“No,” he said, his face even.
“Someone had to tip my father off,” Adria said.
Maxim shook his head. “No, she got caught by your father because she didn’t stick to the plan.”
Her blade pressed harder into his neck, and Eric’s hand squeezed her shoulder.
“What was the plan?” she asked.
“She was supposed to wait at a hotel across the Canadian border. I had already paid someone off to let her through. I was supposed to bring you once she was settled. I called and called, but she never showed. A week later, she was caught at the Mexican border.”
Adria narrowed her gaze. “Maybe she didn’t trust you?”
Maxim’s face creased, and his voice was laced with defeat when he said, “Maybe.”
Adria put the knife away and searched his face. He looked like a man who had played the game and lost.
But she still didn’t trust him.
“Don’t come back here,” she said, turning.
The sound of Eric shutting the door behind her did little to calm her nerves. Did her mother really have a plan to get her? If she did, then why didn’t she follow through with it?
Her phone buzzed, and she glanced down.
Unknown number: This is Maxim. If you need anything, please let me know.
Adria: I won’t.
CHAPTER 3
LOCATION UNKNOWN
It was hot. Kaydon shifted, adjusting his seatbelt. The car rocketed down the highway, weaving in and out of traffic. Seth leaned into him, and Bryson stared out the darkened window.
“Hey, man, it’s hot back here. Can we crank up the air?” Kaydon asked.
The man driving made eye contact with Kaydon in the rearview mirror.
“Broken,” the driver said, “but there are some waters in the middle console.”
Seth moved to grab some. Twisting the top, he took a long sip before throwing one to Bryson and handing another to Kaydon.
Kaydon noticed the driver was watching them. Sweat broke out on the back of his neck, and Kaydon put the cold water bottle behind him, hoping that if his neck cooled off, the rest of him would too.
“If you can’t handle this, you’re gonna have a hell of a time in Mexico,” Bryson said, jabbing him with his elbow.
Kaydon just gave him a lopsided smirk.
The driver was still watching him.
“Might want to hydrate a little before you get on the plane,” the driver said.
“Maybe keep an eye on the road, friend,” Kaydon said.
The eyes dipped out of view.
“K?” Seth said, putting a hand on his leg.
