Page 146 of Player

Clarissa

Ibreak free from the coarse material and come up gasping for air. The truck bed is cast in shadows but not enough to hide the two men seated in back.

Finn.

And the man in the suit.

The same man who warned me away, who negotiated pricing on the uranium, and who, if the murmurs are true, shot O’Brien in the head.

I untie the rope holding the burlap in place. Feeling helpless, scared, and slightly annoyed that I was caught. Because I listened to Finn. I trusted him and followed his directions, running away from the warehouse, empty-handed and heartbroken. A few minutes passed before two men appeared out of nowhere, hoisted me into the air, then stuffed me inside a burlap bag.

I kick away the material, freeing myself. How fast is the truck going? Perhaps I can jump.

“Don’t.”

My eyebrows arch at the suited man.

“Finn is about to explain what you’re doing here. I’ll interrogate you later ... alone.”

“Like hell you will.”

My attention swings toward Finn. Despite his casual manner, his voice soundsstrained.

This is bad. Really, really bad.

“Tell me something, Clarissa.” I flinch at the man’s use of my name. “Did he drink the water?”

“Excuse me?”

“This must be why Finn allowed you to be here. Permitted you to witness the uranium exchanging hands. Allowed you to film him ...me.”

“He deleted my videos.”

“He let you go. Twice.”

“Yes. But I only came back willingly once.” I gesture at the burlap then frown at Finn, who has yet to jump in.

“You’re unusually quiet,” the man addresses Finn. “That in itself is telling. But I’ll give you a chance to explain yourself. Is there something in the goddamn water that would cause you to defy me?”

My eyes lock with Finn’s.

“Don’t hurt her.”

I blink.

“She knows too much.”

Finn’s bright blue eyes pierce through me. “I hacked her accounts and removed everything. She’s harmless.”

The man snorts. “She reveals secrets for a living.”

Finn is silent for a few agonizing seconds. Studying my face like he’s memorizing every tense line, every frightened look.

“I love her.”

I blink.

His boss grunts. “Tell me something I don’t know.”