Page 64 of The Veteran

“I’ll go,” Getty said. “Keep her here.”

Baker dropped my hand, frowning. “Why don’t we both go? It’s not like she can get away.”

“Because you look like someone smashed you in the face, asshole. It’ll draw attention.”

A thread of hope worked through me. Perhaps I’d be able to take advantage of this disagreement.

“He’s going to cut you out,” I said to Baker.

Fire blazed across my cheek as Getty struck me. “Shut your mouth.”

The skin above my cheekbone throbbed, and I struggled to draw air into my lungs from the shock of the attack, but I didn’t let it deter me.

“If he takes the car and finds the money, what’s to stop him from leaving without you?” I pushed.

Baker scowled at Getty. “She’s got a point. How do I know you won’t run off with the cash like her daddy did?”

Getty growled in frustration. “Because we’re partners, John. Have I ever let you down before?”

“No,” Baker conceded. “But there’s no reason we both can’t go. I’ll wear a hat and keep my head down.”

“You’re staying the fuck here.”

The two men circled around each other.

“I don’t like it,” Baker said.

“It’ll be fine,” Getty tried to assure him. “Why don’t you have fun with our guest while I’m gone? Just don’t break her. We might need to save that for later.”

A shiver rippled through me.

Baker looked shifty. He clearly wasn’t comfortable with the plan. “I don’t know, man.”

“Fine.” Getty shrugged. “Come. I’ll start the car. You make sure she isn’t going anywhere.”

Baker relaxed slightly. “Yeah, okay.”

“Good. I’ll be back.” My stomach churned as Getty’s footfalls faded away and the door clicked open. Baker moved closer. I tensed, wondering if I’d have a chance to break free now that I was temporarily alone with a single captor. I had to be ready for anything.

26

KADE

I struck out at the first of the addresses Zeke gave me, but just as I was approaching the second on foot, I spotted a black sedan parked out front, with a man opening the driver’s side door. Richard Getty. He looked up and his eyes widened. He glanced from me to the warehouse and back again, then leaped into the car and started the engine. I aimed a shot at the tires as he careened onto the street, but it missed, and a couple of seconds later, he was out of reach.

I froze for a moment, wondering whether to go after him, but he’d definitely been alone in the car, which meant he didn’t have Sage, so I turned to the warehouse instead. I half-expected an ambush as I ran toward the warehouse door. It stood open.

“What the fuck are you doing, Rich?” a man’s voice asked as I hesitated just outside.

Fear made my breath burn down my throat. What if I was too late? They might have realized Sage couldn’t help them and decided it would be easiest to get rid of her. I had no way of knowing she hadn’t been in the trunk of the sedan. I wrapped my fingers around the grip of my personal handgun, with one around the trigger, ready to fire. I’d just have to go in and find out. I charged into the cavernous open space, raising my gun to aim at the lone man standing near one of the columns. He dove sideways, behind Sage, using her as a shield.

Her head snapped up and her eyes locked on mine, white with terror. I inventoried her features, relieved to see her face was relatively unblemished, but then I lowered my gaze to her hands and felt sick. One of her fingers was bent at an unnatural angle. Baker glanced from me to the door, and I realized it was the only exit. I blocked it.

“Rich is gone,” I told him as calmly as possible. “You’re not getting out of here.”

“He’s d-dead?” he stammered.

My lip curled. “No, he left you here like a goddamned coward.”