All Souls' Night - Renee Rose Page 0,266

a gallop. Karina picked the spookiest fucking place to meet up. I thank Michelle and get out of the car. Her engine is the only sound on the street until it dissolves down the road.

Hefting the strap higher on my shoulder, I take in my surroundings and decide to get out of the middle of the road. The building across the street has a chain link fence topped with barbed wire. The warehouse in question has fenced areas on each side, but the building isn’t shielded, nor is the small parking lot in front.

I head toward a tree to the right of the glass front door, but freeze at the rustle in the bushes off to my left.

“Karina?” I hiss with a whisper.

The building is dark. But there are people present, if the cars are anything to go by.

I tiptoe to the bush and crouch, looking beneath the shrub. Nothing is visible in the thick mass of foliage. Creeping to the left, I peer down the back of the plant but can’t see shit. Over here, there is little-to-no light.

Perhaps it was a rabbit. My heart pounds in my ears, drowning out most other noises. Karina must still be on her way.

I wait in the tense silence.

There’s the purr of a vehicle approaching, and I duck beside the building near the large bush. When it never passes, I peek around the side to check where it may have gone. The car pulled into the drive of the company across the way and parked behind the closed gate.

I slide back into the darkness and sit in the dirt. After fifteen minutes, I can barely stand still. My phone pings with a message from Karina’s old number. Why are you still on the other side of town? Are you okay? I’m already at the bus station.

What the actual fuck? Could Big Tony have grabbed her phone when she ditched it? I take the chance and hit her icon to call, ready to hang up if it’s not her.

“What’s happening? Where are you?” she says.

I sigh when I hear her voice. “Karina? I don’t understand. I thought you said you had to ditch your phone because of Big Tony, and we had to meet at the warehouse to regroup.” I glance around. Cold dread settles in my stomach.

“What are you talking about? I said bus station, seven-thirty.”

My spine tingles. Oh, fuck! I’m in deep shit. “Later, I got a text message from an unknown number. It said Big Tony found you and you had to toss your phone, so you got a burner.”

“Get out of there, now! That wasn’t me! Zoe, run!”

“Oh my God! Okay!” Something hits me from behind and sends me tumbling forward. Somehow, I manage to catch myself before I fall, but my cell is across the blacktop. I whirl, and the blood drains from my face. My hearts skips several beats.

Phil grins maniacally, a gun held loosely in his hand. He stomps on my phone, crunching the glass under his heel. “I hate to do this, but it seems you’re more trouble than you’re worth. Too bad. You used to be my favorite, Zoe.”

I try not to flinch when Phil waves the gun around, but I’m not successful. “How the fuck did you manage this? Oh God. You’d better leave Karina alone!”

“You should be worried about your own ass, honey. But if you’re really concerned, Big Tony’s taking good care of your friend.”

I cover my mouth and sob.

Phil kicks my broken cell with his expensive Italian shoes. “Nice trick, huh? I have friends who developed a nifty little device to clone your phone. I just needed to get near you at your club. You and Karina’s text messages gave me everything I needed to know..”

Bile sits bitterly on my tongue as I realize he’s bested me this time. And this will be the last time. No more running. There is no obvious way out of this. Regrets pour through my head. I should have done more to protect those innocent girls from being victimized. It didn’t matter that the police were paid off. I should have tried harder. I should have convinced Karina we had to leave as soon as she was hurt.

“Damn, Zoe.” He shakes his head, like he’s disappointed. “It’s a real shame it had to come to this. My clients loved you far more than any other in my employ.”

I clench my fists, fury building and tears spilling over my lashes.

“Aww, Zolita.”

God. I’ve always hated that