He hangs up the phone, straightening his jacket before eyeing the look on my face with a look of confusion. “Chill, Bella, I thought you’d be pleased! If all goes to plan tonight, you’ll have one less O’Rourke to worry about.”
My knees feel shaky. “What do you mean?”
“My guys have confirmed the drop location. Liam O’Rourke is on site.”
“You’re—you’re going tokillLiam?” I blurt out, the gravity of what I’ve done hitting me all at once. My heart is racing, and my head spins, but I have to keep it together.
“Me? No.” He shakes his head, his lips curling in distaste. “I’m just the middleman, a broker of information, but I do have a Russian client who is very highly motivated.” He smiles with a nod.
“I thoughtyouwere vetting them as potential clients,” I say, still trying to come up with a plan to fix this in my head.
Gio just shrugs, finally making his way toward the door. “I’m a businessman, Bella, and my client came to me with a lucrative deal for information. Very lucrative.” His smile is dripping with grease.
“Lovely chatting with you, Bella. Until next time!” Gio calls, exiting the studio, and leaving me alone in my mental turmoil.
The docks… a sniper… Liam.
They’re going after Liam!And it’s all my fault.
I chance a look at the clock; it’s almost quarter till nine. There’s still time.
I dart for the door, looking out into the hallway quickly first to make sure Gio is gone. The hallway is clear and I race toward the theater, flinging open the rear door, and jumping over dancers sprawled across the floor as I dart for my phone, scooping it up from where it’s lying next to Mia, fumbling it in my hands as I try to unlock it.
“Briar, are you okay?” Mia asks, looking up at me with concern.
They’re going to kill Liam.I like Liam.I set him up.I told Gio where he’d be; I might as well have loaded the fucking gun myself.
I have to stop it.
My fingers freeze over the screen.He’ll know.There’s no way I can warn him without confessing what I’ve done.What I’ve been doing.
Tears stream down my face as I finally unlock the screen, finding Koen’s contact, my finger hovering just over his name before pressing down to connect the call.
“Pick up, pick up, pick up,” I plead with the sound of the ringing phone in my ear, but it just rings and rings. Just as I fear I’m about to be sent to voicemail, the line clicks open.
“Yeah?”
I almost drop the phone.
“Koen?” I rush out, my brain moving too fast for my mouth to keep up.
“Briar Rose, where are you? I’m waiting for you.”
I freeze.He’s here.
Half in a daze, I dart between the thick curtains out onto the left wing of the stage. Mr. Carr is in the middle of reaming out the orchestra, so he doesn’t notice me, my eyes scan the rows of chairs in the audience.
“I see you.”
I see you too.
Through tears, I locate Koen across rows and rows of empty seats; he’s all the way at the top of the theater, by the rear double doors; I see my dark shadow waiting for me.
I choke back a sob, trying to clear my throat.
“Koen, listen to me. There’s no time. I don’t know…”Fuck, just spit it out, Briar. “They’re going to kill Liam,” I rush out, sucking in a breath. “They—they know where the drop is tonight. Port 17 at nine p.m. It’s an ambush.”
There is only silence on the other end of the phone, and I try to hold back the sobs that threaten to rip out of me.
