Up to Me(65)

“Well then, why are you here?”

“I’m going to blackmail Anatoli, Slava’s right hand man, into getting me the books back. He’s the only one Slava really trusts.”

“And you think whatever you have on him is enough to get him to do this?”

“Yes, I do. It’s enough to get me killed, too. But I owe your father. He could’ve pointed the guilty finger at me, could’ve told them that I’m the one who took the books, but he didn’t. And, to repay him, I killed his wife. I owe him this, to take this chance.”

“I’d say you do, you lousy bastard,” Nash spits.

“But once I get you the books, you have to be prepared to move quickly. I can give you a little more help with that by providing you with some important lists that will help tie your case together, but the rest is up to you. If you blow this chance, there’s nothing I can do to help you but attend your funeral.”

“You have to know there’s not a snowball’s chance in hell that we’d take your word for it, right?”

Duffy nods once. “Go see your father. Just be careful what you say. They have people everywhere. As you’ve been finding out.”

He’s right. I have. The hard way.

“Then what?”

“Then I’ll be in touch when I have the books and the lists. After that, you’ll never hear from me again.”

“I can only hope that means what I think it means,” Nash sneers.

“It means I’ll be disappearing one way or the other. This country won’t be safe for me anymore. My family…”

“Oh cry me a river. Because of you, this is all the family I have left,” Nash shouts angrily.

“Then we’ll be even. I won’t owe your family anything else.”

“You’ll always—”

“Nash,” I say to cut him off. No sense making threats until we talk to Dad. If we can use this guy and it keeps Olivia safe, I have to leave the possibility open, no matter how distasteful it is. She’s worth it. “We need to talk to Dad.”

I look at him, hoping he sees what I mean by my stare. When he takes a deep breath and clenches his teeth, I see that he does. He knows this is how it has to be if he’s going to get his revenge.

“And you should know that I didn’t know it was your girlfriend they sent me after. I knew I was picking up a girl named Olivia Townsend and she was being used to get some books before being…disposed of. I didn’t know it was you until I saw you at the warehouse.”

Now I can sympathize with Nash a little more. I see red. Or black maybe. All I can think of is that this guy had come for Olivia. The fact that he wasn’t the one who took her, that he took Marissa instead, makes no difference. The fact of the matter is that he intended to kidnap and then kill Olivia.

“Calm down, right brother? Wait until we talk to Dad, right brother?” There’s smug sarcasm in Nash’s voice. I should’ve known he’d enjoy this. But at the moment, I could care less. I’m struggling with every ounce of self-control that I possess not to beat this man to death with my fists, to see his blood spraying all over his face and dripping down his shirt as I pound and pound and pound on him, not stopping until I feel better, until I’m no longer picturing him holding a gun to Olivia’s head.

I turn and walk out of the shack. I need air. Lots of air and lots of space. Being so close to the man that not only killed my mother, but that was contemplating doing the same thing to Olivia is just too much for me to bear without ripping someone’s throat out. I’m smart enough to know when my control is slipping, though. So getting out is my only option. I’ll leave Nash to follow me when he’s done. And at this point, if he kills the guy after I leave, then so be it. We’ll find another way.

I hope.





CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE- Olivia



I bet I’ve looked at the office door ten thousand times, hoping each time to see Cash’s face there. I’m on pins and needles. It’s like a sharp knife to the gut every time I think of him not returning my confession of love. But, I love him. I’m in love with him. I can’t imagine living the rest of my life knowing he died to save me. If I never get to be with him, never get to live the dream with him, never get his whole heart, it would never change the fact that I love him more than I’ve ever loved anyone or anything. And just the thought of him leaving this earth, this life because of me is unbearable. Even if I can’t have him, just knowing he’s alive…and healthy…and safe…would be enough.

Just knowing he’s out there…somewhere…