Page 59 of Dangerous Kiss
Chapter Twenty-Five
Biba woke, feeling woozy and nauseous. Stella was cradling her head in her lap. “Biba?” Her voice was a whisper. Biba realized they were in a vehicle, moving.
“Where are we?”
“Going towards Canada, I think. I’m not sure. No, don’t move too much. That cut on your back is bleeding like crazy; I can’t get it to stop.”
Shit.That meant the slash of the knife had gone too deep, probably nicked a kidney. She was bleeding to death—slowly. Biba swallowed a throatful of vomit.
“Stella…get closer.”
Stella bent her head to Biba’s, and Biba felt Stella’s tears on her cheek. “Don’t cry, Stel. I’m going to get you out of here.”
Stella gave a strange laugh. “Beebs, you can’t even walk.”
“I can…just. I’m going to go for Reggie and get him to steer off the road. I want you to hang on in here as hard as you can. The moment we come to a stop, you get out and yourun. Don’t stop, just get as far as you can…flag down a car.”
“You’re delirious, baby. You can’t make it. We won’t make it.”
“It’s our only chance.”
“He has a gun…he’ll shoot you.”
Biba laughed softly. “I’m dying, anyway. The least I can do is go out in a blaze of glory.”
Stella buried her face in Biba’s shoulder and sobbed. “I’m so sorry for the way I’ve treated you, Biba…the truth is, you’re the only person in this world who I trust, and one of the few I truly love. You’ve always had my back. Always. But I can’t leave you here to die for me. Not going to happen. We do this together or not at all.”
“Girl power.” Biba’s voice was weakening.
“You bet your ass. And—”
Her words were cut off as the van lurched to a stop, and Reggie got out. They heard him unlock the back doors. They’d run out of time.
“Pretend I’m dead,” Biba whispered urgently. “Scream, make a fuss. It’ll give me time.”
Stella nodded, and let out an ear-piercing scream. Biba tried not to flinch as her eardrums protested. A rush of freezing cold air.
“She’s dead, you bastard! Biba’sdead!She fucking bled to death while you…Jesus, what the hell is wrong with you?”
There was a silence. Biba could only hear Stella’s heavy breathing. Then… “She’s dead?”
Faint hope ignited inside Biba—Reggie sounded shocked, even a little heartbroken.
“Well, Goddamn, he catches up,” Stella said, sarcastically, cradling Biba’s head in her arms. “She was your best friend, Reggie, and you killed her. How does that make you feel, huh?”
Then Reggie chuckled, and Biba’s hope dissolved. “Well, I guess it saves me killing her later. Leave her body. They’re following us; they’ll find her. Wish I could stay to see DeLuca’s face.”
“No.” Biba’s whisper was urgent. “Don’t let him take you.”
“I’m not going anywhere without her.”
Biba felt Stella being dragged away from her. No… no… As she heard Reggie’s voice growing distant, she hauled herself up, her clothes sticky with blood. She limped to the van’s driver’s seat, hunting for anything she could use as a weapon. Underneath the passenger’s seat, she found a tire iron. Better than nothing. Ignoring the searing pain in her back, Biba staggered out into the storm to follow Reggie and Stella.
Cosimo and Sifrido drove in silence, both on edge as the storm grew worse around them. Two hours into the park, and they saw the van on the side of the road. “Where the hell are the FBI, if we can find this?”
“It might not be anything,” Sifrido cautioned as they got out of the car, but when they inspected the van, Cosimo saw the back of it awash with blood, and on the floor: a small charm bracelet. He reached in and picked up the delicate gold chain with the single diamond hanging from it.
“It’s them,” he said in a dull voice. “I gave this to Biba for her birthday.”
