Page 122 of Guarding Grace

His eyes remained wide with fear. “But he skipped out.”

In the rearview mirror, I saw Duke’s brows rise. “Skipped out on you?”

The weasel nodded. “Yeah.”

I couldn’t believe how short of functioning brain cells this little idiot was. “You planned on stealing from Tony Russo? You’re a moron.”

Grace swiveled in her seat. “You mean this entire shitshow is because you decided to rip off the mob?”

“It’s ten million in cash,” he said, like that was a reason to risk his life—and Grace’s as well. “Rudi has this place down on the beach in Colombia. We were gonna?—”

Duke cut him off. “You know the cases are rigged to blow if you open them, right?”

Elliot’s eyes darted back and forth. “Yeah, I saw inside one once.” He fidgeted. “But Rudi did the math and said we could try out all the combinations in a little over two weeks, and that way we wouldn’t get us blowed up—cuz that would like ruin the money, and ten million would go a long way in Colombia.”

I didn’t bother telling him that ten million in cash wouldn’t possibly fit in the little metal briefcase or that it was probably counterfeit. “So where is he…Rudi? While he tries to open this case without getting his ass blown to smithereens?” I squeezed his arm harder when he didn’t answer.

“I dunno,” he squeaked.

“You’re pathetic,” I told him and let go. “And you have shit for brains.” Looking at Grace, I could tell she was furious as well.

As we neared Grace’s building, the twerp spoke up again. “I gotta pee.”

“You pee in my car,” Duke said ominously, “and I’ll make you lick it up. Then I’ll wring your scrawny neck.”

Elliot shrank toward the door, looking like shitting his pants was a real possibility.

“He can come inside,” Grace said, “and use our facilities before you take him off to the dungeon or whatever.”

As soon as Duke parked, I exited the Porsche and dragged Elliot with me.

Grace opened her door and climbed out on my side as well.

“Hurry back,” Duke said as he shut down the motor. “I’ll wait here.”

Then two shots rang out.

The glass of the neighboring car shattered.

Duke threw his door open.

I let go of Elliot and took Grace to the ground.

Another shot, and glass shards rained down on top of us.

CHAPTER 28

Grace

Terry pushed me hard,tackling me to the ground. His hand behind my head was the only thing that protected my skull from breaking open. The force of his weight knocked the wind out of me.

I closed my eyes against the sounds of gunfire, breaking glass, and bullets hitting metal. This couldn’t be happening again.

Terry lay on top of me, a huge weight pinning me to the ground. I couldn’t move. I could barely breathe. The sound of another shot hitting the glass above us made me scream with what little breath I had left.

Terry’s hand covered my mouth. “Quiet.” He lifted a slight bit of his weight off me. “Duke?”

“They’ve got us pinned,” Duke responded. “Three shooters across the street. Keep Grace there. Too much open ground between here and the building.”