Page 29 of Thaddeus

I was on my knees in front of Jefferson’s carefully packed Louis Vuitton trunk looking for my passport, then I wasn’t. Two arms snaked under my armpits and I was hefted upright, but not on my feet. I was dangling in air and moving.

My brain finally got with the program and I twisted my body trying to free myself. I kicked and clawed with everything I had, and in the three seconds I’d been struggling, I realized a sad truth. I wasn’t as strong as I’d thought. The much-stronger arms around my chest hadn’t budged. Not even the smallest of fractions.

“Stop moving.” I stopped thrashing and I stopped breathing. I held my breath and prayed I’d misheard the voice. “Do not try and run.”

Nope. I’d heard right.

Thaddeus.

He placed me on my feet and I twirled around and came face-to-black-masked face with the man I never wanted to see again.

Damn it all to hell.

Why? Why was the universe punishing me?

“What are you doing here?” I haughtily inquired.

“I’d ask you the same thing, but I think I know,” he returned.

“So?” I prompted.

“We’re here for the same reason you are.”

“Really? So, you’re here to get your shit and flee, too?”

“Don’t be a smartass, Emerson.”

Seriously? A smartass? I wasn’t trying to be smart, I was trying to ascertain why, once again, Thaddeus was screwing with my plans.

“Okay. So, why are you really here, Thaddeus?”

His eyes narrowed and even though I couldn’t see the rest of his handsome face, I was certain he was grimacing.

“Orders to confiscate and secure all of Garcia’s belongings. And that includes you.”

“What? Me?”

“That’s correct.”

“Why?”

No. No way was I going with them. Not again. Now that I had my stuff, I wanted out of Venezuela. I had important stuff to do and that didn’t include hanging out with Thaddeus and his band of assholes who all hated me.

“Our boss thinks you have intel that will help us locate a man we’re searching for.”

“Who? Just ask me now, and I’ll save us all the hassle.”

“Nope. Doesn’t work that way, agápi—Emerson.” He quickly corrected himself.

There was that nickname again, the one that I’d loved so much, but now was a knife to the heart.

“Thaddeus. Please. You don’t understand. I need to leave here. Paul will be back soon. I have to be long gone by then.”

“As good as you are at disappearing, I’m afraid it isn’t going to work this time. You’re coming with us.”

Yes. Direct hit. Sonofabitch.

“Front room and bedrooms are clean,” Max said, coming into the room.