Quicksilver Dreams(192)

                The same two guys who’d tried to grab me off the street jumped out with determined, angry looks on their bruised faces. My heart went from doing double time to doing quadruple time instantly.

                No! Fucking A, could I catch a break here? On a rush of adrenaline, I spun and ran. I was ready to put the pedal to the metal and go hardcore out of the alley and back to the strand at the front of the building. I could get lost in the crowd. I could run into the little French bakery. I could damn well run straight out into the crashing surf!

                I only made it a few steps. My arm was expertly hooked and twisted sharply up behind my back, and my body got shoved chest first over the hood of Paul’s car. Pain radiated from my shoulder. My ribs protested being slammed into the SUV. I took a gasping breath.

                What happened?

                I looked back at Jory and saw that the concern she’d displayed was now covered over with impatience as she restrained me effortlessly. What was happening here?

                “Jory?” My voice felt small. I couldn’t get air.

                “Took you long enough,” she snapped, directing her comment past me, and I realized she’d been stalling me this whole time. She’d been giving the two thugs time to arrive. Oh, my God. We were hidden back here in the alley. There was no one else around. It was restricted parking, not where tourists would be found, my phone wasn’t working and Ryder was likely at the sushi restaurant. I was so screwed.

                “What’s the matter, sweetheart?” The bald guy stepped up and snagged my arm in his meaty grasp. “Nowhere to run?”

                “No boyfriend to save her this time.” The crew-cut guy sneered. “I hope he shows. Bastard kicked teeth out of my mouth. I want payback.”

                “Cut the chitchat.” Jory’s tone was suddenly hard-edged, and I swung back to her with surprise. Her sweet-faced, grateful-ex facade had been replaced with a cold expression. “Get her in the van. We have people waiting for us. Frank doesn’t want them to be kept waiting. We need her with the other one.”

                “You!” I gasped. “You’re the traitor!”

                “I’m sure I’m not the only one,” she said dispassionately.

                “Did you break into my apartment?”

                “Looking for the mylunate you took from Ranik,” she said, and gave me a quick scan as though looking for it. “Broke into your car, too, though I couldn’t find it. I recommend you give it up to Ranik. He can get mean.” She started to turn away but paused and looked back. “You might want to just give it up to me. Trust me, you don’t want them looking for it.” She gave a nod toward the men holding me from behind.

                I knew the mylunate could maybe get me out of this. I needed to think. I couldn’t just give it up. “I don’t have it.” She’d also said something like I was joining the other one. Did she mean Paul?

                Jory sighed and shook her head. “If that’s how you want to play it.” She nodded to the men.

                That’s when the rag was shoved in my face. Horrified, I got a lungful of something pungent and chemical. I struggled against the darkness but had no chance of escape. My shattering scream of terror was trapped, echoing through my mind...

                ...I came to when my head smacked the side of the van during a sharp turn, aggravating the pain that was already pounding there. I hissed. It took several seconds for me to remember what had happened, but when I did, my eyes snapped open blearily.