Boris pointed at Brian, at Lori, at Nick, in turn. “The lot of you can go. I don’t ever want to see any of you again. Don’t want to hear you even say my name, not ever. You, Nick, looks like I owe you something, so I’m giving you your faggot boyfriend and the pretty girl. You satisfied with that?”
“Yes, sir.” If he could get them out with their skins intact, he’d count himself more than lucky.
Boris pointed his thick finger at Damon. “Now you, you owe me. And I plan to collect. When I call, you answer. When I say jump, you say, ‘How high?’ Got it?”
“Yes, sir, sure.” Damon’s tone was still lighter and thinner. “You can count on me.”
Boris huffed a breath. “Not as far as I can throw you, but you know what happens if you fuck me over. From now on, you make damned sure no one follows you. Marston can’t have put up with that bullshit. You give me your best, or you’re dead.”
“I will.”
“Get out.”
Damon led them to the door and held it open. A flick of his eyes sent Nick through first, taking point. Brian was close behind him, Lori after Brian, and Damon bringing up the rear. One of the guards followed them out and shut the door behind them. A little of Nick’s fear eased, as solid wood stood between Boris and Brian. Of course, they still might be ambushed on the way to the car or run off the road later, but no one seemed to be about to take them down.
The guard said, “I’ll bring your cell phones and escort you to your vehicle.”
Nick asked, “My gun?”
The guard gave him a dead stare. “What gun?”
Fuck. He didn’t protest. I’ll have to report it randomly stolen. One more way to look stupid to Gannet. Shit.
The man’s tight grin showed uneven teeth. “This way.”
The ride back down was silent and tense. The guard let them out into the underground parking and ushered them to Damon’s car. Damon said, “Hop in, Nick. I’ll take you to wherever you parked.”
“Thanks.”
Brian squeezed into the back seat. Lori got in the front, and Nick slid in behind her next to Brian. Damon closed his door, started the car. Nick thought they were all holding their breaths. The guard stepped back as they pulled out, arms at his sides, no gun in evidence. Damon picked up speed smoothly, turning up the ramp. They turned again, and the guard fell back out of sight. One more spiral, and then the door at the top opened at their approach.
It was bright daylight outside. Nick blinked, as if waking from a dream. Damon said, “I told you that Milward guy would spot the difference. I found some damned good ringers, but they weren’t that good. Both of ’em porkier than you two, for starters.” He tapped his ear with a finger in warning.
Fuck, yeah, there could be bugs. Nick clenched his teeth against his questions. He did put a hand on Brian’s thigh and Brian’s warm palm covered his, pressing down. The stable presence of his man under his hand settled Nick.
Damon said, “Where’s your car, Nick? Oh, that way?”
Nick, who hadn’t pointed, shrugged. Damon drove a couple of blocks, then pulled into a space. “Here we are.” He parked, unlocked the glove compartment, and got out a bug detector. They all sat in silence as Damon swept the front, passed it to Nick for the back, then popped the trunk and got out. Brian’s hand clamped over Nick’s as Damon got down to check under the car. Lori tugged the elastic off her braid, shaking her hair out and combing her fingers through it over and over.
Finally, Damon got back in and passed the device to her. “All clear.”
Their collective sigh could’ve blown out a forest fire.
Damon dug a lock box from under his seat, got out a phone and held the box out open. “New burner for you, Lor. Stick your other phones in, people. I’ll check ’em later.”
Nick reluctantly dropped his phone in with the rest and Damon stowed the box away. “Do you think we were followed?” Nick asked.
“I’d bet not.” Damon pulled out into traffic. “Let’s find out, though.” Ten minutes and two detours through a parking ramp later, he shook his head. “Not unless they’re better than me. And no one’s better than me.”
That put the fucking icing on the cake. “Right. Because this whole episode shows how perfect you are.”