Grier cocked his head, but didn’t speak, couldn’t have if he tried.
Hamilton moved away from his spot by the door and came around to stand beside Sage’s chair. “Where?”
“He has a fishing shack in the Fort Lauderdale.” Florida? “I went there once with him.
It’s secluded and I think that’s where he would’ve probably taken her.”
“Do you know how to get there?” Again, Hamilton spoke when Grier remained silent.
She shook her head and all of Grier’s hopes faded. “I don’t.”
Then she’d already outlived her usefulness. He only had one more question. “Did you tell them about Jez? Where she lived? Where to find her?” Okay. Three questions.
“No. He already knew about her. When he was here… they… had a night.”
Grier’s stomach turned and bile rose up from his gut to his throat. That bastard had probably told Mia to make sure Grier knew it, too. “You know all the family history?” She nodded and tears, an entire batch, slid down her cheeks to wet her shirt as they dropped off her jaw and chin. It didn’t matter. He still wanted to kill her. “And you thought I needed to know that?”
Sage stood as Grier advanced. He pulled Mia behind him, using his body to shield her. “You asked her, Grier. It’s not her fault if you don’t like the answer.”
Grier reached for the gun on the desk. He pressed the barrel against Sage’s forehead. “Move.”
Sage shook his head, the gun moving with him. “No. If you’re gonna kill her, you’re going to have to kill me.”
Grier didn’t give a fuck. He wanted his wife back and his baby. Sage and the woman behind him didn’t matter anymore.
If anyone ever doubted her grit again, Fiona would happily kill them. She now had a brand, a burn in the shape of an owl, on the side of her throat and for good measure, Tyler had put another on the inside of her thigh, his initials. The bastard had no idea the punishment she sat planning for him despite his praise. “You’re pretty ballsy. Ryder passed out when he got his brand.”
She’d take ballsy. And she’d cram it up his ass first chance she got. But for now, she had a game to play. “So, what’s next?”
He pulled out his phone, his smile enough to make her vomit in her own lap. But she held it back as he considered her with his head cocked and his eyes narrowed. “Now, we make a call and see just who’s more important to you.”
“I’m calling Grier?”
“No. The big guy.” He meant Hamilton. Big guy, no matter who said it, always meant Hamilton. “I gotta get him out of the way so I get a clear shot at your husband.”
She smiled and ran her hand down his chest. She could feel corded muscle and probably a scar, some raised line across his chest. With a long breath, mostly to settle her stomach, she twisted the collar of his T-shirt around her finger and tugged him closer to rub her nose against his. “My ex-husband.”
He grinned back and brought her hand to his lips, sucked her index finger into his mouth then handed her the phone as she swallowed back a mouth full of vomit. “You make the call and then we gotta get on the road.”
She dialed Grier’s number hoping he wouldn’t know it. Praying silently, actually. When he answered, she breathed in deep. “Ham, it’s Fi. I need you to walk away if Grier’s around you.”
“All right.” His voice gave her courage. Warmed her. Pulled all her strength to the front, beyond her fear. “You okay?”
She mouthed the words, he’s gone to Tyler. “Yeah. I’m fine. I need you to do something for me.”
“Where are you, Fiona?”
She chuckled. “No worries. I’m just on a little spring break. I’ll explain as soon as I see you.” Spring break was the only clue she’d been able to give. Maybe he’d remember their talk about the Easter she’d spent at Lauderdale. Hopefully. If not, she’d figure a plan B. “I need you to open the right-hand drawer of my desk, pull it all the way out.”
She couldn’t hear more than his breathing. “All right.”
Her heart thumped wildly, hurt even as she thought of Grier and the danger she was putting him in. “On the back of the drawer is a little black book. It has the safe combination in it.” There was no real reason for him to open the safe. Everything she needed was in the zip drive she kept with her at all times. Right now, it was in a plastic bag at the bottom of the diaper wipes container. “Go to the safe, open it.”
It was a push-button safe, he only had to enter in a few digits and the door latch would release. “I’m gonna find you, Fiona.”
“Yeah, I know. Leave the cash alone.” She paused and breathed then smiled at Sedotal and rolled her eyes. If ever a woman deserved an award for acting, it was Fiona Strong-Owen. “See the black ledger?”
“Yeah.”
“Ham, I need you and nobody else to take it to the Boston Monument. Tomorrow. Five o’clock.” She took a breath. “No, not the Bunker Hill Massacre statue. God, you love that place. The Boston Monument.” Oh, God. He had to get the veiled messages. They were planning to massacre Hamilton if he showed. Grier and every other Screaming Demon needed to be present, armed and ready to die if Hamilton was even to have a chance. “You’ll get instruction from there.” She hung up and held the phone palm up.
“You are cold. Thought that one was your best friend.”
She shrugged. “I like my baby more.”
Sedotal slung an arm around her shoulders and pulled her in to kiss her temple. “Our baby for as long as you’re a good girl and play by my rules. Don’t forget that.”
God, she hoped like hell Grier understood, remembered at least. “So, we’re on the move now?”
He chuckled. “You are, sweetheart.” He clucked his tongue and her heart sank. “Too many people know about this place, and my girl on the inside hasn’t checked in all day. So, I have to assume she’s been compromised. Shame too. I liked her.” His sigh wasn’t so much disappointment as contentment. “But I think you’ll be a good replacement.” If he was stupid enough to believe her act, even if she’d played it like Meryl Streep, for sure she’d be able to out-smart him.
As much out of curiosity as because her list of names felt a little light, she smiled. “Is it Autumn?” That bitch showed up with Kale, Sedotal’s man she’d had to kill, and she’d been Grier’s ex, so Fiona wouldn’t really have minded if it was her name added to the kill list.
He chuckled. “No. And I don’t care what kind of little tricks you use. You’re not getting it out of me.” Oh fuck. He was acting like some teenager in love, trying to charm her, use his good looks and the smile that made her stomach turn to sweet-talk her. And his fucking finger was a little too close to the brand on her thigh. Yeah. He’d be losing that one first.
But she smiled and leaned in. “You don’t know what tricks I have up my short little skirt.”
She closed her eyes and went to her happy place when he leaned in to kiss her. He had breath like a toilet and thank God, he ended it soon. “You’re just gonna have to wait to show me because I have to get back to Pine Hill.”