Chapter Thirteen
Finally, I was getting out of Shaw Tower. I wanted to jump for joy and scream in excitement at the same time. Being confined was harder than I’d expected. Prior to all this, I never really went anywhere besides home and work. However, when the choice was eliminated, it became the one thing I wanted most.
We were having brunch at a little bistro Garrick liked. That morning, when I all but demanded to leave Shaw Tower that day, I invited Hastings to come, as well. And the café downstairs did not count as leaving.
Garrick had tried to talk me out of going. I cocked my eyebrow and didn’t say a word. He dropped the subject immediately. The thought made me smile.
I watched the world intently through the car window as Joe drove us across town with one security detail behind and one in front of us. None of that mattered because I was out and about.
Of course, I understood the reasons we had to be careful, but something, hopefully, had to give. If only we could determine what Navarro wanted.
At least tomorrow I had plans again. I would be going with Kurt to the recording studio as they finished up “Lost.” The people there would be monitored, and they were all people Kurt knew personally. Plus, we’d be at the record label.
I took a deep breath and reveled in the moment. The sky was gorgeous, and I wished I could lie out in the sun and soak up some rays.
That morning, I found out from Garrick that Mickey had relocated As You Wish Event Planning the morning Hastings made initial contact with her again. And to make matters worse, she was in a building owned by none other than Navarro himself.
What made her flip? Is it because Hastings asked about me? If only we knew the real reason.
“Do you feel like an escaped convict?” Hastings asked while Garrick typed on his phone.
Garrick raised his eyebrow at Hastings. “Do not make this situation worse.”
“What?” he asked innocently.
Garrick resumed his work, and Hastings looked at me with a smirk.
I elbowed Garrick. “See, I even look like a jailbird. And stripes are not my thing.”
“I think you’d look great in stripes. I could keep you hidden from the world forever.” Garrick flashed me a mischievous grin. “You could be my—”
“Stop! You win. That’s my sister you’re talking about.” Hastings held up his hand in surrender.
I giggled, loving the banter. The car slowed, and I looked out the window. The bistro came into sight. “I haven’t been here before. This looks amazing.”
It was an older place with aged red brick and a black awning. The two steps up to the door were framed with wrought-iron rails. Garrick squeezed my knee. “The quiche is fantastic. I think you’ll like it.”
After entering the restaurant and ordering from the counter, we found a table in the corner. The walls were done in wood paneling with scenic pictures hung about in an almost haphazard fashion. It was quaint and adorable. I asked, “How long has this place been here?”
Garrick seemed to give it some thought. “Quite a while, I guess. Dad brought me here when I interned for him in college.”
“Oh, that’s right. His main office is only a few blocks away.” The mention of his dad brought the rest of his family to mind. “We need to see your family soon. I’m going to call your mom and see if she wants to do lunch.”
“They’ve accused me of not sharing you.” Garrick winked.
Conspiringly, Hastings whispered, “He probably has already ordered your striped jail uniform.”
“Probably.”
As Garrick responded, a woman behind Hastings caught my attention. It wasn’t her blue hair color or tattoos that made me notice her. She openly stared at me as if she knew who I was. Her head was cocked and she kept looking.
Maybe she’s another fan of Kurt’s?
Her eyes shifted to Hastings when he turned to speak to Garrick about something. Did she know Hastings or Garrick? Hastings’ laugh brought me back into the conversation and away from the stranger.
“I thought we would never get off that boat,” Garrick said.
“To this day, I still hate them. I’ve never been so seasick in my life.”
I smiled at my brother. His eyes twinkled as his smile deepened. The more time I spent with him, the more I enjoyed being around him.
As long as Hastings kept his promise to keep us out of the Monroe family business, I foresaw a reconnection of friends. Two friends reconnecting on a middle ground that would keep Garrick out of the mob business.
Our food was delivered, and the savory smells wafted through the air. I took a bite. “Oh, man. This is delicious.” I took another one. “Seriously. This place is perfect. The air smells so good.”
Hastings nudged Garrick. “You need to get her out more. I think she’s going crazy up in Shaw Tower. She’s talking about good-smelling air.”
Like a petulant child, I stuck my tongue out.
Hastings chuckled. “Yeah, she’s losing it.”
This was the kind of banter between siblings I envied. I batted my eyelashes at Garrick. “Will you still marry me even if I lose my mind?”
“Absolutely. Nothing would change my mind.”
I leaned over and kissed his cheek. “I feel the same way.”
The woman behind Hastings caught my attention again; her head cocked my way, and she moved into my line of sight again. Now her stare was downright creepy. Something was wrong. I looked at Joe, who already was talking into his mic. I dropped my fork.
“What is it, Knoah?” Garrick asked.
“That woman. She keeps staring at us. And now it’s gotten weirder.”
Garrick and Hastings turned to see. Her head moved from side to side as she watched the three of us. Two security men approached from the side. Where he gripped the chair, Hastings’ knuckles had turned white. All of a sudden, the blue-haired woman turned and darted off.
“Fuck!” Hastings’ face became angry. Abruptly, he stood. “Get Knoah out of here. That’s Carrie Duvall.”
In an instant, Garrick was on his feet. My heart pounded in my chest.
Carrie.
Carrie is alive.
Garrick grabbed my arm and jerked me up. I focused on Hastings’ retreating back while he ran after her. Another jerk and I turned toward Garrick. “Knoah. Focus. Come with me.”
A few people looked our way.
Woodenly, I followed Garrick through the back door out into an alley. Joe was waiting with the back car door open.
Crash.
I whipped my head around to see a man coming out from a different door. The swinging door knocked over some trash cans. Tires squealed in the distance.
Things happened in slow motion.
Another car pulled down the alley. They’re here to get me. A chill raced through me. I turned to get in the car when something grabbed my arm and nearly yanked it out of the socket.
Someone had me.
They pulled, and I turned. Garrick still had a hold of me. Someone yelled. The man lifted his free hand.
He had a gun!
No! No! No!
Bang.
The man dropped.
My heart stopped.
Hastings stood behind him with a gun, his face devoid of any emotion.
My body was pulled backward into the car and thrown on the floorboard.
More yelling.
Hastings climbed in and slammed the door.
Garrick yelled. “Drive! Drive! Drive!”
Tires squealed.
Boom.
Something hit the car, and I screamed.
“Get us back to Shaw Tower!” Garrick demanded.
The car swerved again. “We have one car tailing us. Get Knoah buckled!” Joe’s response was equally abrupt.
I was still sprawled on the floor. Strong hands lifted me up.
Is this really happening?
Carrie was alive.
Someone just tried to kill me.
Hastings shot someone.
The car swerved again, the tires screeching in protest. Garrick held me to him while grabbing the seat belt.
Joe called from the front seat, “Men are en route. We have a second vehicle. I suggest we divert to the Monroes’ house. They’re within a block. I’ve made contact with Ricardo.”
Garrick leaned across the car and grabbed Hastings by the collar. “Did you fucking set us up?”
“No! I didn’t!” he yelled back.
For a second, the men stared at each other. “Make the right choice, Garrick. If I wanted to take Knoah, I could have done so a long time ago.”
“Drive us to the Monroes.” With a death stare, he looked at Hastings. “If I suspect anything, I will kill you.”
My breaths came faster. Did Hastings betray us?
“If I betrayed my sister, I would expect nothing less. Here’s my gun.” He set it on the floor in front of us. Garrick moved it to one side.
Gun. There was a gun. Not two feet away from me. I closed my eyes. We swerved again, and my head hit the window. “Ouch!”
“Damn it!” Garrick grabbed me and searched me for injuries. “You okay? Are you bleeding?”
“No. I don’t think so.”
We pulled up to a set of massive gates. Two more of our security cars pulled in behind us. Joe announced from the front, as calm as ever, “They’ve broken off their pursuit.”
The long driveway and lush greenery kept the house obscured from the road. Once we pulled up, I was a little shocked at how normal it appeared. The size wasn’t over the top the way I’d expected. The brick exterior and lavish fountains gave it opulence. But I had really expected over-the-top.
The garage doors opened and we pulled in. When the car turned off, Garrick grabbed my hand to help me out of the car. Men surrounded us as we walked inside. Everything played on repeat in my head.
Someone just died.
Hastings killed him.
Someone tried to attack us.
Is this real?
I waited to wake up from the dream, but nothing happened.
Just clear of the door inside the garage, Garrick shoved Hastings against the wall. “What the fuck happened, Hastings? Spell it out for me, crystal fucking clear. That little stunt was dangerous. I will not jeopardize Knoah’s life.”
By this time, Evelyn and Ricardo had walked in from the hall. The sound of Ricardo’s voice made me jump. “Clear the room!” he snapped.
No one moved.
Evelyn walked toward me, and Garrick yelled over his shoulder, “Stay away from her! Joe!”
Joe moved in front of me, and guns were drawn from Ricardo’s men and our security detail. My insides shook at the sight of another gun.
“I said clear the fucking room!” Ricardo boomed.
Ricardo’s men lowered their weapons. Joe’s men remained in position.
“My men stay.” Garrick’s voice was low and deadly.
Hastings looked Garrick in the eye. “Pick one. Have the rest stand outside the room.”
Garrick nodded to Joe. Everyone else filed out of the room.
As soon as we were alone, Garrick pressed Hastings harder into the wall. “What’s going on? Who knew we were going to be there?”
“I called my head of security en route to let him know. His instructions were to pick me up when we were done.” Hastings hands were relaxed beside him. He offered no resistance.
Behind me, Ricardo cursed.
“Someone tell me what is going on?” Garrick seethed.
Hastings looked at his father, who nodded. “We think we have a mole.”
Mole. A mole. I stood stock-still as the scene unfolded, trying to process it all. Joe’s cursing was worse than Ricardo’s.
Garrick’s hold on Hastings tightened. “What? And you didn’t think this was fucking important to tell me?”
“We weren’t sure. We—”
“No, you sure as fuck weren’t. Damn it.” Garrick lifted his chin in my direction. “See that woman? That’s my life right there. My entire reason for living. Do not ever put her life in jeopardy again. If you have a mole—if you even think perhaps, maybe you might have a mole—that needs to be shared with me immediately. What else are you not telling me?” Hastings hesitated, and Garrick tightened his hold on him. “What. Is. Going. On?”
The tension in the air grew. I couldn’t stop shaking.
“Carrie Duvall is alive.”