Chasing Silver Part 15

She squinted into the brilliant morning light, searching up and down the busy street for the familiar shape of the Mustang. Nathan had rushed her out of the apartment so fast she had forgotten her shades, and already her head was punishing her for the oversight. It was going to take more than a few days to get used to all this California sunshine. Either that, or find more reasons to stay inside.

Remy grinned, in spite of her increasing agitation. Staying inside was not a problem.

If she didn't think too much about the greater implications, the entire notion of her and Nathan had her stomach dancing, her heart humming. She hadn't lied when she'd said she was scared. What Remy hadn't mentioned, though, was that the thrill outweighed the fear. She looked at him, and the adrenaline from every fight she had ever been in and every win she had ever accrued coursed through her veins. Nathan made her feel like anything was possible. That she could take on Kirsten, face-to-face, one-on-one, and win with a single hand tied behind her back. Blindfolded. Hopping on one foot.

With Nathan, she had something she had never had before. She had hope. Who knew it came with five o'clock shadow and a killer kiss?

A squeal of tires had her attention shifting in the opposite direction, scanning the parking lot to see a gray minivan slamming on its brakes to avoid hitting a teenaged boy on a skateboard. Still, there was no sign of Nathan. Had she misunderstood his instructions? Was she supposed to meet him back at the apartment instead?

Remy twisted to peer through the front window of the store. The clock on the wall over the deli counter read ten-forty. Forty minutes longer than the latest Nathan had promised he would be. She had had to have screwed up the directions. to have screwed up the directions.

Picking up the plastic bag sitting at her feet, she let it swing from her fingers as she walked out of the lot. The beating sun made her neck itch, and she tilted her head from side to side to relieve the pressure building up at the base of her skull. The apartment would be hot, too, but Nathan's promise to make it up to her when they got back had her unconsciously squeezing her thighs together in antic.i.p.ation. A cooling shower, maybe. And this time, she'd make him f.u.c.k her with more than his fingers.

She spotted the Mustang as soon as she rounded the corner. It was a narrow street with little traffic, and as soon as she saw the car turned sideways in the middle of the road, Remy knew something was wrong. She broke into a run, the groceries banging against her leg with every step. Her breathing wasn't labored, but her heart thudded so loudly inside her chest it made it difficult to suck in air.

It got even worse when she saw the empty interior.

Dropping the sack to the ground, Remy ran around the front to the driver's side. The door was shut, though not properly latched, and there were spidery fractures webbing the window. She yanked it open, hoping the glare of sunshine off the gla.s.s had created the mirage of the inside being empty, but found only the bare seat. A rag lay discarded in the footwell, but a glint off something metal slid her eye past it, had her bending in and over to reach down and pick it up.

Her throat went dry as she recognized the weight resting in her palm. Nathan's phone. He never went anywhere without his phone.

Her search became more frantic, sliding behind the wheel to look for any other clues about what happened. His keys dangled from the ignition, heavy and unmoving until her movements sent them jingling again. But other than what she had already found, Remy saw no other clue as to why Nathan would abandon his car. Had he been chased? Forced to flee on foot? But then he wouldn't leave his keys and phone behind. It could have been an accident, but cops and paramedics wouldn't just leave his car like this, blocking the road.

Remy's head turned to look at the driver's window again. The epicenter of the break was at head level. Even worse, when she peered closer, there was the unmistakable fleck of blood caught in the cracks.

It was all too obvious to her what had happened. Hadn't Tian already proven they were keeping an eye on Nathan? And they had a penchant for using their cars as weapons. The events of the other night had not been a fluke.

Her hand was shaking as she opened his phone, fumbling with the unfamiliar b.u.t.tons until she figured out how to retrieve the number she wanted. It rang only once, and the brusque greeting did nothing to ease the knots in her stomach.

"Isaac? It's Remy." She fingered the rag from the floor, wondering what it had to do with Nathan's disappearance. "Nate's in trouble."

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

He had never driven this quickly outside of a work situation in nearly four years. In fact, the last time Isaac had pulled out his siren for a non-work-related emergency had been about Nathan, too. n.o.body else in his life had the power to put the fear of G.o.d in Isaac more than his best friend. n.o.body else had ever mattered as much.

When he pulled into the narrow street, his wheels squealing as he made the turn, Isaac saw the Mustang pulled up to the curb, Remy's familiar form leaning against the dented side. He jerked to a crooked halt behind it and was out and onto the walk before the engine had barely stopped.

"What the f.u.c.k happened?" he growled, marching toward her.

Immediately, Remy straightened, shoulders squaring, chin lifting as her hackles rose. Isaac didn't even have time to register the way her top clung to her full b.r.e.a.s.t.s or the fact she seemed to have poured herself into the hiphugger jeans she wore. He was too focused on the dangerous flare in her dark eyes.

"You tell me," she shot back. "He was late picking me up so I decided to walk home and found the car like I told you." She jabbed a finger into his chest. Though he swatted her hand away, Isaac was surprised at how much the poke had hurt. "Maybe something you told him this morning had him so distracted, he wasn't paying any attention when Tian's gang decided to run him off the road."

His mouth was open to argue with her when her words sank in. "What do you mean, something I said? I haven't talked to Nathan since yesterday."

She looked ready to swing at him, and his muscles tensed at the unspoken threat. "That's why he wanted to go out this morning," Remy explained. "Nate said he needed to find out what you might have learned about where Kirsten is."

Isaac shook his head. "For one thing, that's ridiculous. Nathan knows the first thing I'd do is pick up the phone and call him if I had a bead on her."

"So why would he say he needed to see you then?"

"I don't know." He folded his arms over his broad chest and pulled himself to his full height. He might not be as tall as Nathan, but he was a h.e.l.l of a lot broader and he would use whatever advantage he could over Remy. "Maybe he felt the need for a little fresh air."

The implication of his words sank in as soon as they were out of his mouth. Her cheeks flared crimson, and this time, the anger sparking in the chocolate depths of her eyes tindered directly at him.

"This is not about me. Me and Nate, we both both want whatever this thing that's happening between us is. He's been on my side from the get-go, even before I had real proof about what was going on. So just because you're going a little green around the edges, don't try and turn this around on me." She pointed to the car, and he followed her finger to see the cracked window she'd mentioned earlier. "That's the only thing I need to know something's wrong. And if you give half a rat's a.s.s about Nate like you say you do, you'll help me find him before Tian's gang makes it too late." want whatever this thing that's happening between us is. He's been on my side from the get-go, even before I had real proof about what was going on. So just because you're going a little green around the edges, don't try and turn this around on me." She pointed to the car, and he followed her finger to see the cracked window she'd mentioned earlier. "That's the only thing I need to know something's wrong. And if you give half a rat's a.s.s about Nate like you say you do, you'll help me find him before Tian's gang makes it too late."

Though he didn't move right away, Isaac knew she had a point. Nathan's disappearance was a h.e.l.l of a lot more important than any of his concerns about her loyalty. Nathan trusted her, after all. Besides, if Remy didn't care about him, she would never have called Isaac in such a panic when she found the car. She could have sat on the information instead of bringing him in as early as possible.

Isaac jerked his head back to his own vehicle. "Get in," he ordered. "We'll check out the apartment first. Make sure he's not there or they didn't toss the place."

Nathan's keys jangled from her fingers as she followed him. "Nate doesn't have anything of value. They didn't even take his car."

It was hard not to slam his door even harder than he did. "No, he's got you and those coins. In my book, that's a h.e.l.l of a lot more dangerous."

She didn't say a word the few blocks back to Nathan's place, but she dogged his heels as he took the stairs two by two. Though he had a spare key, Remy pushed ahead of him when they reached the door, slipping Nathan's into the lock with a familiarity that made Isaac grind his teeth. He followed her in, but a quick glance around the living room was all he needed to know n.o.body had been around.

Remy didn't seem so sure, rushing off to the bedroom before he spoke. He had already looked over the kitchen by the time she came back out.

"Everything looks the same." There was a tinge of disappointment in her voice, and it dawned on him that she had been hoping for a disturbance. Probably because she knew a disturbance would give them more information on whoever it was had s.n.a.t.c.hed Nathan.

"I think the fact we had to unlock the door to get in was our first clue. Tian's boys would have had to bust it down since they left the keys with the car."

Her eyes drifted to the front door, finely arched brows drawing together in a small frown.

Isaac pulled his phone from his pocket and punched in the number for the station. "I'm going to have someone check out all the hospitals." She seemed oblivious to his explanation, wandering back into the living room with a listlessness he hadn't seen from her before. "Maybe Tian just had Nathan roughed up a little bit. He might-"

"They're gone."

The secretary Kathy came onto the line at the same time Remy made her little announcement, and Isaac had to clumsily ask her to hold while he asked Remy what the h.e.l.l she was talking about. His gaze followed her as she went to the bookshelf, and it was only then he realized the box that had stored her coins was gone. One more piece of the puzzle fell into place.

She was still busy scanning the shelves, looking for the box, by the time he finished giving Kathy her instructions. "You're not going to find it." He snapped his phone shut and shoving it back into his pocket. "The coins aren't here."

"Well, obviously," Remy retorted. Her torpor had vanished with her discovery, and she was taut again with barely pent energy, like a thoroughbred waiting at the gate of a big race. While there was no denying what Nathan's physical attraction to Remy was, when she was like this, Isaac thought he saw what other interests his best friend might have. She was like a living flame in a slight breeze, flickering first in this direction and then the next, attracting everybody to come close and then dancing out of their reach. Nathan would find the contradiction irresistible.

If nothing else, the fact she was the physical ant.i.thesis of Susanna had to be a good thing. Nathan had fallen for that sugar and spice act far too easily. Remy could never be mistaken as less than worldly.

"I think I know what he was doing this morning," Isaac explained. "Which means the coins are safe. Right now, our priority has to be finding him. Agreed?"

She looked like she wanted to argue some more, but to her credit, Remy nodded. "What do we do first?"

"We're going to talk to my connection to Tian." Already he was heading for the door. They couldn't afford to waste any more time; Nathan's life was in the balance. "Which means, keep your mouth shut, your eyes open, and if you do anything to f.u.c.k this up, I will not hesitate to lock you up and get you out of my way until he's back, understand?"

In the doorway, he glanced over his shoulder. None of the fight had faded from her eyes, but she gave him another nod anyway.

That was all he needed.

Nathan did not expect to wake up in bedroom-a rather posh bedroom, at that. He thought at first they had taken him back to a hotel, and the soft whisper of waves just feet from his window added credence to the a.s.sumption. But as his head cleared, Nathan realized he was in somebody's home, tied to somebody's bed.

His arms were stretched over his head, secure to the bedpost with handcuffs. His feet were bound together with thick ropes. A cool breeze floated through the room, caressing his overheated skin, and he thought the situation would almost be pleasant if he wasn't most certainly going to die.

Nathan curled his fingers, gasping at the sting from the burn still raw on his skin.

Remy.

Did they get her, too? Did they know where to find her? Had she been the target? n.o.body Nathan knew had such nice digs. Tian didn't own any beachfront property. He looked around the room, searching for any clue, or anything useful for an escape. But the walls were bare, the door shut and locked, and the cuffs unyielding.

The low murmur of voices outside the room joined with that of the surf, too indistinct for him to decipher who or how many were speaking. Nathan turned his head in time to see the doork.n.o.b move, and in the crack that was created when it was opened, saw a more than familiar shape.

Tian. Maybe the house was a recent acquisition.

The woman who entered, closing the door behind her, was an unknown, though. Tall and willowy, she had white-blond hair cut into a severe short cut. Rather than make her appear masculine, it accented the sharp angles of her face, lending her an austere beauty that would have been striking under other circ.u.mstances. Right now, Nathan was only interested in finding out who she was.

And why she was smiling at him.

"Mr. Pierce." Her voice was lower than he imagined, her accent from the East. She came to a stop at the side of the bed and gazed down at him, glancing at his various bindings. "How are we feeling?"

"We're feeling great," Nathan said, his smile matching his bright tone. "And you are?"

"An ally. If you allow me to be." Grabbing the straight-backed chair from the nearby desk, she pulled it up to the side of the bed. "I'm Kirsten Henryk."

Nathan didn't betray his feelings when she introduced herself. Despite his rather unfortunate situation, he couldn't help but behave as though he was the one in control. She wanted to get information from him, but not before he got what she wanted from her. He squashed the instant reaction of rage, forcing himself to forget about the pain and terror-the pain and terror he had just experienced himself-that this woman had caused Remy.

"An ally?" He wiggled his wrists, the chains jingling against the bedposts. "It seems I'm in need of one of those. What can you do for me?"

Her gaze never left his face. "Get you out of here, of course. And get that idiot Tian off your back for good. In fact-" she leaned forward. "-I can fix it so you can catch him, Mr. Pierce. Tian's garbage that should have been cleaned up ages ago. It would be better all around if we got him off the streets, don't you think?"

"Oh, yes. I quite agree with you. The problem is that we're all quite clear on what I need from you, but I'm not certain what you want from me."

The ice-blue of her eyes seemed to grow even paler as she regarded him, and for the first time since entering the room, her smile began to fade. "A trade," came her quiet response. "I give you your freedom and your criminal. You give me what's mine."

"That seems fair enough," Nathan agreed, keeping the relief out of his voice. A trade meant she did not have Remy. More importantly, it meant she didn't know where to find Remy. At this point, Nathan prayed Isaac had her, and was keeping her somewhere safe, out of Kirsten's reach. And of course, she wouldn't be able to get her evil claws on the coin. "What's yours?"

"A family heirloom. It was stolen from my father's home. A silver coin he'd been entrusted to care for, taken by somebody whose only concern was to sell it."

Her mouth hardened, her smile now gone. "She's not the woman you think she is, Mr. Pierce. Remy Capra has killed more people than you did while you were still on the force, including cops. All she cares about is herself, and she will do anything she needs to, to get what she wants. She's not like you or me. She has no regard for what's right and what's wrong."

"What if we calculate the number of people I've killed since I left the force? Would our numbers be closer then?"

His glib response gave him his first real reaction from her. Kirsten's nostrils flared, the muscles in her strong jaw twitching. In her lap, her long fingers curled into a fist.

"You're out of your league, Mr. Pierce." She didn't raise her voice, but the menace in it was unmistakable. "And if you have any desire to walk out of this house with your heart still inside your chest, you'll agree to my deal. I am the only hope you have to get out of here alive. You don't don't want to p.i.s.s me off." want to p.i.s.s me off."

"Yes, your reputation precedes you. I heard you're worse than G.o.dzilla and Hitler combined. Unfortunately, I don't know where Remy is, and I don't have your coin, so I can't help you." Nathan shook his head. "Sorry. And things started so promising too."

She rose from the seat so abruptly he had to blink in order to see her standing at her full height. What was even more alarming was the gun that had suddenly appeared in her hand. He hadn't even seen her draw it, let alone where she could have had it holstered.

He didn't flinch when she pressed the muzzle to the middle of his forehead. "The only reason Tian didn't kill you as soon as his boys brought you in was because of me. I don't know why you're protecting that b.i.t.c.h, but don't think it's going to do any good. I got your partner without breaking a sweat. I'll get her, too."

"Technically, you scratched Isaac. He didn't even have to go to the hospital," Nathan pointed out. "And there is something to be said for the home-field advantage, Ms. Henryk." He moved his hands, trying to ease the throbbing in his palm. "I'm not from the future or anything, but I predict you're not leaving Los Angeles."

The gun never wavered. "A little old for believing in science fiction stories, aren't you?"

"Are you trying to tell me Star Trek Star Trek isn't real?" isn't real?"

Her lips pressed so thin, they almost disappeared. "I think I'm beginning to understand. That's a blatant disregard for authority you're letting show there. No wonder you're so eager to believe Remy's little lies."

"Well, yes, there is that. And her t.i.ts."

She didn't speak. For a brief moment, Nathan wondered if he'd gone too far. In the end, it didn't matter. He wasn't ever going to give Remy over to her.

"Cesar is dying to get his hands on you, you know. Something about payback, I think he said." The gun was moving, away from his head, down his neck and along his arm, the heavy metal catching on his skin as she dragged it along. "Maybe I should get the ball rolling. Start taking you apart, piece by piece, until you tell me what I need to know."

"He probably took that knife in his back personally," Nathan murmured, watching the nose of the gun as it traveled up his arm, cold and hard. "I don't know why. I didn't take the grenade-"

Before Nathan finished his sentence, she jammed the barrel of the gun into his burned hand. He managed to keep the scream from ripping through his throat, but just barely. White-hot slivers of agony flew up his arm and seemed to lodge in his shoulder and chest. He couldn't breathe for several seconds, and he didn't miss the look of surprise, or pleasure, on Kirsten's face.

"Personally," he finally wheezed as sweat rolled down his neck.

"Interesting."

Without moving the gun, she edged closer to the head of the bed, reaching forward with her other hand to uncurl his fingers and pull them straight. She began to trace over the burn, not the one her gun mostly covered on his palm but the fainter markings on the calloused pads of his fingers. Her touch was cool and light, and while he could see what she was doing if he dared to crane his neck, there was no way he was giving the b.i.t.c.h the satisfaction.

"It would appear you've been lying to me, Mr. Pierce."

b.l.o.o.d.y f.u.c.king h.e.l.l.

"Yes," Nathan said around the fresh lump in his throat, "you caught me. I'll have to ask your pardon."

"Does it hurt?"

Her hand disappeared from his, and she stepped back in order to see his face, at the same time pressing the gun more firmly against the burn.

The shock had been the worst part, and now the agony settled over him like thick blanket. It took a few moments to adjust, but he had survived worse pain. And one thing trumped the raw throbbing-anger. This b.i.t.c.h had nearly killed both Remy and Isaac, and he'd be twice d.a.m.ned before he let her break him. He clung to that anger now.

"It's a bit unpleasant, yes. But pain is subjective."

Her eyes were like ice as they regarded him, seconds stretching into a minute and then two before she spoke or moved. "Yes, Mr. Pierce. And I'm sure Cesar will take great pleasure in demonstrating that principle for you."

Nathan didn't reply, returning her stare until she backed away from the bed and moved to the door. He held his breath as he watched her leave, releasing it in a pained moan when she shut the door. What am I going to do? What the f.u.c.k am I going to do? What am I going to do? What the f.u.c.k am I going to do?