“I know. You should be. I don’t know anyone who would buy these. And certainly not for more than I could make in a few months at my day job.”
Valentina shoots me another smile, and this one is devoid of any pity. “We got this, girl. You get to work, and I’ll start planning as soon as you can give me a ballpark date when you could be ready.”
For the first time in over a month, a different emotion bubbles up inside me.
Hope.
6
Temperance
That new feeling of hope lasts for all of three minutes after I leave. Just long enough for me to hear thethwump-thwump-thwumpof a tire on the Tahoe going flat as I coast toward the side of the road and an empty parking spot.
I stare up at the tan headliner and send a seeking glance skyward.
This is not a sign. This is not a sign.I repeat it to myself over and over until I start to believe it.
I’m a capable woman.I’ve got this.
After I park the Tahoe, I hop out and circle the SUV to see the damage. Rear tire, passenger side.
Not a big deal. I can change a tire.
I crouch down to check the rubber treads for whatever caused the flat, and freeze when I see a half-dozen nails in a grouping no bigger than my fist.
What the hell?
This isn’t some random flat tire. This wasvandalism.
In broad daylight.
A creeping sensation, like the one I’ve felt for the last day, sends a shiver of concern down my spine, but I beat it back.I’m not going to live in fear.
Regardless, there’s no arguing that someone did this on purpose. Someone wanted me to get a flat tire. I rise to my feet and turn, scanning the street for anyone who may be watching me.
No one stands out.
Not the woman carrying several bags from a shop up the street. Not the man walking his Pomeranian. Not the two kids texting and not watching where they walk.
Finally, my gaze lands on a dark SUV idling in a parking spot at the end of the street I just turned off.
Mount’s guy keeping tabs on me?
I stare harder at the blacked-out windshield like I’m suddenly going to be able to see through the limo tint, but it doesn’t help.
Either way, I’m done here. I open the passenger door of the Tahoe, yank the keys out of the ignition, grab my purse, and wrap a hand around the edge of the door to slam it closed.
Remembering what Mount said about the keys to the warehouse, I pause.
Do I want them? Do I wantanythingfrom him? From either of them?
Screw it.
I open the glove compartment and a card falls onto the floorboard.Mount’s card.
I only pocket it because I don’t want to drag Keira into my life if things goes sideways. And besides ... you never know when you might need to call the devil.
My gaze lands on the set of keys on a leather fob.