AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Aye,” Marcus stated. “I am in love wi’ her.”
“Your turn, sweetheart.” Parks said to Tait. “Last chance to lay your heart at his feet.”
She lifted her face to Marcus and gave him a tremulous smile. “I can’t. He already has it. I love you, Marcus.”
“Sotouching!” Parks sneered with a mock sigh. “Now let’s get down to it. Where’s Hannah.”
“No,” Marcus stated. “The deal was, you tell us what the item is, why it’s important andthenwe’ll tell you where to find Hannah.”
Parks narrowed his eyes, his patience clearly wearing thin. “I could just shoot you and be done with it.”
“Aye. Ye could. But ye’d ne’er find Hannahorwhat she’s protectin’.”
Keeping Marcus in his crosshairs, Parks scoffed. “Fine. I’ll play along. Whether you die now, or five minutes from now makes no difference to me.”
Locked in a visual test of wills with Marcus, Parks merely tipped his head toward Tait. “Luca told me he’d discovered the names and locations of multiple offshore accounts worth billions. He’d basically tapped into the bank accounts of several heads of…we’ll call it anorganization. So he put that information on a microchip and stupidly gave it to you. Then the fool made a damned riddle of it. He said he’d done it in a way you’d never know you had it, but that he knew you’d alwayshave it. So it was safe. That’s all I could ever get out of him.”
He shrugged dismissively. “I got tired of Luca’s stubbornness and sent Giannetti topersuadehim to reveal the details. That was the night you walked in on them. But all Giannetti got out of Luca was someone named Hannah was hiding it and only you knew where to find her.”
Though speaking to Tait, Parks kept his eyes and the gun aimed at Marcus. “But you didn’t make it easy. I had to wait until you were out of your little Witness Protection hidey-hole and out on the road.”
“Yousent the two in the Camaro,” Tait filled in for him. “Yougot Evan killed.”
“I had no choice. You can’t possibly understand the repercussions if the information Luca discovered landed in the wrong hands. Heads would roll and I didn’t intend mine to be one of them. Sacrifices had to be made.”
Marcus sensed the end of Parks’ arrogant indulgence and knew time was running out. But, if their lives ended here, it wouldnae be wi’out a fight.
“Playtime is over now,” Parks snarled, his tone dark and ugly. “No more excuses. I want to know where to find Hannah, and I want to knownow! Or you can watch me use your boyfriend’s head for target practice.”
“Tell him, Tait,” Marcus ordered through gritted teeth. If he had to act the coward to get the upper hand, he would. “Or better yet,showhim.”
Tait gaped at Marcus.
“Showhim,” Marcus pressed, narrowing his eyes at her, hoping she’d understand and go along. “Show him what Luca gave ye and where Hannah is.”
“Marcus, what are you doing?” Tait cried, backing up a step.
Turning to Parks, Marcus continued his traitor’s role, still hoping Tait would understand and play along. “She’s very protective of HannahandLuca’s gift.” Marcus snarled. “She not only won’t remove what he gave her, she can’t. That’s what Luca meant when he said she’d always have it. The clasp on the chain he gave her isdamaged,” he emphasized, glancing at Tait who knew full well it wasnae. “She can’t get it off even if she wanted to—which she doesn’t.”
He tried giving Tait another meaningful look, but she didn’t seem to understand. He’d have to press forward, anyway. “The locketis what Luca gave her,” he said to Parks. “And Hannah is her dead sister. That’s her picture inside. So whatever Luca said Hannah is protecting has to be in there.”
“Marcus,” Tait shook her head in disbelief. “How could you?”
Just as he’d hoped, the look of confusion and betrayal on Tait’s face was very convincing. “Open it, Tait, so he can see inside,” Marcus demanded.
“Go look for yourself!” Marcus shouted at Parks when Tait didn’t move. “It’s all right there. Everything ye want. Everything ye’ve killed for. Everything ye’ll continue tae kill for.”
For the split-second Parks turned his attention to the necklace, Marcus tried to catch Tait’s eye long enough for one quick nod, praying she’d understand.
Was that a nod in return? He couldnae be sure. But they only had this one small chance, and he had to make it work.
Finally, Tait opened the locket, revealing Hannah’s picture and when Parks took his eyes off Marcus long enough to take a look, Marcus lunged at Tait, grasped the necklace chain in one hand to take the pressure from her neck and ripped the locket free.
“There!” he yelled, throwing it at Park’s feet. “Now ye have it. Take it and be damned!” Grabbing Tait’s arm, Marcus shoved her behind him.
Parks made one quick glance at the locket and pressed the gunbarrel to Marcus’ head. “Pick. It. Up.”
Marcus almost sagged wi’ relief but forced himself to fold his arms across his chest once more to clearly defy him. He had to keep the gun and Parks’ focus on him, alone. ’Twas a gamble to raise the man’s ire any further, especially with Tait standing right behind him, but it was a chance Marcus had to take. They were out of options.
