“What if they move us first?”Tiana’s voice shook.“Split us again?”
“They won’t.”Keisha turned, Sergei’s headlight trailing.“I’ll call my supervisor tonight for an emergency review.”
“Tattoo guy?”Tiana nodded at the mirror.“Can he help?”
“No.”Too sharp.“He’s not in this.”
“He’s tailing us,” Tiana said.“Seems in it.”
“It’s complicated.”
“Adults.”Tiana rolled her eyes.
Keisha’s phone buzzed.Sergei’s number.She ignored it, but Mikalai’s face flashed across the street.Her heart slammed.“Get down,” she hissed, pushing Tiana below the dashboard.
“What’s wrong?”Tiana’s voice pitched high.
“Stay down.”Keisha reversed, tires squealing, then cut through the intersection as it turned green.Mikalai stood, hand in pocket, waiting.
“Is it the Rossis?”Tiana asked, still crouched.
“Not exactly.”Keisha checked her mirrors.Nothing.“Someone tied to them.”
“Stop babying me,” Tiana snapped, sitting up.“What’s going on?”
Keisha’s phone buzzed again.She answered, speaker on.“Where you going?”Sergei’s voice, tense, over his engine.
“Away from here,” Keisha said.“Tiana needs somewhere safe.”
“Not your place.They’ll check there.”His motorcycle rumbled.“My shop’s secure.”
“Who’s ‘they’?”Tiana leaned in.
“Mikalai won’t be alone,” Sergei said.“He’ll call backup.”
“I’m not hiding in your shop,” Keisha said.“I need my supervisor, those files—”
“Your supervisor’s not answering at ten,” Sergei cut in.“The files are probably gone.”
He was right, and it agitated her.Her control slipped, sneakers sliding on pedals as she sped through a yellow light.“I can handle this,” she said.“Tiana too.”
“With shaking hands?”Sergei’s voice hardened.“These people vanish kids, Keisha.You’re next.”
Keisha’s jaw tightened.“Fine.Your shop.To regroup.Then Tiana goes home.”
“No way,” Tiana said.“Not if they’re selling us.”
A black sedan appeared, three cars back.Keisha’s pulse spiked.“We’ve got company,” she told Sergei.“Black sedan, tinted.”
“We are about six blocks from my shop.Tiana knows where it is.Ask her.I’ll intercept.Keep going.”
The line died.Sergei’s motorcycle dropped back, leveling with the sedan.Keisha turned, losing sight.
“He okay?”Tiana asked, twisting.
“He’s fine,” Keisha said, certain despite herself.Sergei was dangerous when protecting something.The thought stirred her, quickly shoved aside.“Where’s Miguel?”
Tiana gave it, fingers twisting her shirt.“You believe me about the Rossis?”
