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Persistent sweats drip off my lids. But I don’t even have the will to wipe them. The effects from my running and my verge-of-insanity emotions all mingle into a huge ball, inflating my chest cavity.
We huff our way back to Hartley Marine.
“Did he ring Matty in the end?” I query. “What did he say? Why didn’t Matty call me?”
Blake explains, “The phone ran out of battery. But that smart kid went to the police. I was told, from the state of him, it looked like he’d been running quite a distance. My friend recognized Raffi from the CCTV footage from Port of Ketchikan when they first arrived. He’s still with Raffi, so he’s safe.”
“Did you speak to Raffi?”
“Yes.”
“Is he okay?”
“He didn’t talk much. I think he’s just shaken.”
“I’m gonna take the plane,” I say to Rob.
“Get Wyatt to fly you.”
“I don’t have a need for speed, Rob. Ineedspeed right now.”
Wyatt is a very capable pilot, but he won’t be able to fly faster than I do.
“Take Wyatt,” Rob insists.
I know he’s worried I’ll do something stupid—which, there’s a high chance that I will.
Do you want her? Or do you want to punish yourself?
The answer is clear, and I don’t have a second to waste.
32
ISABELLE
The blow to my head hasn’t made me unconscious, but it has subdued me. The dizziness sends me swaying, and my legs have given up. And I can’t do anything when Don’s bodyguard ties my wrists.
Then, like a rolled rug, I’m carried out of the building and tossed inside the cargo space of my borrowed Suburban.
“Get rid of Paz and his car, then fetch me as planned. We haven’t got much time. We’ll find the boy later.” Don gives instructions to his bodyguard as he towers over the trunk. He then turns to me, zipping up his puffer jacket. “Meanwhile, I’m going to take Miss Alaska hiking.”
Filled with pride, he shows off the gun in his hand—my gun—his other hand hanging to the open hatch.
I’ve known this Reaper and learned his limited facial expressions since his parents came into my family’s life. This time his smile is all teeth, full of menace. It’s not his happy face when he’s itching to clean up someone’s mess and take control of their life. It’s Don when he can’t wait to eliminate someone.
“Oh, come on, don’t be so naïve. Everyone is disposable, Iz. You’ve become too dangerous now. I must admit what you did to Paz was a surprise. But with the existence of this—” He shows me my own gun like it was a symbol of my stupidity. “—boy, the sky’s the limit. You know I’m a cleaner. I can create any scene I want. And I’m willing to bleed a little to play the part, if you get my drift.”
Don levels a grossly cunning smile.
“Your luck will run out, Don. And I’ve got a strong feeling this is gonna be it.”
“See you soon, darling.”
The hatch drops with a thud. I inspect the space around me—there may be a way out. But the car is gathering speed, and even if I get out, Don will find me again sooner or later.
Having canned my intention to kill him in that Airbnb apartment, I told myself I’d survive the Reaper another way. With my hands tied like this, placed in a space that might as well be a coffin, what can I do? That man has defeated me twice—when I lost Caili, and when Clayton fell for his lies. The third time may be the most devastating of all.
Raffi.
