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What’s even more unsettling is the fact that, for the first time since meeting her, I can see that Hanna doesn’t believe a single word she speaks, her usual confidence gone. Annika glances at her, almost wide-eyed—she doesn’t believe her either.
“Annika,” I warn, “fucking tell me. Did he touch you?!”
She finally turns to me and shakes her head.
Fuck. Me.I let out a loud breath and turn to Carter.
“Who?”
“Roberto Bartiste. He works in shipment far from here, right on the East Coast. But from what I gather, he’s been expanding his business. He has power, taking over more and more territory.”
“Shipment. Drugs?”
“Amongst other things, drugs. But that’s not his main business and not the one he appears to be expanding. It’s—”
“People,” Annika finishes for him. “He is a human trafficker. Something he is… highly passionate about.”
I grip the leg of her chair and attempt to pull it to me, but she plants her feet on the ground, pushing back and standing.
“We have to go. Run,” she says with urgency, turning to her friend.
But her words are ringing in my ears.Run.Away from me.
“No.”
She whips her head to face me as I utter that word, a fear in her expression that I’m not sure I can soothe.
“Sit down, Annika.” I grab her wrist, and she stills.
“You don’t understand. If this is true, if Bartiste is coming for us, we can’t just stay here.”
I shake my head as she tries to rip her wrist out of my hold. I pull her until she’s standing right next to me, my arm wrapped around her hips, holding her tight.
“Annika…” I both warn and comfort her, meeting the challenge in her steel-blue eyes. The submission prevails, her gaze drops, and she leans into me slightly, before sliding back down on the chair.
“What do you know? Why hasn’t the world found out about the real painting being found?” Hanna asks.
“Bartiste is keeping the information under wraps. He’s on a mission, and part of that might be to protect his reputation,” Vincent answers, speaking for the first time since he walked in.
“Mission?”
“To find you. He wants you to pay, and I don’t think it’s money he wants.”
Annika trembles at his words, and once again I wonder who the hell this man is.
“Your multiple identities probably slowed him down. The Lady in White going out for auction might have been his last lead,” Carter continues. “I’m not sure what resources he has to find you, but all I’ve seen so far suggests he has very deep pockets. He’s close. Too close.”
“Oh, he has plenty of resources.” Hanna sighs, and Annika just retires within herself, her gaze almost vacant.
“Does he know they’re here?” Finn asks.
“Put it this way, he’s left the East Coast, heading south.”
“Fuck… Okay. Can he be bought?”
“We can try, but I guarantee that money’s not going to stir this guy. Men like him go to extremes when their ego is played with. Pride and reputation sit above all else,” Vincent chimes in.
“We have to run,” Annika insists.
