by Tessa Bailey
“Oh my God,” Polly breathed, dropping the stick of gum to hold up both hands. “What are you doing?”
“You know, I’m a little ashamed to admit I was all in. Word of the unsanctioned match came from someone reliable. The dirty ex-cop story checked out. You had me. I was going to hand my hard-earned money right over.” A muscle jumped in his cheek. “It was so good, in fact, that I know my ex-partner is involved. Where’s my old pal Austin hiding?” He scorched her with a look. “Hmm?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Polly whispered. “I don’t know who that is. Just…please. I want to get out.”
“Ding dong, motherfucker.” Another gun was cocked in the backseat, whipping Polly’s head around. Erin? Her blond hair was stuffed inside a black skullcap, her right hand pointing the gun through the seat, straight at Reitman’s back. “Save your applause. It might be a Mercedes, but the locks weren’t even a challenge.”
To Reitman’s credit, he didn’t even flinch at Erin’s unexpected arrival. He didn’t take the gun off Polly, either. “It would appear the pupil has become the teacher,” he murmured. “Well played, Austin. He always was able to get beautiful women to do his bidding.”
Erin moved into a cross-legged position, jingling the bells on her combat boots. “I do no man’s bidding, but I owed Austin a favor for procuring this gorgeous baby for me.” She lifted the gun an inch. “Plus Polly is the only one who doesn’t comment on my table manners. I’m keeping her around.”
Reitman remained silent a moment, continuing to drive out of the downtown area. From the corner of her eye, Polly could see the streets were becoming less and less populated. “What’s your plan?” Reitman asked tightly. “Do you really think I’ll take you to the money now?”
“You will if you don’t want a bullet in your back,” Erin replied, sounding bored. “We would find it eventually, without your assistance. But I’d rather not shoot you because it would upset Connor.” She lowered her voice to a sly whisper. “That’s my boyfriend.”
“Yeah?” Reitman took an easy left turn, putting them on a quiet block. Too quiet. A prickle rose on Polly’s neck, exacerbated by the hard note in Reitman’s voice. “What are you going to do about the gun I have pointed at your friend? It’s not going away any time soon.”
Erin laughed, the sound cutting off abruptly when Reitman cocked the gun. Polly had no option but to make a grab for her own weapon. In one deft motion, she jammed a hand into her purse—
Reitman swerved the car to the right. Hard.
If Polly hadn’t been wearing a seat belt, Reitman’s maneuver would have sent her flying through the windshield. The vinyl strap dug into her neck, body lurching forward as tires squealed. With a sense of dread, she felt the heavy purse slip off her lap, dropping down near her feet. As soon as the car came to a jarring stop, Polly released her seat belt and went up on her knees, looking for Erin in the backseat. No. God, no. Her friend was slumped lengthways across the back seat, clearly unconscious. Blood had already begun to well on her left temple.
“Whoops,” Reitman said, his gaze momentarily distracted in the rearview mirror. His lips were curled in a smile. “I kind of liked her, too.”
Polly ignored the roaring in her ears, diving for Erin’s gun where it lay discarded in the footwell. It was a risky move with Reitman’s weapon still leveled in her direction, but she was banking on him wanting to draw out Austin. If Reitman had anything in common with the man she loved, it would be the requirement for satisfaction, answers, knowledge. And right now, Reitman had nothing.
That hope did little to comfort her as she closed a hand around Erin’s Ruger and shot back into the passenger seat, expecting a bullet to rip through her skin the entire time. Her relief came in the form of a shaky sob when it didn’t happen. Then it was just Polly and Reitman, pointing guns at each other across the car’s front console.
Silence stretched for a heated moment before Reitman spoke. “Austin Shaw, huh? Do you have any idea what kind of scum you’ve teamed with?”
A sharp stab of anger made her grip tighten. “I would say that’s the pot calling the kettle black, but Austin is nothing like you.”
“Oh no?” A dark glint entered his eyes. “You know, we might be grifters, but there’s an honor code among us. We leave family alone. It’s not much, but it puts us in the eighth circle of hell, rather than the ninth.”
Polly shook her head. “You’re the one using Austin’s daughter to draw him out. After stealing money Austin tried to return.”
Reitman scoffed at that. “There’s not a con alive that would work a job for two months and walk away without a dime, family or not. That’s how I knew Austin had lost his edge.” He jerked his chin at Polly, the gun. “Or so I thought.”
“What’s your excuse for being in Chicago now?”
He tilted his head. “So there’s a limit to our Austin’s honesty with you, is there?” Polly ignored the lead weight in her stomach and waited for Reitman to continue. “Money is one thing. This, here, tonight, this is something I understand. I welcomed Austin getting back at me for double-crossing him. But what he did?” Reitman ground his teeth together. “An eye for an eye.”
This is what Austin had been trying to tell her, but she hadn’t wanted to know. She’d been so confident it wouldn’t make a difference in their relationship—she still had faith it wouldn’t—but the lack of knowledge now put her at a disadvantage she couldn’t afford. Erin was in the backseat losing blood and needed medical attention. That was her priority now, not an explanation of Reitman’s vendetta. Where the hell was her backup?
“That motherfucker seduced my daughter,” Reitman gritted out, stalling Polly’s rapid-fire thoughts. “He found her down in Texas. Gained her trust and then took her money, the way I’d taught him.” He swiped his free hand over his mouth. “That money went to Isobel to replace the money I took from Austin’s kid. I’m here to get it back, and then some. If anyone understands an eye for an eye, it’s Austin.”
The gun shook in Polly’s hand, but she steadied it. Okay. She’d known it was going to be bad. But it was out in the open now and they would deal with it. So Austin hadn’t wanted to get the money back from Reitman for his daughter. That debt had already been replaced. Did he want it for Reitman’s daughter instead? To right a wrong? She wouldn’t know until they were face-to-face. Ignoring the jealousy trying to wing its way through her breastbone, Polly chanced a glance at Erin in the backseat. God, there was so much blood. About two minutes had passed since she’d been injured, and she needed medical attention immediately.
“Look, I just need to get my friend to a hospital—”
Reitman lifted the gun on a laugh. “A hospital won’t be useful to either of you.”
Just out of view, tires screeched to a stop.
Chapter Twenty
Austin could barely hear over the fear screaming in his head. He jumped out of the van before it stopped moving, arms raised over his head, turning onto the darkened block where Polly, Reitman, and Erin occupied the silver Mercedes. The last five minutes would forever hold first place as worst in his life. A gun being drawn on Polly, the Mercedes swerving, listening to her being blindsided by his disgusting past deeds. Deeds he’d somehow known would come back to haunt him, but hadn’t known when.
How could he have known he’d someday have someone to live for? To be better for?
Polly shot him a fearful look through the windshield. Don’t be scared, sweet. He tried to communicate with a nod that there was nothing to worry about. He’d taken care of everything. Knowing he’d been prepared for every eventuality did nothing to lessen the blow of seeing a gun pointing at Polly. Rage braided his intestines together like a pretzel, so tight, an explosion seemed inevitable. No. No. He needed to be calm and see this through. It had taken some serious convincing for Derek to allow Austin to trade himself for Polly. Erin’s apparent injuries had sealed the deal and took precedent now.
Austin stopped at the f
ront bumper of the Mercedes, resisting the need to search Polly’s face for a sign of how she felt about him now. Now that there was no question whether or not he deserved her.
He didn’t. He never would. But he could give her what she’d come to Chicago for. He could be her champion just this once.
“Charles,” Austin shouted, loud enough to be heard through the glass. “You’re not going to shoot a girl, are you?” He shook his head. “Poor form, old chap.”
Austin could see Reitman trying to piece together how he’d gotten there. How he’d known where they would be. He would never put it together that Austin was working for the police. There was no way of him finding that out. It would be too much of a leap for him to make at a moment’s notice. Austin was banking on Reitman’s assumption that he’d followed them in his own vehicle, which was presumably parked just out of sight in the alley.
Keeping his weapon trained on Polly, Reitman opened the driver’s side door and elbowed it open. “Do us both a favor and don’t pretend you would shed a tear if I pulled this trigger.”
Austin shrugged, striving for nonchalance even though his heart wanted to rip straight through his chest, propelled by fury. “It would be unnecessary. You came to Chicago for me, and I’m standing right here.” Don’t look at Polly. Don’t look. “If it’s money you want to replace what I took from your daughter, fine. I just want you off my back. Let’s go somewhere and have this out like men.”
Reitman narrowed his eyes. “Put your weapon on the ground.”
Only allowing himself a momentary hesitation, Austin slipped his weapon from its shoulder holster and laid it on the ground. He lifted both pant legs and the back of his untucked shirt, turning in a circle so Reitman could see he wasn’t hiding anything. Reitman tilted his head in Polly’s direction and Austin nodded, giving her a brief glance. “Lower the gun, babe.” He’d never called her that before and hoped it would signal her somehow. Furthermore, it was a generic nickname, one he’d used countless times over the years, that wouldn’t seem odd to Reitman. Would make Polly just another mark in his eyes, when she was the furthest thing from it. Polly’s arm had started to shake from holding the gun, and the sight made Austin’s throat ache. “Jig’s up. Put down the gun.”
Her lips formed the word no, but she eventually dropped the weapon. As soon as it went down, Reitman retrained his gun on Austin and climbed out of the vehicle slowly. “So here we are. Finally reunited.”
“Spare me the sap, if you please.”
Reitman chuckled. “I took a chance, bringing you out of the woodwork this way. Gambling on the assumption you could worry for anyone but yourself.” He gave Austin a disgusted once-over. “That little girl will never know your name. And it’ll be the best thing that ever happened to her.”
“Maybe. But you’re the worst.” The wire taped to Austin’s chest glowed hot. “How much are you planning on taking Isobel for?”
“All of it.” Reitman’s stance loosened, the way it did when he was bragging. “We’re the survivors of the wreckage you left behind, Isobel and I. It’s almost too easy.” He shrugged. “When I’m done, your child will be as penniless as you left mine.”
There. Along with the recorded deal made back at the hotel, that added confession was all Derek needed to arrest Reitman. In exchange for immunity and Derek agreeing to trade Austin for Polly, Austin had agreed to reveal everything about his time with Reitman, once the man was in custody. Yes, he was breaking code. Turning snitch. And given a choice every day for the rest of his life, he would make the same decision to protect Polly. Give her what she wanted.
Austin’s eyes connected with Polly for the barest of moments. God, he hated not knowing what she was thinking. When he would see her again, if ever. Once her mission in Chicago had been accomplished, would she see him as a valid reason to stick around? With a great force of will, Austin forced his attention back to Reitman. “I presume the money is in the car?”
His ex-partner didn’t flinch. “What was that?”
“The money you intended to wager on the match.” Austin tipped his chin toward the car. “In the well of the boot…stuffed in a duffel and taped inside the spare tire. Am I right?” When Charles still didn’t react, Austin laughed, but it was forced. He could see Polly casting anxious glances at Erin, where she still lay in the backseat. “We both know you have it with you. Never could go five feet without that much cash. Afraid someone like you might make off with it.”
Reitman gave a disbelieving eyebrow lift. “I assume you have a point?”
“Not so much a point, as a strong fucking suggestion.” Austin’s voice turned to steel. “Take the money from the trunk and let the girls leave in the car. You came here for me, so here I am. You want to put a bullet between my eyes, here’s your chance.” He ignored Polly’s flinch inside the car. “You have your money, your precious revenge…and I can die with a clear conscience, knowing I’ve sent them to safety. Are we in agreement?”
There was a tense standoff that seemed to go on forever, but in reality was likely only fifteen seconds. Finally, Reitman bent to the side and popped the trunk before backing toward it, Austin still in his gun’s sights. He could hear Polly sobbing inside the car and refused to look, loathing that her obvious distress put a smirk on Charles’s face. Austin’s ex-partner was out of sight for a mere five seconds before popping back into sight, holding a black duffel bag in one hand.
Austin had no choice but to nod at Polly, his stomach pitching at the stark misery in her expression. Go, he mouthed, trying his damnedest to appear reassuring. She reached a hand out to him, but it dropped like it weighed a ton. Tears poured down her cheeks as she dived into the driver’s seat and gunned the car in reverse, barely giving Reitman enough time to move. Good girl. Get Erin to a hospital. He knew before the car even hit the avenue, she would be on the phone with Connor.
Begging fate to give him another chance to hold Polly, Austin aimed the wrath he could no longer contain at Reitman. “Letting her go was the smartest decision you ever made. One more second of that gun in her face might have signed your death warrant.” Austin took a menacing step forward. “There’s still a chance to sign it, if you don’t pull that trigger soon. I’m running out of reasons not to kill you with my bare hands.”
“So eager to die, aren’t you?” Reitman’s confusion was rife with blood lust as he caressed the trigger with his index finger. “Suits me.”
Reitman pulled the trigger.
Nothing happened.
Austin released a pent-up breath, silently thanking Erin for remembering to remove the bullets from the gun Reitman kept in his glove compartment. “Maybe next time,” Austin murmured to Reitman, just as the police van’s engine roared to life and burned rubber onto the street. Another vehicle blocked the far end of the road, giving Reitman no option for escape.
Using Reitman’s confusion to his advantage, Austin scooped up the bag of money and left the scene at a brisk pace, ignoring the insults being leveled at him via his ex-partner, who was currently being wrestled to the sidewalk by Derek. No time to stay and enjoy the sight, however. He had work to do.
…
Polly stared at the scuffed-up hospital wall, jolting when a voice droned over the hospital loudspeaker. What am I doing here? I should go home. Erin had been released—how long ago? At least an hour. She’d been diagnosed with a mild concussion, and the doctor had wanted to keep her in the hospital overnight for observation, spurring an absolute panic attack on Erin’s end. Yeah. Being kept anywhere really wasn’t the escape artist’s thing. After repeated promises from Connor—who’d looked on the verge of an anxiety attack himself—that his Navy SEAL background qualified him to care for his girlfriend’s concussion at home, Erin was discharged.
Throughout the entire scene, Polly had been a presence for Erin, but she’d been useless, only able to see Austin staring down the barrel of a gun. You want to put a bullet between my eyes? Cries of denial had risen repeatedly in her throat at the memo
ry, her phone remaining hatefully silent inside her purse. Not delivering any news. Not telling her if Austin was still alive. Until finally, finally, the phone had rung.
Polly had been terrified to answer upon seeing Derek’s number. No. She wanted Austin. She wanted her conceited, inappropriate, secretly amazing Austin. Just before the call could go to voicemail, she’d answered. When Derek told her that Reitman had been taken into custody, she’d nearly collapsed, thinking it was confirmation that he’d shot Austin. Is he dead? Is he dead? She remembered her words bouncing off the shiny linoleum hallway floors outside Erin’s hospital room.
Her body had surrendered to relief when Derek explained that Reitman’s gun hadn’t been loaded. That Austin had been suited up with a wire and sent in as a trade for her and Erin. Six hours later, no one could find Austin, nor had anyone heard from him. There’d been no mention of the money from Derek, which meant Austin had it. He’d taken it and gone.
Now there was a very real insecurity attempting to break through her utter joy over Austin being alive. It was taking all of her concentration not to let the insecurity win. If she stood up and went home, walking and boarding the train would require her to let her mental guard down. Which was why she was frozen to her chair, feeling rather than seeing hospital guests passing by like fuzzy specters.
Austin hadn’t taken the money and left her behind. She couldn’t allow it to be a possibility. But the fear remained, growing stronger. Gaining speed. She felt painfully alone, trapped inside some undiscovered realm where everything was the opposite of what she’d known twenty-four hours prior.
Sitting there would solve nothing, however, so Polly stood on shaky legs, traversed the hospital corridor, and walked into the pitch black of predawn Chicago. The buzz from the fluorescent hospital lights stayed with her as she walked. And walked. Without any real idea of where she hoped to end up. She needed to end up in Austin’s arms. She needed him to be standing outside the hospital doors with an explanation, but when he didn’t appear, she began looking for him on every street corner. At every bus stop. Passersby were few and far between at this time of the morning, but she double-checked to make sure none of them were Austin, waiting for her in a disguise, with a concise explanation for where he’d gone.