Page 70 of Blood Money

With a gentle tug, he pulled her from the chair and clicked open the latches of the small silver briefcase on the table. He took the locator transmitter from the Styrofoam padding and flicked the tiny lever on the back to activate the unit.

“I’ll help you put this on.”

After taking another deep, cleansing breath, Alex unbuttoned the front of her pink blouse. She’d dressed that morning while Gray was on the phone with Dom reviewing last-minute preparations. She’d chosen an old pink satin bra that matched her shirt. It hadn’t been worn in years, and to her it was anything but enticing.

Gray slipped two fingers behind the front clasp of her bra and deftly clipped on the locator. As he removed his hands, his fingers lingered, caressing her breasts, making her nipples pebble even more. When his eyes met hers, they reminded her of molten pools of liquid silver. “Tonight, when we get home, I’m going to tear this bra off you with my teeth.”

The promise behind that one statement not only had Alex’s entire body sizzling to have Gray inside her again, but it gave her hope. Tonight, when we get home… That could have been a slip of the tongue on Gray’s part, but it sounded so incredibly wonderful, so full of promise for a future between them she’d begun to think was light years from the realm of possibility.

Gray unlatched the metal briefcase containing the monitoring unit that would track her every move. While he did a test run on the equipment, Alex buttoned her blouse and put on her coat.

“We’re all set.” He snapped the case shut. “Give Dom and me, and the other team following you, ten minutes to get set up, then go out the main entrance and walk to where that blue Ford Taurus is parked.” He handed her a key to the sedan they’d passed on the way to the precinct that morning.

Gray rested his hands on her shoulders. “You have your cell phone?”

Alex’s throat was so closed up she could only nod in response.

“Good. If the Pyramid calls you en route to the meet, let me know right away. If they try to change locations on you, don’t go. At least not until we all have the new address and can get set up before you arrive. I have to go.” He leaned down and kissed her full on the mouth then grabbed the briefcase and headed out the door.

Suddenly, Alex was alone in the huge conference room with nothing more than her fears, which were snowballing by the second. She dragged her hands down her face.

I can do this. I. Can. Do this.

She glanced at the slim silver watch on her wrist, noting when ten minutes would be up. To keep her nerves in check, she paced the conference room, around and around the long wood table for the next nine minutes.

When it was time, she grabbed the envelope, left the room, and headed for the building’s main exit.

The early spring air was brisk as she walked the two blocks to the rental car, and with the cool air came reassuring clarity. When this is over, I have to tell Gray everything.

This morning had been all about him releasing the ghosts of his past. But hers were still there, following her like an evil shadow. First she had to get through today. Then she would fill him in.

Alex got into the car and buckled her seat belt. She turned the key, and the engine roared to life. After entering the address of the meet location into her cell phone’s mapping app, she pulled out the slip of paper containing directions Gray had given her as a backup. The meet was at a busy intersection, which gave her a small sense of relief. The more people around her, the less likely the chance of anything bad happening.

As she pulled away from the curb, maneuvering around all the lunchtime pedestrians crossing the streets, Alex caught sight of Gray and Dom in a silver sedan two cars back, and another tan surveillance vehicle Gray told her would be with them. She headed for the Brooklyn Bridge. Traffic was miserable as usual in lower Manhattan, and Alex feared Gray and the other team would lose her in the midst of all the other cars crisscrossing to get to the bridge’s on-ramp.

A slight vibration, followed by the muffled ring of her cell phone in the console jolted her in her seat. She fumbled to retrieve the phone. When she looked down at the digital display, her heart began beating wildly. It was a number she didn’t recognize. She answered the call. “Hello.”

“There’s been a change of plans,” the familiar, accented female voice said. “Do not go to Queens. Head uptown and drive to the corner of Seventy-ninth Street and Broadway. Park and walk across the street to the northeast corner of the intersection.”

“Wait!” Alex glanced in her rearview mirror to see Gray and the other surveillance vehicle were now three cars back. “I don’t know how to get there, and I’m not familiar with the city streets.” A complete lie, but all the other teams were waiting for her in Queens, not Midtown Manhattan.

“I’m sure you can find your way,” the voice continued. “Your son’s life depends on it. You now have ten minutes. Do not be late.”

“Wait, no I—” The woman hung up. “No, no, no!” Keeping one eye on the road and the other on her cell phone, Alex managed to cue up Gray’s phone number.

“What’s wrong?” Gray answered.

“She changed the meet location.” Alex couldn’t keep the hysteria from her voice. “It’s uptown, Seventy-ninth and Broadway in ten minutes. I’m heading there now.” She cut off another car to avoid heading onto the bridge. The blaring of the other driver’s horn blasted as she turned right onto Gold Street. Behind her, Gray and the other surveillance team’s vehicle got smaller and smaller in her rearview mirror.

“No!” Gray’s shout blasted in her ear. “Do not go there. Pull over!”

“I can’t, I’m sorry.” She sucked in heavy breaths. “She threatened Nicky again. I have to go.”

“Dammit, Alex!” Gray was so angry she could hear it in his voice. “Something is all wrong about this. They want to get you there alone. This is a precaution they’re taking in case you’re working with us. You can’t go, so pull over now!”

“I have to go,” she repeated, knowing he and the others were stuck in traffic behind her, God knows how many cars back. “Catch up to me as quickly as you can. Please. I can’t be late.”

“No, don’t—”