Page 132 of Heartless

Twenty-eight minutes later, I was back in my car with a linen shopping bag full of my bounty on the back seat.After consulting the G.P.S., I took the backroads, which were usually longer, but at this time of the day, they would be less busy.

I turned up the volume of my latest favorite pop song and bopped my head.The chorus was coming up.I opened my mouth.A fast shadow zoomed past my window.My heart punched my throat.A bike appeared.Right in front of my car.I screamed.I stood on the brakes.The back of my car lurched before coming to a brutal stop on the side of the road.Too shaken to move, I took a deep breath through my rattling chest.And another.Then, I slowly unpeeled my fingers from the steering wheel.

Once I’d gotten my breaths under control, I scanned the area.Daylight had faded, but the statue of an angel was clear to see.We were at the back of the catholic cemetery.

Shit.The bike.

I spotted it a few feet ahead of my car.It was laid on its side, but there was no sign of the rider.Maybe he’d fallen in the ditch?Maybe he was dead.

Oh God.Had I just killed someone?

Snagging my cell, I rounded my car and ran toward the bike.Headlights of an incoming car behind me further lit the path ahead.

Thank God.I waved my arms to flag it and exhaled a shaky sob as the black car came to a stop in front of my car.A second one parked behind it.The scratching sound of gravel behind me had me swivel toward the bike.

The rider was up.Dressed in black leather with his helmet on, he heaved the bike up, swung his leg over it, and sped away.I stared at the disappearing motorcycle and squeezed my cell.What the...?

The creeping feeling from before slapped the back of my head, and my heart vaulted in my throat.

I pivoted toward my car, which laid half on the road, half in a ditch, and trapped between the two black cars.

Two men now stood on each side of the car that had parked in front of mine.One of them opened the back door to let someone out, and I lurched back.

A slender figure unfolded out, and a chilling but familiar voice rose in the breezy, crepuscular air.

“Sienna, dear.”

Nigel leaned heavily on a cane as he limped toward me.Two burly men flanked his sides while his driver stood by the open passenger door.His tall frame was slimmer, and his hawkish face was gaunt.

The man was a monster in expensive clothes, but he was a person.A person I shared DNA with.

When he lifted his hand, the well-trained human guard dogs bookending him halted.His mouth was bracketed by deep grooves made more visible by the greyish undertone of his skin.

He was really sick.I swallowed hard and exhaled a calming breath.“Hello, Nigel.”

“Let’s talk in the car, little dear.”

Right.The car that was going to take me to a secondary location.

I could easily outrun him.But I wouldn’t be so lucky with the two goons who were staring at me as if I was prey.

I took another step back.“I’m fine right here, Nigel.As I’ve told Joel and Kimberly, I can’t help you.”

His face darkened.“You can’t, or you won’t?”

I bristled under his glower but managed to keep my tone calm.“Nigel—”

“I’m dying, Sienna.”His shoulders slumped.“Little dear, just come with me, and we’ll discuss this as adults.”

What was it with him that when he was trying to force his point of view, he wanted to discuss‘as adults?’

“I am an adult.”I leaned in.“The answer is no.To make it clear, I’ve signed a living will, and my organs will die with me.”

His jaw clenched.“Jake Rhodes is a manipulative low-life—”

“Stop.”The freaking nerve.“Jake is a better man than you’ll ever be.”

The malevolence glittering in his gaze brought the sleek sociopath in him to light, and a shudder seized my whole being.