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“Kill them all.” She gives me an endearing, if toothless, grin.
I jump from the car and trot up to the building.
The security guard at the door takes one look at me through the glass door and pulls his gun. Mine’s already pointed at him, and I shoot from the hip, shattering the plate glass door and his heart with one shot.
A few staffers in the lobby scatter as I step through the door and head for the elevator bank. I know Baines. He won’t want to leave the comfort of his top floor office, not even for this. I hit the elevator button and step inside.
The ride is quick, and when the doors open, I sling two knives into the first guard I see, then dive behind Margaret’s desk as two others open fire.
As the desk splinters around me, a smile turns the corners of my lips. Not because I love this work, though I do. But because the moment I stepped on this floor, I heard my favorite sound in the whole world. Margaret. Talking. A mile a minute. Just the way I like.
18
MARGARET
“Are you sure you want to do this?” I didn't think he was going to bring me here. I was sure it would be to some abandoned warehouse or something. Not back to the office. I pray Jacob knows where I am. He’ll come for me. I know it. I just hope it’s in time.
“Sit.” He pushes me onto the sofa in Mr. Baines’s office. I didn’t like being alone with him in the SUV. He makes me feel uncomfortable. He stares a little too much. I’m almost relieved other people are around, even though I know their intentions aren’t any better. Mr. Baines’s personal security guys all looked away as I was dragged off the elevator.
“If I were you I’d get out of this place. Mr. Black will be here at any moment.”
He glares at me. I love the fear that flashes in his eyes whenever I say Jacob’s name.
“Can you shut the fuck up for a minute?” He runs his hand through his hair. I’m guessing we’re waiting for Mr. Baines to arrive.
I don’t understand why they didn't kill me immediately. All of this seems unnecessary and careless on their part. None of it makes any sense. Why bring me here of all places? They must need something from me. “And why the fuck are you talking? Where the hell did that tape go?” He suddenly remembers. “I told you--” He lifts his hand.
I cover my face.
“Don’t.” A calm voice delivers the command.
I peek out of my fingers to see Mr. Baines standing there. He’s in his normal all-black suit. After spending a few days with Jacob, Mr. Baines doesn't seem so intimidating. “I don’t need her to cry. Not yet at least.”
The kidnapper drops his hand and clenches his fists beside him. He wants to hit me. God knows what else.
“Where’s Mr. Black?” he asks, looking around the office.
“He left him behind,” I blurt out.
“You what?” Mr. Baines takes a step closer to him. “And Rebecca?”
“I didn't leave them behind.” He shoots me another glare. This one is scarier than the last. He so wants to kill me. He wants to shut me up so bad. I’m going to make him pay for scaring me in the car.
“He did, too. I told him to stop, but he kept driving. He was too scared to stop the car. I can’t really blame him, because I’d be scared if Mr. Black was after me too.” I glare right back at him and add a smirk for good measure.
Mr. Baines moves. In one quick motion he lands a blow to my kidnapper. I watch as the brute crumples to the floor, holding his nose. I momentarily feel a little pang of guilt, but it goes away quickly. Blood drips from his nose as he tries to cover it.
“You let him get away!” Mr. Baines bellows. He never does that, never loses his cool. In all the time I’ve worked for him, he’s never so much as raised his voice above a conversational tone.
I think he’s scared now, too. Good, they all should be.
He pinches the bridge of his nose. “Rebecca is dead, isn't she?”
If I had to guess, I’d go with yes. I keep the thought to myself because he’s looking pissed about that. If he was so worried about her, why in the heck did he send her out after us?
“He let Mr. Black get away, definitely,” I interject. “And that’s not the worst part.”
Mr. Baines looks at me.
