing cell phone numbers so that when I left my phone behind I could still contact the important people. I felt like a kid again, sing-songing numbers and making up mnemonic devices to help me remember each one. I hadn’t had to remember a number out of necessity in...ages.

But now I had Hazel and Yara’s numbers memorized, along with David’s regular line and his bat phone, Dombrowski, the emergency number he gave us, and of course, Jace’s emergency number. It routed through the club so if anything should happen I would be able to get in touch with him.

Strange times getting stranger by the day.

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