Page 128 of Smoke Screen
The guy held out a hand for the scrap of fabric.
“Nice try.” Phin whirled his finger. “Turn and I’ll do it. We’re doubling up so you can’t see. Try anything and I’ll leave your ass on the side of the road. Got it?”
“Dude, I’m just trying to get out of the country. I need this done.”
Frustrated with her loss of control—did she seriously just call this guy a fucker?—Maddy swung back, wrapping her fingers around the wheel hard enough to crush it. At some point, hopefully, she’d laugh about her rare use of the F word.
Totally worth it. Ooh, she’d like to wallop this guy.Fucker, fucker, fucker.
Maddy checked the rearview, watching as Phin finished tying the blindfold.
“You’re good,” he told their passenger. “Buckle up.”
The guy did as instructed, with Phin helping him secure the belt. As soon as they were all strapped in, Maddy shifted the car into gear.
“How do I know,” the fucker said, “you’re not driving me straight to the feds?”
“No talking,” Phin said. “As for the feds, we’re both flying blind. You could be setting us up. The only thing I have confidence in is Rory being a greedy S.O.B. who wants a payday.”
He sat forward, handing Maddy his phone. “Address is loaded, sound is off. If you miss a turn, I’ll let you know.”
As much experience as she’d had in Mom’s Suburban, she’d never driven it on mountain roads. That alone gave her the twitches.
She could do it. If it ended this nightmare, she’d get it done.
Phin sat in the backseat,staring straight ahead, his gaze a constant sweep, checking on their passenger, who’d barely moved an inch since buckling in.
Good. After the morning Phin had had, his patience wasn’t exactly hefty. Kicking someone’s ass for a juicy stress release wouldn’t be a hardship.
“It’s coming up on the right,” he told Maddy.
“Got it.”
Maddy rounded the curve leading to the Steeles’ sprawling 20,000-acre property, formerly known as Tupelo Hill. Jonah, the youngest of the Steele clan—nicknamed the baby billionaire after he’d designed and sold a viral video game—had purchased this property a few years back. Initially intended to be a sports complex for the community, the property had fallen into disrepair when the town had gone bust and scrapped the plans.
Enter Jonah Steele and his fat pockets. After major renovations, Phin’s Aunt Joan moved into the main house and Reid converted the abandoned sports complex into a law enforcement training center that now brought major revenue to not only the Steeles, but the town as well.
Maddy pulled to the gate, and Phin lowered his window for the camera. A few seconds later, the gate slid open, revealing a long curving driveway. Maddy pulled through and Phin unbuckled. He sat forward, sticking his hand between the bucket seats and pointing to the glass-fronted building to the right. “Follow the driveway to that building. There’s a small lot in front. Park at the curb near the door.”
To their left, acres and acres of green grass and oak trees surrounded Aunt Joan’s gleaming white house. For today, they’d steer clear, but maybe, when this was over, Phin might pay a call to his aunt and uncle. Finally, try to open up and build on the relationship.
He brought his attention back to their passenger, sitting stock-still in his seat. At least he followed instructions.
Pulling into the lot, Maddy eased to a stop at the building entrance and parked. The last time Phin had been in the training center was on Reid’s wedding day. He, Zeke, and Ash had walked down from the main house to run the obstacle course.
The front door opened and Reid—in all his hugeness—appeared. He wore flip-flops, cargo shorts and a T-shirt tight enough for the world to see his insanely jacked torso. Superman in flip-flops.
Later, Phin would harass him about it and risk his own ass-kicking. It’d be worth it.
“Stay in the car,” Phin told their guest before hopping out.
Maddy killed the engine and slid out as well.
“Hey.” Reid strode from his spot and the door swung closed.
He met them at the curb and realizing Maddy and Reid hadn’t been introduced the day prior, Phin did the honors.
“Maddy, this is my cousin Reid. Reid, Maddy. She works for the Thompsons.”
