Chapter 29
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Cici would rather be locked in a cage with a nest of snakes than precede Souza into the cramped storage room.
On Gagnon’s command, he’d manhandled her out of the office, his fat fingers digging into her arm.
They’d walked along the catwalk overlooking the factory floor.
On the way, they passed a meeting room and a break room.
She’d glimpsed sofas and chairs, even a little refrigerator.
Why would Gagnon set up shop in the office when he could’ve been in a more comfortable room?
Men’s voices carried from below. They were making a plan, but she didn’t hear enough to know what they were discussing.
She stared into the cramped storage space, too frightened to move.
Souza shoved her forward.
She stumbled against a metal shelving unit straight ahead, got her footing, and spun, terrified of turning her back on her captor.
He filled the doorway, his bulk blocking her only escape.
“He wants you hidden while they clean up your boyfriend’s mess.” His voice carried casual cruelty.
“How thoughtful of him to be concerned about my well-being.” Behind her back, Cici stretched her freed hands.
Souza had cut the zip ties to move her, and her fingers were still tingling as the blood circulated again.
The last thing she wanted to do was draw attention to them, to have them bound again.
Souza stepped into the room, absorbing all the oxygen, and closed the door, then crossed toward her until he was close enough that she could smell his sour breath, see the way his eyes skimmed over her.
“You know what I think?” He leaned nearer, and she backed against the shelving.
“I think Gagnon’s soft. All this negotiating, all this careful planning.
” He reached out to tug a strand of her hair, and she jerked away.
“Me? I would’ve put a bullet in your head the second we grabbed you.
” He tipped his head back and forth. “Except…I do like to play with my food.”
His fingers grazed her cheek, and her skin crawled.
She forced herself to remain still, every instinct screaming at her to recoil from his touch. Instead, she lifted her chin and met his eyes with as much defiance as she could muster.
“You know what your problem is?” Souza’s hand slid down her arm and gripped her wrist. With his other hand, he brought her free wrist close, then held them tight in one meaty fist. “You think you’re better than people like me.
Rich girl, daddy’s little princess, probably never had to fight for nothin’. ”
“You don’t know anything about me.” She tried to pull away, but his fingers were like steel bands.
“I know enough.”
“You tell yourself these lies to justify the horrible things you do.”
His other hand moved to her throat, not squeezing but resting there like a promise. “You’re scared.” He spoke as if he hadn’t heard her. “I can smell it on you.”
“As well I should be.” She hated how her voice wavered. “What I don’t understand is why you’re not.”
Souza’s hand stilled against her neck, his eyes narrowing. “I got nothing to fear.”
“Gagnon told me himself that you’re a liability, and we both know how much he hates liabilities.”
Souza’s face darkened, his hands dropping as he stepped away. “Like I’m gonna believe you. You don’t know—”
“Don’t I?” Cici gazed around, going for calm, as if her heart weren’t hammering in her chest. She scanned the floor, then the shelves that lined the room, searching for anything that could serve as a weapon.
“When you were out looking for Falcone and Mendez—”
“How d’you know their names? How do you know me?”
“Traffic cams.” She shrugged like it was no big deal. “Your face was picked up outside the police station in Philly—yours and Gagnon’s, of course. And then again near the airfield in Massachusetts. Once those images were isolated, we were able to identify—”
“Who’s we?”
“Do you have any idea who I am?”
Confusion looked a lot like rage on Souza’s face. Cici needed to tread very carefully.
“My father was a spy with the CIA. Now he’s a defense contractor.
” She let that information settle. “My cousin is a spy. My sister worked for the NSA, and her fiancé was a spy. Another cousin of mine is retired Special Forces. Oh, and the person who owns those rubies Gagnon was showing off earlier? He’s a billionaire with virtually unlimited resources.
” She shook her head, going for surprised and disappointed.
“Gagnon knows all that. Funny that he didn’t choose to share the information with you. ”
Souza said nothing.
Keep him talking. Keep him wrong-footed. Anything to keep his hands off her—and sow seeds of doubt.
“Anyway,” she continued, “when you were off looking for Mendez and Falcone, I asked Gagnon about his son. You remember, he mentioned him to Mr. D at the jewelry store?”
Souza nodded, listening. Processing.
“He told me…” Her gaze landed on a mug filled with pens. And a letter opener.
She focused on Souza again. “Gagnon said nobody knows about his son, that if word got out, his enemies could use him as leverage. Mr. D knew, and he’s dead.
I heard Gagnon mention his son in the store, and…
” She made a face, trying to communicate that her having overheard was the reason Gagnon had pursued her.
“You know what his plan is for me. Think about this, though. You know about his son.” She worked for a compassionate expression.
“There’s a reason you’re in here with me while other people fight the fight.
You really think he believes Falcone is more capable out there than you would be? ”
Souza’s eyes narrowed. He might’ve been uneducated, but he wasn’t stupid.
“Falcone’s no Harvard student,” she said, “but the fact that he doesn’t know anything is working in his favor.
Obviously, you’re a thousand times more competent than Falcone.
Anybody can hold a gun on a defenseless woman.
Gagnon has you in here because you know too much.
When he comes to kill me, you think he’ll go to any lengths to protect you?
” She let that simmer, half-expecting Souza to respond. But he didn’t.
He was thinking. She was getting through to him.
“It’s a shame,” she said after a few moments. “Obviously, your little brother needs you, but…”
“Leave my brother outta this.” Venom spilled out with the words, but she heard genuine fear in them.
“I didn’t bring him into it. You can thank Gagnon for that. I just wonder who’s going to be there for Alfonzo when he gets out of prison.”
“I’ll be there. Gagnon’s not gonna… If he wanted me dead, then I’d be dead.”
“You will be when he’s done using you. If I were you…” She shrugged. “Not that you want my advice.”
“What?”
“I’d escape while I still had the chance.”
He swallowed, staring past her, hopefully thinking about what she’d said? Hopefully, planning his escape. Maybe, maybe…
A sharp crack echoed from somewhere outside. Gunfire?
Souza’s head snapped toward the door, his hand moving to the comm unit in his ear. “What’s going on?”
She couldn’t hear an answer. Maybe he didn’t get one because he scowled and turned his back on her, facing the exit.
She snatched the letter opener and concealed it behind her back, tucking it into the waistband of her jeans.
She prayed Souza would leave. That he’d heed her advice and take off. She’d started the conversation to plant doubt, but the more she’d talked, the more convinced she was that she was right. If Souza stayed, he’d be killed right along with her.
But that didn’t mean he’d listen. And if he didn’t…
She felt the cold metal pressed against her back and prayed that, if it came down to it, she’d have the courage to use it.