Page 79 of Deadly Charade

“I’m not upset about that. I’m thankful that you understand the why. That you allow me to be myself and don’t judge me. You are the one person I don’t have to perform for.”

She could feel his thumping heartbeat against her cheek. “You told me God wants us to come as we are,” she said. “That we don’t have to try and fix ourselves first. I think you’re right. God is the only way I’ll ever find peace. I don’t have to perform for him. I’m done trying to please everyone.”

Tears stung her eyes, and she tried to wipe them on the scratchy carpet without success. She had an entire seven-piece luggage set of emotional baggage to unpack after this ordeal was over. Assuming she lived to do so. But for now things started to settle in her heart—the one place she’d refused anyone access.

Including God.

She sucked in a breath. “Okay, emotional Hallmark movie moment over. What’s the plan to get us out of here?”

He groaned when he tried to shift positions. “We’ll have to wait for them to open the trunk. I’m not getting anywhere trying to find a sharp edge in here that can cut through this duct tape.”

Kira snuggled against Bryce, and he put his bound hands over her head and around her shoulders in a half hug.

After what seemed like an eternity but was probably a few minutes, the car lurched to a stop. Muted voices filtered into the trunk from the outside.

“I guess it’s showtime.” Bryce untangled his arms.

Kira tried to move herself into a position where she might kick someone once the trunk lid opened, but who was she kidding? With her feet bound, she’d never get enough force behind any type of kick.

The trunk lid creaked open, and two hard faces stared at her and Bryce. Rifles pointed at them, then hands yanked them out and half carried, half dragged them to the front of the car.

Victor stood in the headlights of the vehicle, one hand on the hood and the other on his weapon. Another car pulled up, and Peter, Alex’s head of security, stepped out.

“Guess we know who followed me,” Kira whispered. The guy must be playing both sides, assuming Alex wasn’t part of the Amber Crown Society.

Kira surveyed her surroundings. Nothing but shadows and trees. Night had fallen, and they were as off-grid as they could get. She shivered, thankful they hadn’t taken Violet’s coat. Or Violet. It seemed they wanted her and spared Violet. Hopefully her roommate wasn’t hurt.

The dirt road continued on, but Victor had made himself a parking spot in the one patch of grass that wasn’t covered in foliage.

And the temperature continued to drop. She snuggled her chin deeper into the collar of the coat and wished for Bryce’s arms around her.

“Let’s get down to business, shall we?” Victor’s Russian accent was now pronounced. “You two will lead me to the treasure.”

He waved two flashlights over the hood of the car, which was covered in papers.

And Grandpa Lambert’s journals.

“Well, we’re going to need our legs and hands free for that,” Kira said. “Where are we going to run to? We’re in the middle of nowhere.”

Victor pointed at the burly Russian guard with the snake tattoo running up his neck. “Boris, undo their bonds.” He turned to the other gunman, the younger guy with a mean scowl. “Rolan, keep that gun trained on these two. Shoot them if they so much as flinch.” Both men complied.

Another man emerged from the car and stood by Peter, his gun also trained on Kira and Bryce. This guy had a buzz cut and muscular arms.

Free hands and feet created an opportunity to fight back if given the chance, but Kira didn’t have a plan. With five against two, the odds weren’t in their favor. Besides, she had no idea where they were. She assumed the dark shape looming over them that blocked the moonlight was a mountain.

At least Bryce was there. She grasped his cold hand and looked down at the documents. Victor passed them flashlights.

“These are the original journals,” Bryce whispered. “I thought I’d never see them again.” He touched the soft cover of a notebook.

“Get started. Find the location.” Victor’s commanding voice sent shudders down Kira’s spine. How much should she reveal? This was their only bargaining chip.

“Do you have a real map by any chance?” Kira asked.

Victor stuck his hand in the bag slung across his chest and pulled out a folded map of the area. He handed it to her and lingered. A little too close. No way could she work while this man hovered.

“Can you give us a few minutes to review these? Brian hasn’t even seen the journals, since someone ran us off the road and stole them.”

When he took a few steps back, Kira opened the journal to the pages with the hand-drawn map. Then she picked up the real map. “I didn’t realize they still made these,” she muttered, unfolding the accordion-shaped paper and spreading it over the car hood.