Page 121 of Steal My Heart

The mayor accepts the microphone to a round of applause. “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Lundi Gras,” the mayor booms, and the crowd cheers. “The revelry of Fat Tuesday is drawing near, I’ve decided to hand over the key to the city to the King and Queen of Carnival. King and Queen, do you promise to make merry this Mardi Gras season, and to dutifully return the key come Wednesday?”

“I do,” Angelo says.

“I do,” Laurie says, making eyes with Angelo like she wishes these were different vows.

He’s all in with me. He’s all in with me. He’s all in with me.

“I, Mayor Morrissey, hereby entrust the King and Queen of Carnival with the key to the city.” The mayor hands over a large prop of a key, and Angelo and Laurie take it, with Laurie of course touching Angelo’s hand. “Laissez les bon temps roul!”

The crowd goes wild.

Trumpeters begin playing, and that’s the court’s cue to march off the stage. The court files out while I impatiently wait my turn. After what feels like a lifetime, the woman in front of me goes, and I’m up. I saunter along, waving to the crowd. Behind the mayor, I “trip” and bump into his back, my hand pleating up the fabric of the pocket and lifting the phone. As he’s turning around, I move the phone to my cape’s inner pocket.

“You alright?” He eyes me.

“Yeah, sorry,” I mutter, continuing on my way.

My pulse is pounding like a snare as I walk down the steps and into the sea of people. Angelo and Laurie are being interviewed by the news station. She grabs his hand, and my heart is in my throat, my feet rooted in place.

“Cannon, stay focused,” Maks barks in my ear. “Two of our men are waiting on you. Walk toward the river, and they’ll escort you to the drop-off point.”

Forcing myself to move, I weave in and out of people until I join the two men. We don’t acknowledge each other, with one leading the way and one trailing along behind me. Walking a city block, we arrive at the parking garage.

“Third floor,” Maks reminds me as we reach the elevator.

I fidget back and forth while we wait on the elevator, something about this not feeling right.

Tires screech.

I turn around.

Softpops.

The men on either side of me crumble to the floor.

Maks is in my ear, but I can’t hear over my screams as men pour out of the van and grab my arms. “No!” I struggle, but they drag me to the van and shove me inside.

The sliding door is slammed shut. “Let me go!” I cry, but I’m outnumbered. My wrists are quickly restrained behind my back, a piece of tape slapped over my mouth.

We peel out of the garage, and Maks says in my ear, “Stay calm; we’re following you.”

Stay calm?How the hell is anyone supposed to stay calm in this situation? I’ve only ever been politely kidnapped, notfor realkidnapped!

My mask is ripped off my face, a shocked hush falling over the men as I blink rapidly.

“Idiot! This isn’t his sister!” one of the men shouts.

The van screeches to a stop, and the door opens. I’m flung over a shoulder and carried toward the edge of the bridge.

No!

I go flying, my silent scream swallowed by the impact of the Mississippi River.

And with my hands bound, I sink like a fucking stone.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Remi