The pier widened, providing a lookout with benches spaced out along the rail, perfectly positioned for sunset watching.Rarely as crowded as Venice or Santa Monica, the pier was still fairly busy, especially with the ever-present groups of people fishing off the side.Her sneakers scuffed over etchings of humpback whales and dolphins as she approached the concrete tables in the center of the space.
The pier had plenty of lighting, and her neck prickled with the sense of being watched, but she didn’t clock any immediate threats.A black-crowned night heron sat atop one of the metal sails, and another had perched on a lamp post.Surely that was a good sign, right?A reminder of her team, her support system, the bond they’d forged through pain and vengeance.Like they were watching over her.
Heart tapping out an adrenaline-addled rhythm, she approached a tall figure in dark clothing leaning against one of the tables.A hoodie kept his face in shadow, his form a black blot against the twinkling lights on the peninsula behind him.
She slowed, trying in vain to calm her breath.“Erik?”she asked, ever hopeful.
“You Natalie?”
Her heart sank.His voice was all wrong, and she should’ve immediately realized his build was off too.Moving closer, she noticed a tuft of scruffy gray beard and a large nose, though the rest of his face stayed hidden.
“I have a message for you.”The words came a little slow on a two-pack-a-day voice.
She swallowed her disappointment.OfcourseErik wasn’t here.Had she really thought it’d be that easy?“Who’s asking?”
His dark shoulders lifted.“Fuck if I know.Some dude paid me to give you this.”He held out a cheap flip phone.When she hesitated, he sighed and stood, a beat-up skateboard in one hand.“Look, lady, I ain’t got all night.You Natalie or not?”
“Yes.”She snatched the phone from his callused palm and clutched it to her chest.
The man dropped his board to the concrete, hopped on, and rolled away, the sound of his wheels incongruously loud in the night.
She spun in a circle, hoping that Ford, Emma, and the Steele team were out there somewhere watching.Ready.Undetected.She loved him, and she wanted a future with him.Here, in Geneva, wherever.To do that, she had to stay alive.
Which meant staying focused.
No one on the pier seemed to pay her any attention, so she sat on the slatted metal seat, cold seeping through her jeans.“Okay, asshole.Now what?”Her tongue reflexively sought out the GPS tracker in her cheek, toying with it nervously.Catching herself, she stopped and clenched her teeth together.
Toe tapping, she opened the cell phone.It was unlocked—no password required—so she viewed the contacts list.There was only one memorized number, listed as Mace.Oh, goody.More weapon-themed nicknames.What absolute douchebags.She tapped the name.
“Punctual,” a distorted voice said.Probably a man, but hard to tell.“Good job.”
“Fuck you.Where’s my brother?”
Hetsked.“But so impatient.And foul-mouthed.I should’ve expected as much.”
“You’re the one who wanted me here, so let’s skip the games, okay?We both know I want Erik back, unharmed.What do you want?”
“I’m just looking for information.That’s it.No one needs to get hurt.”
“Oh, yeah?I have a bullet wound that says different.”
A noise of irritation came through the line.“That was a communication error.You have nothing to fear from me.”
She inhaled sharply.He’d just confirmed he was involved with the same men who’d taken Emma.Mind racing, Natalie scoffed at the idea that he wasn’t a threat.“How stupid do you think I am?”
“Actually, I believe you’re smarter than average, Miss Brown.”
She ignored his name cropping.“I don’t actually care what you think of my intelligence.If you want anything from me, I need proof that Erik’s alive and unharmed.”
“Fine.”The line went dead silent.Had he put her on mute?
“Natty?”Erik’s breath stuttered, and her heart ping-ponged around in her chest at the old nickname.Mace must’ve turned off the distorter because her brother’s voice was unmistakable.“Are you really alive?”
Tears sprang to her eyes.“Hey, Error,” she said, using the moniker that had made Erik so angry as a kid, hoping it would confirm her identity.“Did you really think I’d be that easy to get rid of?”
“Nat.”His voice turned serious.“Whatever this is, stay out of it.Mom and Dad need you.”
Her chest threatened to cave in.“No can do, bro.It’s my fault you’re there, and I’m going to get you out.”
