Page 152 of Guarding Grace

“Not a clue.”

“Never mind. I’ll hack in and get it from her customer profile, but it’ll take some time.”

“She doesn’t have time,” I shot back.

“Hey, man, I get it. I’m going as fast as I can.”

Lucas’s voice came from behind me. “Terry, let him do his thing. You bellyaching will only slow him down.”

It sucked, but I left Jordy’s office, feeling completely helpless. I’d always hated the wait for a mission to start, but this was the most excruciating of all, because the stakes had never been higher. Grace needed me, and I was stuck sitting on my damned hands.

CHAPTER 35

Grace

Marku returnedwith a grin on his face. “They’ll make the trade, but first I make them wait by demanding money.”

“Why wait?” Kim asked. “You and your partner are already late delivering what I ordered.”

Partner?

He strode to me and lifted a few strands of my hair. “Waiting makes them more frantic to make the trade. I make them wonder what is happening to their woman.”

I tried to swat his hand away, but Goron’s grip was too strong.

Marku smirked. “They value you, and I can see why.”

“Fuck you.” I spat and got him on the chin.

He backed away, laughing. “I bet I could make you like being fucked by a real man.”

Yuck. If he got anywhere near me, I’d yank his balls off and swallow them. I spat again, but it didn’t reach him.

Quicker than a snake, he stepped forward and slapped me.

My head snapped to the side, my face stung, and I tasted blood. When I opened my eyes again, focusing on him was a struggle.

“Once was interesting, but any more…” He pulled a knife. “And I make your face not so pretty.”

I sneered at him. “You are messing with the wrong people.”

“Enough,” Kim shouted. “I want what I paid for.”

Marku wheeled on him. “Quiet. Without us, you would have nothing.”

The anger pumping off Kim was palpable.

“Nobody else in our business would work with you. You know that. Only we had the contacts you needed. You’ll get the delivery, and nobody will ever know what it was.”

“I will not tolerate failure.” Kim stabbed with an angry finger before stomping off. “You will both pay.”

“Put them in the room,” Marku ordered with a wave of his hand.

Goron shoved me to the wall. “Stay.” He whipped out a knife and cut Marci free. Then he grabbed us both and pushed us toward a doorway with a padlock on it.

Marci walked with a severe limp.

After they forced us into the room, I heard the lock snap shut. The good news was the lock meant we’d have a warning before Marku or one of his thugs came in. The bad news was there was no way to reach the lock and attempt to pick it.