arm, I stepped into the street, finally spotting a cab. I flagged it down and it pulled to a stop a short ways away. Hurrying to it, I opened the door and was just getting in when a voice said, “Mind if we share?”
I had no chance to respond as I was forcefully shoved into the backseat. I scrambled to right myself, turning to give a piece of my mind to the jackass that had confiscated my ride, but my words died on my tongue.
It was barbed-wire guy.
Chapter Five
The cab wasn’t yet moving so I grabbed the handle of the door on my side, wanting to get out. He could have this cab. I’d catch another one.
“You stay.” His huge palm wrapped around my upper arm and squeezed. It hurt and I winced. Now I was scared. He had an accent, but I couldn’t place it. Eastern European or something—German, maybe, or Russian. I was awful with accents. Really, I could only narrow it down to “not British.” He sounded nothing like Benedict Cumberbatch.
“Forget it! Let me go!”
He squeezed so hard¸ tears came to my eyes.
“Cooperate and this will be a short ride,” he said, his voice a low growl. “Otherwise—”
“Hey, where to?” the cabbie interrupted.
“Tell him,” the man ordered, but I hesitated. I didn’t want this guy to know where I lived. “Tell him,” he repeated, and this time he didn’t sound as friendly. He jerked me, and I felt like my arm nearly came out of the socket. I gasped in pain, then blurted out my address. The car started to move and his grip eased.
“Let go of me,” I said, trying unsuccessfully to tug my arm away, “or I’ll tell him to drive to the nearest police station.”
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” he said. He lifted his jacket, revealing a gun tucked underneath his arm in a holster. I swallowed.
“What do you want? I have money in my purse. Take it and go.”
He laughed outright. “I don’t want money. Just to have a conversation,” he said, his accent thick. He finally let me go. He’d gripped me so hard it had cut off the circulation and now my arm tingled as the blood started flowing again. “You are Sage Reese, correct? Assistant to Parker Anderson?”
How did he know my name? And Parker’s? Had he seen me come out of Parker’s apartment building? I pressed my lips together and didn’t answer.
“We know everything about you,” he said, waving his hand. “So is not necessary for you to answer.”
“Who is ‘we’?”
“Mr. Anderson has inherited some very important clients. They like to keep a close eye on who handles their money,” he said. “They like their business to remain very…private.”
My phone started buzzing in my purse, but I ignored it. I didn’t want to take my eyes off this guy, afraid of what else he might do to me.
“Listen, I don’t know who you are or why you feel it’s necessary to…to accost me like this, but that’s not how we do business.” I tried to sound firm, but my bravado was short-lived.
He shoved his face closer to mine and I jerked back, plastering myself against the door.
“It’s how we do business,” he hissed. “Remember that…Sage.” He smiled as he said my name, revealing a gold tooth.
I barely breathed, my heart pounding so loud I was sure he could hear it. Fear made my palms sweat, and the acrid scent of his body as he loomed over me made my skin crawl.
As suddenly as he’d gotten in my face, he pulled back. “Pull over,” he barked. The cabbie hurried to obey.
“We’ll be watching. Be sure to tell your boss.” He flashed another sinister grin; then he was gone.
I gasped a breath, sucking in air. My entire body was shaking and I struggled not to burst into tears.
“Hey, lady, you okay?” the cabbie asked, turning around in his seat.
“Oh, now you’re concerned!” I snapped. “Just take me home.”
He said nothing further, just stepped on the gas. Time to add another entry to my list of Why I Hate Cabs: willfully oblivious drivers.
I’d recovered somewhat by the time we pulled up to my building. I handed the driver money and hurried to the door, eager for the safety of my apartment. It wasn’t until I was ensconced inside that I allowed the mental breakdown I’d promised myself in the taxi.
My hands trembled as I poured myself a stiff drink, bourbon straight up. My eyes were damp and I sniffed