by Anna Hackett
Gia nodded. “That’s why I need to find her first.”
“Heard she’s been playing pool at Roll lately,” the woman said.
Gia smiled. “Thank you.” She took a long swallow of her drink and set some money on the bar. “How much was Willow’s tab?”
“No.” The woman shook her head. “Honey, take it from me, if you keep bailing them out, they never learn.”
The words reverberated around in Gia’s head, but she still felt a lick of guilt. When they walked outside, Saxon took Gia’s arm.
“Baby, Willow could’ve grabbed onto the hand you’ve held out to her numerous times. She’s had every chance to make different choices.”
Like he had. Vander’s friendship had helped Saxon make good choices in his life.
Gia blew out a breath. “I guess like your parents, she’s weak and selfish.”
Saxon ran a hand down Gia’s hair.
They got in the X6 and drove to Roll—a pool hall not far away.
“This place is owned by the local mafia,” Saxon said.
Gia groaned and opened her door. “Great.” Just what they needed, the mafia involved. “Same ones that were involved with Haven’s ex and the Monet theft?”
“These ones are the Italian version, not Russian. We’ll go in, look for Willow, then get out.”
They walked inside. It was well-lit and nicely decorated. Gia had been picturing smoke hanging in the air and dangerous-looking people everywhere. It looked normal.
They did a quick lap of the interior, but there was no sign of Willow.
When they got back in the SUV, Gia huffed out a breath.
“Contessa, don’t go into private investigations. Most of it is like this. Following leads, talking to people, and not getting what you need as fast as you want it.”
Together, they checked out a few more places, including an ex of Willow’s. The guy didn’t have nice things to say about her, and he hadn’t seen her in months.
With a sigh, Gia leaned back against the side of the SUV.
“Patience, Contessa. It’ll be over soon.” Saxon pulled her in for a hug.
Then what? What was next for them? She leaned into him, breathing in his scent. She couldn’t think about that right now. She needed to fix this Willow situation, and then she could deal with the fact that she was in love with Saxon.
The peal of Saxon’s cell phone cut through the air.
“Ace, talk to me.” Saxon scanned the sidewalk. “Uh-huh. Address?”
Gia straightened.
“We’ll head there now.” Saxon turned to Gia. “Ace found Willow. Shady Rest Motel near the airport.”
Gia’s eyes widened. “How did he find her?”
“He hacked some security cameras. She hadn’t used any ID, just paid cash, so we got lucky.”
Gia’s eyes popped wide. “He hacked some security cameras?”
Saxon grinned. “With Ace, it’s best not to ask for the details.”
They drove south toward the airport. As they got closer, a plane flew in low overhead. Gia watched the huge jet descend toward the runway, suddenly trying to remember when the last time was that she had a vacation. Maybe after this, she could convince Saxon to go away for a trip. Preferably somewhere warm and balmy, with a pool bar.
They left the freeway and drove down a street lined with low-end motels. Most looked like they could be improved by a match and a can of gasoline. Saxon pulled into the Shady Rest. Gia grimaced. It had needed an update about two decades ago.
A couple of guys were having a cigarette under an awning, watching them with suspicious eyes.
“Do we need to rough up the hotel receptionist?” Gia asked.
Saxon raised a brow. “No. Usually some cash greases the wheels.”
“Oh.”
“Try not to sound so disappointed, Contessa.” He shook his head. “Besides, Ace gave me her room number.”
It was on the lower level, and they walked along the row of doors, then stopped. Saxon knocked, but there was no answer.
A second later, he angled his body and pulled out some lock picks. It took him literally two seconds to open the door.
As Gia looked inside, she grimaced again. It was a real step down from the Fairmont. Maybe a whole flight of steps down. An ugly, multicolored bedspread was draped over a sagging double bed. The carpet was stained, and an ancient TV rested on a rickety table. The smell of stale smoke hung in the air.
There were some clothes scattered around on the bed and the back of a chair.
Gia checked them out. “Female. Willow’s size.” She saw a pack of gum and coins resting on the table. “Big Red gum. Her favorite.”
“She can’t be far.” Saxon quickly and expertly searched the room and adjoining bathroom. “Must have the gems on her. Let’s wait in the car.”
They slipped out. As they crossed the parking lot, the two men stubbed out their cigarettes and approached.
“What do you two want?” one demanded.
“You don’t belong around here.” The other one eyed Saxon’s Rolex. “Nice watch.”
Gia shook her head. “You need an undercover watch. A Casio or something.”
Saxon looked at her, aghast. “I’m not wearing a Casio.”
She snickered.
“Hey,” one of the men barked.
Gia studied the pair carefully. They were both solid, not ripped, but had bulk. One had a tattoo of a skull on his neck, and the other one was bald, with a thick beard.
“We were just leaving,” Gia said cheerfully.
“I want the watch,” the bald one snapped at Saxon.
“And I want your earrings, Princess,” Skull Tat said to Gia.
She smiled. “No, I like these.”
The men both blinked, then scowled. “You want us to fuck you up?”
She sighed. “See my man?” She jerked a thumb at Saxon.
Both men glanced at him.
“He’s a badass. He can fuck you both up without even trying.”
“He’s a pretty boy.” Skull Tat sneered, then spat on the asphalt.
Gia opened her tote and pulled out her Ruger. She aimed it at Skull Tat’s chest. “I could do it myself.”
Saxon cursed, then moved. He shoved the bearded man into a nearby parked car.
Skull Tat roared and Saxon swiveled. He lunged and punched the man in the face. When the man staggered, Saxon followed with a hit to the gut and a hard chop to the back.
With a long groan, Skull Tat went down.
The bald, bearded man moved, bracing to attack Saxon. Gia swiveled around and slammed the butt of her gun into the back of his neck.
With a garbled cry, he collapsed.
“Buy a Casio.” Saxon straightened with a sniff. “I don’t want to hear that again.”
They turned to head to the SUV, and Saxon cursed.
Willow stood across the parking lot, staring at them.
Then she bolted.
A millisecond later, Saxon took off after her.
Gia followed. She tried to keep up, but one, her boots weren’t made for running, and two, she hated running. She lost sight of Saxon as he gave chase.
Moments, later she stopped, and bent over to suck in some air.
It wasn’t long before Saxon reappeared, a dark look on his face. “Lost her.”
“Damn.” Gia gave herself a second to absorb her disappointment. At least Willow was still alive.
Saxon’s lips twitched. “You need to work out more, Contessa.”
“Oh, no thanks.” She tilted her head. “Unless sex counts.”
He smiled. “It counts.”
It was Monday morning, and the results of taking Friday afternoon off meant Gia was extra busy.
Saxon was busy too. He sat at a desk by Ashley, busy on his laptop and phone. Gia craned her head and looked out her office door at him. Today, he wore a charcoal-gray suit and white shirt. So hot.
And despite a lot of great sex, she was still hungry for him.
; Ashley appeared, slapping some files on Gia’s desk. “Your guy is hot.”
“I know.”
Her assistant smiled. “You’re claiming him now?”
“Yes.”
“Tell me you spent the entire weekend having hot-guy monkey sex.”
“I spent the entire weekend having hot-guy monkey sex.”
Ashley’s mouth dropped open. She held up a hand. “Give me a moment.”
Gia shook her head as her assistant wandered back to her desk, fanning her face.
Gia’s phone rang. “Gia Norcross.”
“Gia.”
Stiffening, she clutched her phone. “Willow. Where are you?” Gia waved at Saxon and he strode in.
“Gigi, Dennett found me.” Willow’s harsh breathing cut across the line. “God, Gia, he’s going to kill me.”
Sludge coated Gia’s stomach. Despite everything, she didn’t want her friend dead. “Where are you?”
“Golden Gate Park. I’ve no idea how he found me.”
Gia met Saxon’s gaze. “She’s at Golden Gate Park. Dennett found her.”
Saxon cursed. “Tell her I’m coming.”
Relief flooded Gia. “Willow, Saxon’s coming to get you.”
Willow sobbed. “Okay. Okay.”
“Hide,” Gia said. “And hold on.”
“I’m near the Rideout Fountain.”
The line went dead.
“Golden Gate Park, by the Rideout Fountain. Saxon—”
He gave Gia a quick kiss. “I’ll find her. For you, not for her.”
“You’re a good man, Saxon.”
“I’m calling Ace. Don’t leave the office.”
She nodded, then watched him stride out, his phone to his ear. She sat back in her chair, clenching her fingers and biting her lip. Great, now she had to worry about Saxon and Willow.
Jumping up, she paced across the office, unable to sit still. Please be okay. Please be okay.
She now knew why Vander and his guys were never in the office. Waiting and sitting around was excruciating.
“Gia?”
Ace stood in her doorway. As always, he looked hot, but his face was serious.
“Any news?” she asked.
“Nothing yet.”
Ace claimed the desk he’d used last time, opening his fancy laptop, his fingers moving fast over the keyboard. He clipped a Bluetooth earpiece on.
Gia kept pacing, and then she saw Ace stiffen.
She hurried out and pressed her hands to his desk. “What?”
Ashley was watching from her desk, face concerned.
“Nothing yet. Just heard a 9-1-1 call. A man’s being transferred to the hospital from Golden Gate Park.”
Gia gasped. No.
“Don’t worry, he doesn’t match Saxon’s description. Actually, sounds like it might be Dennett.” Ace reached out and gripped her hand. “Saxon’s damn good at what he does, Gia.”
“He’s been shot before.”
“He has, in a warzone. Trust him to get the job done.”
“He’s in danger, for her. Because I asked him.”
“Try to get some work done. Find a distraction.”
With a nod, she moved back into her office. She sat at her desk, but the nervous energy made it impossible to concentrate.
God, Willow. This was it. Gia couldn’t have Willow in her life if she kept on this destructive path.
All the work on Gia’s desk blurred, then her cell phone rang. She glanced down and saw it was a blocked number.
She frowned and answered. “Gia Norcross.”
“We have your brother.”
The robotic voice made Gia stiffen. That was impossible. She looked out the doorway to Ace.
“If you talk to anyone, Vander is dead,” the voice continued.
“Gia, don’t—”
My God. It was Vander’s voice. He didn’t sound stressed or worried, just pissed.
“What do you want?” she demanded. “Who are you?”
Ace had her phone tapped, right? Right now, he was on his own call, and wasn’t showing any reaction to her receiving the call.
“We’ve blocked the trace on this call,” the robot voice said. “It’s just us, Ms. Norcross. Remember, you tell anyone, we’ll put a bullet in your brother’s brain.”
“What do you want?”
“You’ll exit your office with no one noticing.”
“I’m being watched, protected—”
“Do it, or your brother dies.”
Her hand clenched on the phone, her knuckles white. “Okay.”
“Head onto the street and around the corner. There will be a car waiting. A white Cadillac.”
“A white Cadillac,” she repeated.
“Find it and get in.”
“If you hurt my brother, I’ll hurt you.”
The robotic chuckle was eerie and creepy. “You have five minutes, Ms. Norcross. Don’t be late.”
The call ended.
Fear churned in her belly, and she tasted bile in her mouth. She shoved it down.
“Focus, Gia,” she whispered. She quickly typed an email and added a send delay of ten minutes. Then she turned off her cell phone and stuck it in her bra. She wiggled it around until it was the least noticeable.
Okay, now she needed to get out without Ace noticing, or Ashley getting suspicious.
Think, Gia.
Okay. The file room was close to the front doors. She’d tell Ashley she had to get in there to get something, then she’d slip out the front door. Ace had access to the building’s cameras, but hopefully he wasn’t monitoring them live.
Gia rose and pulled in a deep breath. Vander needed her.
She strolled out of her office. “I need some files from the file room.”
Ashley swiveled in her chair. “I can get—”
“No.” Shit, that was too abrupt. “I’m trying to keep myself busy.” She tried for a smile.
Ashley sat again and nodded. “Okay, let me know if you need help.”
Gia walked at a normal speed toward the file room door. God, she hoped it was normal speed. Was Ace watching her?
She reached the file room and ducked inside.
Leaning against the wall, she took some more deep breaths. How many minutes did she have left?
She peered out and saw that Ace was looking at his laptop. Ashley was on the phone.
The desks of some of her junior staff sat nearby. They were all empty at the moment, her people either in a meeting or out getting coffee. Someone’s stylish, tan trench coat was resting on the back of a chair.
Gia ducked out, nabbed the coat, and pulled it on.
Tying the belt, she waited for Janine at the reception desk to answer a call, then she walked right out the front doors of Firelight and into the hall.
Her heart hammered in her throat and her stomach felt sick. She flicked up the collar of the coat and looked at the floor. There was no time for the stairs, and she had no idea where her security building’s cameras were. Were there cameras in the stairs? Who knew?
She pressed the button for the elevator.
As she waited, she thought her heart was going to burst out of her chest. Any second, she expected Ace to burst out after her.
The elevator doors opened and she stepped inside. She pressed the button for the lobby.
It was the longest elevator ride of her life.
Panic felt like barbed wire around her neck by the time she hustled through the lobby. Outside, she turned the corner, and ahead, she saw the white Cadillac idling on the street.
Please be all right, Vander.
For a second, she thought of Saxon, Willow.
Then the door of the Cadillac opened and Conrad Lex got out.
Oh, shit.
“Where’s Vander?” she demanded.
“I’ve got no clue.” The man grabbed her and shoved her in the back of the car. He slammed the door closed.
Gia swiveled, trying the doors but they were locked.
&
nbsp; Dammit. Dammit. Dammit.
Lex got in the driver seat. “It’s just you and me now, Gia.”
Chapter Sixteen
Saxon aimed his gun and fired.
Dennett’s goon ran into the trees. Off to Saxon’s right, Vander marched across the grass. Thankfully, the Golden Gate Park wasn’t too busy today. A few people heard the gunshots and ran.
Vander swiveled and fired into the trees, then shook his head.
“They’re gone. Couple of guys carried Dennett out. He got clipped by one of his own guys.”
Saxon had zero sympathy. “Willow,” he called out.
To his left, she popped up from behind some bushes. Nervously, she walked toward them, swiping her hands on her jeans.
Saxon scanned her. Disheveled, but not hurt. “You all right?”
She licked her lips.
Saxon bit back his sharp words. He wanted to call Gia. He knew she’d be worried.
Willow nodded. “Yeah, um, thanks for coming. I appreciate it.” She sent a quick glance at Vander, then back to Saxon.
“Didn’t do it for you,” Saxon said.
Her mouth twisted. “Right. For your precious Gia.”
“For the woman who’s still worried about you, despite you being a bitch. Despite you bringing trouble down on her and putting her in danger. So, don’t start, Willow.”
“It’s best if you come with us.” Vander looked like he’d prefer another option. “Give us the gems, we’ll put you in a safe house, and once we’ve cleaned up your mess, you can get gone.”
“You’ve always wanted me gone.” She tossed her hair back. “Away from your sister.”
“Yes, because you use her.” Vander’s tone was hard.
“Because you hurt her,” Saxon added.
“None of you ever thought I was good enough for her—”
“God,” Saxon snapped. “It doesn’t matter what we think, it’s about what you think. You think you’re not worthy, so you make fucked-up mistakes, then other people think you’re a waste. And that perpetuates the cycle.”
She stared at him.
“They’re your choices, your life. We all have shit to deal with, Willow. Shit that tries to drag us down. Don’t let it. Hold on to the people who give a fuck about you.” He looked at Vander. “Don’t drag them down with you. If you let them, they’ll help you become a better person and they’ll always have your back.”