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Grandpop’s in his chair like always.
But he isn’t alone.
Time seems to stop. My heart races into my throat as fear floods through my limbs, numbing my fingers and my toes. I can’t move, can’t breathe.
A man’s standing beside Grandpop with a gun pressed to his head.
Burian smiles at me, wicked and joyous.
“Hello, Renata, why don’t you come join us?”
Chapter41
Renata
Ican’t move.
It’s that old cliché, how people in a panic feelrooted to the spot. Like my feet are glued to the floor. Like my soles are nailed to the ground. Like I’m stuck. Like my head’s stuck. I’m freaking out, losing my mind, and I can’t make my legs lift. And I can’t stop thinking about how I can’t make my legs lift.
Even though Burian’s standing next to Grandpop with a gun to his head.
“Renata,” he says, almost cooing, grinning madly. “Please, darling, come into the room so we may speak. You lingering in the doorway is making me nervous, and you don’t want to make me nervous right now, do you?”
Finally, I get my knees unlocked. I take a step. Another step. “What are you doing here?” I finally manage to say, my brain beginning to catch up to my situation.
“I thought that was obvious? I’m getting the drop on Lanzo. He thinks he’s off ambushing me right now, but unfortunately for you both, today is going to play out differently.”
“Renata,” Grandpop says, voice rasping. He looks terrified, and that snaps me out of my panic spell. “Who is this man? What’s going on?”
“This man is named Burian,” I say, staring the killer down. “And he’s not here for us.”
“No, I am not,” he confirms, nodding with a sly smile. “I knew you were clever. From the moment we first starting speaking, I could tell you were special.”
“Stop saying that.”
“It’s the truth.” Burian moves closer to Grandpop, pressing the gun barrel tighter to his skull. “It’s a shame, you know. I really did want to pay you.”
“Is that why you convinced that FBI agent to strangle me?”
“Well,” Burian says, looking abashed. “I can understand how you might misunderstand that little situation.”
“Who is this man?” Grandpop growls. “Why the hell’s he holding a gun to my head? Listen to me, young man—”
“Grandpop, stop it.” I’ve never spoken to him like this in my life, and the tone is enough to make his mouth close. He stares at me, expression hard. Grandpop’s a smart man, the kind of person that keeps collected under pressure. I have to hope he understands how much danger we’re in. “This man is part of that job I told you about. Now please, don’t speak anymore.”
“That’s my line,” Burian murmurs, looking impressed.
“You’re not going to kill me.” I step forward, coming within ten paces of the killer. He’s big, wearing simple jeans and a button-down shirt, looking like a guy on his way to a business casual office. Which I realize is probably a kind of camouflage. “That would defeat the purpose.”
“And what is my purpose?” he asks.
“Lanzo. This is about Lanzo, isn’t it?”
He nods happily. “Exactly right. This is all about Lanzo. You see, that dear man has been a real problem for a long time, and I want to put a stop to it.”
“I won’t let you kill him.” But how can I stop it? Burian’s got a gun to Grandpop’s head, which means I’m powerless. Could I sacrifice my grandfather for Lanzo? How could I ever live with myself if I made such a horrible choice?
“I’m not going to kill him,” Burian says, which comes as a surprise. “I want to make a deal.”
