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“Then if that’s all you have to go on, you analyze the fuck out of those leads and get back to us!” Allister screamed. “Somehow, some damned way, we’re tracking this motherfucker down.”
“I’m pulling for you, men,” Bane said. “And I’m praying for all of us.”
Chapter Eight
An hour later, the limousine slowly pulled into a crowded neighborhood. Houses were practically on top of one another. One yard overlapped another, making it difficult to tell where one lawn ended and the other began.
Trashed cars lined the street. Garbage was strewn on the sidewalks. Stray, malnourished cats ran from one fast food wrapper to another. Obvious drug deals were going down on every corner.
It was as close to hell as Ellie had ever been.
At the end of the street, they took a left and then a right. Ellie never saw the first sign.
“What is this place? The roads aren’t marked,” Serena pointed out.
“This guy has thought of everything,” Sable said quietly, seemingly memorizing each and every home they passed. “They took the signs down.”
“Why would they do that?” Serena asked.
“Because these people are on this guy’s payroll,” Heather replied.
“Agreed. This is one of those neighborhoods where everyone knows everyone but no one knows anything when the cops arrive,” Sable said.
“Kind of lets us know where we stand, huh?” Heather looked at Ellie. “Doesn’t get much worse than this. Does it?”
“I’m afraid not.”
“Why are you asking Ellie anything?” Serena glared at Heather. “If the Vance brothers are behind this, you’re responsible. You’re the one who should be answering questions. You knew the Vance nuts. You lived with them for a while. You sought them out. Didn’t you? Don’t answer that.
“Draegan told me the whole story. You were writing a book, wanted to get up close and personal with your subjects. Tell me something, Heather, was it worth all this?”
“It’s not helping anyone to cast blame,” Sable pointed out.
“She’s right,” Ellie chimed in.
“No, Serena is right,” Heather said softly. “If this has anything to do with the Vance brothers then it’s my fault.”
“Don’t do that,” Ellie said, wishing they’d stayed with their men or at least brought Markie along. Markie was the one in the bunch that everyone underestimated. Then again, even Markie couldn’t help them if an entire Miami neighborhood was ready to provide a cloak and hide them. Ellie tapped the window with her fingernail. “We’re stopping.”
Heather said, “If I just hadn’t gone there…if I hadn’t been so damned curious about the rumors and—”
“Well you know what they say,” Serena drawled. “Sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong can cost you. Too bad we all have to pay the price.”
“Serena, please stop,” Ellie said. “You don’t mean it and accusations won’t help any of us. We all came from troubled backgrounds. So maybe the Vance brothers are behind this, but what if they aren’t? None of us should throw stones because they might be hurled back in our direction. We’ve all made bad choices in life. It’s how we rise above them in the end that matters.”
“And what if we don’t get that chance?” Serena fired back. “The way that man looked at us….” She thinned her lips and her eyes watered. “He’s an animal. I’ve seen men like him before.”
“We’ll stick together,” Ellie promised. “We’ll stay strong. We’ll get out of this. Just believe.”
* * * *
Their captor made them wait in the car. While they were there, several of the street thugs circled the limousine. A few peered in the back as if they thought they could see beyond the tint. Some of them made obscene gestures and remarks.
Ellie and Sable swapped knowing glances while Heather fidgeted and Serena stared straight ahead. After a while, the driver and Seth—if Seth was actually his name—returned.
Both back doors opened. The driver grabbed Heather and slung her over his shoulder. Seth pulled a weapon on Ellie. “Let’s go. Just you. Now.”
Ellie reached across the seat. She gently squeezed Sable’s hand before doing the same to Serena. “We’ll all be fine.”
