He walks back to the bar, so now I only have a minute or two before the bouncer comes. My attention returns to Yury Yury. He smirks, downs his drink, then tries to act nonchalant as he continues. “I understand you are looking for Elizabeth Viramontes… I’m looking for her, too.”
“Aren’t you a good Samaritan.”
He doesn’t care about Sebastian but wants Elizabeth—which, I guess, means they’re probably not together.
“I hope you are able to find her,” he says. “In fact, I’m willing to help in any way I can. Perhaps with your expenses. Borz?”
The Muscle reaches into his coat pocket. Paige lets out a tiny yelp. Everyone freezes. I shoot her a look, urging her to pull it together. She’s visibly shaking now. I can even see a tiny bit of sweat forming on her brow.
The Muscle proceeds to pull an envelope out of his pocket and drops it on the table with an emphatic thud. His hand rests for a moment on the package, and I stare at the tattoos that wrap around every finger. My eyes follow as the Muscle’s hand pushes the envelope across the table and leaves it right in front of me. It swells enough for me to see the thick wad of cash through the opening. Yury Yury says nothing. He just keeps smiling.
“In exchange for…?”
He shrugs. “Perhaps when you find Elizabeth, I could persuade you to bring her to me.”
Yury Yury’s tattoos suggest he’s a high-level Russian mobster. I’ve seen tattoos like that recently—in photos of Sebastian’s friends on Facebook. Which probably means Yury Yury is Sebastian’s boss. Which means he wants Elizabeth for less-than-altruistic reasons.
“You want her as leverage? A bargaining chip?”
He smirks. “As you say, I’m a good Samaritan.”
“I’m afraid to ask what you would say if I decline.”
His smile drops. “Then don’t.”
I shake my head. “Your offer is tempting, but the fact of the matter is, I have no idea where Elizabeth is.” I place my hand on the envelope and slide it back to the Muscle.
In a flash, the Muscle’s hand lands on mine. He presses down hard, using his weight to hold down my wrist.
Yury Yury leans in to me. “I said, don’t.”
I turn to face Yury Yury. “And I said, you can have it back.” I jerk my hand out from under the Muscle’s.
Yury Yury reaches for his coat. My hand slams on Yury Yury’s hand, keeping his arm in his pocket.
“Darcy!” Paige yells. “Calm!”
Everyone freezes and looks at Paige. She stares at me with nervous, pleading eyes. It suddenly occurs to me why she’s been so nervous. She isn’t afraid of Yury Yury. She isn’t afraid of the Muscle. She’s afraid of me.
“Stay calm,” she says again in a soothing, quiet voice.
Yury Yury turns to me with a curious expression. He looks me up and down, trying to understand why Paige would tell me to stay calm in this situation. I can feel his hand relax under his coat as he releases the hard pistol buried under the fabric.
“Is everything all right?” Chester appears beside our table, this time with the doorman and a second, larger bouncer on either side of him. Both guys have arms that stretch the limits of their black cotton T-shirts.
I turn to Yury Yury and pull my hand off his. “Is it?”
With no response from anyone, Chester continues. “Gentlemen, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
Yury Yury keeps his eyes on me, ignoring Chester and his guys. The Muscle stands to face them.
“Stoy!” Yury Yury commands. The Muscle freezes but doesn’t back down.
Yury Yury slides the envelope off the table and slips it into his coat. He pulls out a single hundred-dollar bill and places it under a saltshaker. “For your drinks and your troubles.”
Yury Yury waits for me to respond. I say nothing. The conversation is over as far as I’m concerned.
“You are full of surprises, Darcy Caine. You will probably find out later who I am. And you will probably learn why you should fear me.” Yury Yury pulls out a business card and places it next to the money. “If you find Elizabeth, you will call me and name your price.”
He turns to eyeball Chester but doesn’t say anything. He merely opens his arms as a display of compliance. Chester and his guys open a path for them to leave.
Before he walks away, Yury Yury says, “If you do find Elizabeth and do not call me…” He shakes his head. “It would be very unfortunate for you. And you, Paige,” he says, casting a glance at my trembling friend. “And maybe even that priest in Pasadena. Good luck.” He walks out of the bar, followed by his Muscle and the two guards.
“Jesus, Darcy,” Chester says after they disappear through the front door. “Who was that?”
My stomach growls, and I cover it with my hand as if that will do anything. “Just another happy customer.” I try to act casual, but the truth is, I’m a bit rattled by this recent interaction. These guys mean business, and the fact that they know about everything, from Paige to Tiffany to Father Ramon, means they’ve done their homework. It means they know how to get to me and the people I care about. “What the hell happened to your password policy, Chester?”
“I’ll talk to the guys,” he says, contrite.
“Yeah. Wouldn’t want anyone dangerous getting in here.”
“I got it.”
“Like a terrorist.”
“I got it!” he shoots back.
“Chester,” Paige intervenes, “how about another round?”
He turns without answering.
When he’s far enough away, Paige asks me, “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
She shakes her head. “I mean, are you calm?”
I inhale deeply. I check my watch. My heart rate is high but within the normal range and slowing down. My body is relaxing with each breath. I don’t feel Dudley coming on. “I’m okay.”
“Then can I freak out right now?”
“Yeah. You go.”
“What the hell, Darcy?” she says in a voice a few decibels too loud. She looks around the
