AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Kelvin would park the car and join us. If he could find us. There were people everywhere, the crowd swallowing us as soon as we’d walked a few steps. I kept close enough to Thea that our arms brushed against each other with each movement.
It was impossible not to bump into strangers in the crowded market. My hand hovered over my gun, my body on high alert. I followed Thea from stall to stall, watching her fill her bags to the brim.
I wordlessly divested her of her heavy load, carrying all the bags in one hand, ready to drop them at a moment’s notice. Having even one of my hands full wasn’t ideal, but there was no way I’d stand by while Thea was carrying the heavy groceries.
There was still no sign of Kelvin, despite my frequent updates on our location. He was a big guy, able to push his way through the crowd with force if necessary and should have found us by now.
The uneasy feeling that had never really left since arriving at the market flared to life with a vengeance. I turned to Thea, who was busy admiring a bracelet. “You almost ready to head back?”
She put the jewelry back down, her shoulders slumping. I hated seeing her like this, but the need to get back to the car grew with every moment. The longer we were out in the open, the more chance someone had to attack. And I saw an attack around every corner these days. An occupational hazard, but one that had kept me alive so far.
“Sure. I think I have everything for the apple rhubarb I want to make today.”
Thea had been trying her hand at baking. Her skills in the kitchen had never extended to more than two-minute noodles and mac ’n’ cheese. But she’d been cooking and baking with Jacques. Since she always fed everyone on the grounds, we all reaped the benefits of her steadily improving skills.
Glued to her side, I directed her back to where Kelvin had dropped us off. I hadn’t heard from him despite asking him to check in. And when there still wasn’t a reply when I checked my phone, I didn’t hesitate to call in the cavalry.
It would take them at least fifteen minutes to get here. And my priority until then was getting Thea to a safe location.
Parking was always an issue around here, and not even William’s money could buy us a permanent spot close to the market.
Once we were back on the street, I turned us toward a nearby restaurant. We didn’t have to walk far, but even the three hundred feet seemed too much.
I questioned whether I’d made a mistake trying to get Thea to the restaurant, but anyone could sneak up on us while we were in the market. There were too many people to keep them away.
Spotting the sign up ahead, I hastened my steps, Thea rushing along beside me. “Archer, what’s going on? You’re scaring me.”
“I haven’t heard from Kelvin. Something’s wrong. We’re going to wait in the restaurant until backup gets here.”
But we didn’t make it. Instead, two heavily armed guys stepped out from an alley we were passing. Someone had been watching us, waiting for the perfect moment. And we’d played right into their hands.
Lifting their guns, they motioned for us to follow them. I could take both of them, but I couldn’t protect Thea at the same time.
Praying the team would get here soon, I did what I had to if I wanted to keep Thea safe. We followed them into the alley, Thea’s face as white as a sheet, her body trembling.
I dropped the bags at the entrance of the alley, hoping someone would see them. The two guys who were following us didn’t seem to notice, or they simply didn’t care.
Once we’d walked a few feet, a figure stepped out from behind a car parked on the side.
The guy held out his arms, approaching us with a cold smile. “Everyone always tells me Locked Security is the best. Yet here you are, unable to protect your charge. And we had to do little more than wave guns in your face. Disappointing indeed.”
He looked familiar, but I couldn’t figure out where I’d seen him before. His fitted suit was expensive, his diamond watch drawing attention. I didn’t reply, knowing when someone was goading me into a reaction. And my priority was and always would be Thea. Losing my head would only put her in danger.
Once he realized I wouldn’t respond, he turned his attention to Thea, making me stiffen.
“And here’s the beautiful siren I’ve heard so much about. William talks about you all the time. You must be something special to catch his attention.”
Thea went impossibly stiffer at his words, her breaths shallow. But she still wasn’t saying a word.
The guy turned his attention my way once again, and it was my turn to go still, waiting for something to happen. Instead, he ran his gaze up and down my rigid form, his eyes lingering on the hand on my gun.
“Such a shame to waste another talented young man,” he said, sounding bored. “But the boss hates it when someone sticks their nose in our business. I thought getting rid of one of you would be warning enough. But you seem to multiply like cockroaches, crawling into every place you aren’t supposed to. It seems I have to make a bigger statement this time. I’m thinking of sending body parts. What do you think? Effective enough?”
“No,” Thea yelled, then let out a sob before covering her mouth with her hand.
This was either a terrible joke or I was currently standing in front of the man who’d killed Sam, one of Gunner’s men. The realization hit me like a punch to the gut.
Instead of comforting Thea, which was what I longed to do, I raised a brow as if I was bored. “I think they’ll take notice either way. But please, by all means, drag this out. There’ll be no place safe enough for you to hide. If Locked Security doesn’t get to you first, William will. You said yourself how much she means to him.”
