Page 24

“This is a really cool car,” Brady said.

“I like it too,” he replied.

“Mama, maybe one day when you can get a car, you can get one like this.”

I licked my lips, doubting I’d ever be in the position to afford a fancy SUV like this. “Sure, buddy. Maybe.”

“Will we visit for long?” he asked.

Nikolai glanced at me in the mirror. “That depends on what your mom says.”

I furrowed my brow. He seemed to be deferring to me, like it’d be my choice to determine the length of any “visit”. But I couldn’t shrug off the feeling that he meant it would be up to what I told him. That he was expecting answers from me.

Fear rushed through me again.

The video.

He has to mean those few minutes on the video.

If he’s a hitman, he’s familiar with dead bodies. He moved those two men in my apartment like he’s touched or handled many bodies before. He didn’t flinch.

He wants answers about those minutes I saw on the video at work.

Oh, God.

He had to have been the one following me, making me feel that sixth-sense sensation of being watched. Ever since that video showed up but went missing…

Oh, God. What have I gotten mixed up with?

“Mama, how long can we visit?” Brady yawned again and looked up at me. “You have to watch Edison and Rory tomorrow for Mrs. Richards, don’t you?”

I licked my lips. “Um…” I had no clue what to say. I was still lagging to understand this dangerous man was supposed to be both my savior and my captor.

“No, she doesn’t,” Nikolai answered for me.

I blinked, looking at his reflection again. Oh, you’re going to decide?

“Good,” Brady said, snuggling against me. “I don’t like them always being over.” He sighed and closed his eyes. “I like being with you, Mama, just you and me.”

My chest ached with that tug on my heartstrings. “I like…” I cleared my throat. “I like that too, buddy.”

As the Strip disappeared behind us and we sped out to the desert, I stroked his hair and felt him give in to sleep. The lull of the car ride was working like magic.

But I was far from tired. I was exhausted now that the crash after the adrenaline rush of action came. I was wide awake with fear, though.

“Where are you taking us?” I asked quietly.

“A safe location.”

“I heard you, but where are we going?” He couldn’t be driving us out to the open terrain to kill us and leave us to rot. If he wanted me dead, he wouldn’t have saved me in my apartment. I felt crazy to allow myself a feeling of safety, but I couldn’t deny that I was protected in his car, near him while he was armed.

“One of my houses,” he replied, texting on his phone as he drove. “Is Mrs. Richards the mother of the other two you watch?”

I furrowed my brow. “You’ve been watching me.” He had to have been watching me to know that many details about my routine and life. I felt so exposed. So vulnerable.

He didn’t deny it. “Is she?”

I nodded.