She wanted this baby, and she wanted to raise him or her with the man she loved. All of which meant she had a lot of explaining to do after withdrawing and pushing him away. He deserved so much better than what she’d been giving him, and from now on, she intended to give him everything. Her whole heart.
She stepped onto the curb, but before she could turn toward the subway entrance, someone grabbed her arm and pulled her roughly against him.
“You and your boyfriend have been more trouble than you’re worth,” a familiar voice said in her ear. “Act normal. We’re taking a walk.”
Fear raced through her, but she did as he said, managing to put one foot in front of the other. “I don’t get it. They said you were in custody!”
He yanked her closer to him and continued down the street. “When something looks too easy, it usually is, and I didn’t get where I am without being damned careful. No way was I going to do the pickup and risk getting arrested,” he muttered. “Moron island cops picked up a dummy looking to make a buck who looked like me.”
Gold hadn’t waited for actual confirmation they had the right man before letting Maxie and Lucas think they were off the hook. She bit the inside of her cheek, Bernardi’s rough grip dragging her along.
“What do you want with me now?” she asked.
He stopped but held on to her tightly, meeting her gaze. “You’re my ticket out of this country. Your boyfriend is going to give me the money I need to disappear before the Feds fingerprint the guy they have in custody and come looking for me.”
She blinked back tears. “You’re going to what? Kidnap me?” She pressed her hand over her belly. “Please, I’m pregnant. Just let me go. I’ll make sure Lucas pays you this time. I—”
“No more games or trust,” he snarled. “Let’s go. My car’s on the next corner.”
Maxie knew she couldn’t go anywhere with him. Her only chance was to escape him now, when there were people around to see and hear her scream. Or pass out.
She slowed her feet. “I’m not feeling well,” she said, forcing him to shorten his steps.
Panic threatened to overwhelm her, but she thought about the baby inside her and the life she could have if she survived. Don’t get into a car with a kidnapper. She knew this.
“Come on.” He yanked on her arm.
At that moment, she let her knees buckle and slid to the ground.
“Fuck!” He yanked so hard on her arm he nearly pulled it out of the socket, but she kept her body weight close to the ground, unwilling to be his victim. “Help!” she screamed, knowing the street wasn’t packed but had people walking by.
“You stupid bitch!” He leaned down, getting so close his fetid breath hit her nostrils. “Get up.”
“No.” She spat in his face and lay down close to the sidewalk, unwilling to give him any leverage to haul her up and drag her with him.
He slapped her hard, her head hitting the concrete.
He pulled out a gun and aimed it at her stomach. “You really think I’m going to jail?”
Before she could answer, which wouldn’t be easy given the way her head was spinning, someone tackled Bernardi, slamming him to the ground by her side.
His gun fell from his hand and skidded across the sidewalk. She grabbed it, holding it on him with shaking hands. A crowd had formed around them, and a tall man knelt down beside her. “Here. Let me,” he said in a kind voice as he extended his hand.
She gave him the weapon, collapsing to the ground in relief.
Chapter Eleven
Lucas, Kade, and Derek sat with Blink’s accountants, listening to them drone on about expenses, taxes, and other things, which Lucas tuned out, his mind elsewhere. With all that had been going on in his life, it was a miracle he still had a business, but he had his partners to thank for stepping up when he had other problems going on.
Tonight he planned to corner Maxie and find out what was bothering her, once and for all. They had nothing if they didn’t have honesty. She would have to spill her guts, and he was going to have to be man enough to hear it.
His cell rang mid-meeting. He’d forgotten to turn off the ringer, another testament to his focus being elsewhere.
“Sorry.” He pulled it out of his pocket, planning to shut it off when Gold’s name came up on the screen—the Fed who’d given him the all clear this morning.
“Excuse me,” he said to the others in the room, answering before he’d walked out. “Monroe.”
“Mr. Monroe, it’s Federal Agent Gold.”