his mouth shut afterward. And that you should never, ever try to cheat the boss. When Mark became the favorite, he’d incurred the jealousy of that man. That’s when he’d learned to watch his back.
Follow him , his gut told him.
He took off.
Mark sprinted through the crowd on the sidewalk, keeping back far enough not to be noticed. Or at least he hoped. He followed the man across the next street against the light. If he could find out where he was going, he might get a clue about where Paige’s daughter was. But before they reached the next block, the man clicked open a black Mercedes parked along the curb, slid inside and drove off.
Mark stopped in the middle of the sidewalk. He stared at the rear plate, memorizing the number but he knew it would do no good. It had already been changed out. Or stolen, or altered in some way. He was only too familiar with the techniques.
He watched the vehicle spin out of its parking space and speed off down Fifth.
Mark had wondered if it was his old mentor who was after the Fantasia necklace. Surely Joel Jimar, known on the street as The Jamaican, couldn’t be working for Laroche now. He’d broken with the stingy tyrant when Mark had. Or so he had thought. If Jimar was still with Laroche that would throw an even more dangerous wrench into the mix. The man could be vicious.
Jimar’s words rang in his ears. The words he’d uttered after the sock in the jaw he’d given him the first night Mark had held back a little of the take for himself.
No one crosses me, Storm. And no one crosses the boss. No one.
On the sidewalk, Mark shifted his weight. He should call Foley. If he was up against Laroche and Jimar, he could use some extra manpower. Besides, he’d just had a screaming message from his boss wanting to know where the hell he was.
But last night Paige had begged him not to get involved. Not to bring the Feds in. He stared down the street and rubbed the back of his neck.
He’d have to smooth talk her with all he had. He’d have to really turn on the charm and convince her. Then he’d call Foley and fill him in.
He turned and hustled back to the deli, hoping she hadn’t left.
###
Paige sat staring at the cutout letters, her coffee cold and forgotten on the table. Gradually she became aware of a figure standing beside her.
Slowly she raised her head and caught sight of Mark’s cocky half grin.
He had the audacity to come in here now? She eyed his tight jeans and the shirt that hugged his attractive muscles. Did he keep a whole wardrobe in his trunk? His dark wavy hair was combed back with gel, and it glistened as sexily as his sapphire blue eyes. Why did he have to be so good-looking?
He held out a plate to her. “Everything bagel with strawberry cream cheese. Do you still like these as much as you used to?”
She glared up at him, wanting to barf on his shoes. “If I were hungry, I would have ordered one.”
He set the plate in front of her and sat down. “You always said breakfast was the most important meal of the day.”
His gaze was on the open letter. Quickly, she folded it and shoved it into the envelope along with the key. Then, despite herself, she pinched off a bite of the bagel and put it in her mouth. It was delicious. She was hungrier than she thought.
“I don’t know why you’re so upset. I was simply passing by when I saw you in here.”
She narrowed her eyes at him and pushed the plate away. “Do you think I’m a fool, Mark? I saw you watching me from out there.” She nodded toward the window.
His face became granite hard as he dropped the act. “The man in the white suit.”
“What about him?”
He studied her a long moment, his jaw flexing, as if he wasn’t sure he could trust her with what he was about to say. Finally, his words came out on a ragged exhale. “I know him.”
Paige’s heart nearly stopped. She didn’t know what to think. Or whether she was more stunned or angry. “You know him?”
“I used to work with
Follow him , his gut told him.
He took off.
Mark sprinted through the crowd on the sidewalk, keeping back far enough not to be noticed. Or at least he hoped. He followed the man across the next street against the light. If he could find out where he was going, he might get a clue about where Paige’s daughter was. But before they reached the next block, the man clicked open a black Mercedes parked along the curb, slid inside and drove off.
Mark stopped in the middle of the sidewalk. He stared at the rear plate, memorizing the number but he knew it would do no good. It had already been changed out. Or stolen, or altered in some way. He was only too familiar with the techniques.
He watched the vehicle spin out of its parking space and speed off down Fifth.
Mark had wondered if it was his old mentor who was after the Fantasia necklace. Surely Joel Jimar, known on the street as The Jamaican, couldn’t be working for Laroche now. He’d broken with the stingy tyrant when Mark had. Or so he had thought. If Jimar was still with Laroche that would throw an even more dangerous wrench into the mix. The man could be vicious.
Jimar’s words rang in his ears. The words he’d uttered after the sock in the jaw he’d given him the first night Mark had held back a little of the take for himself.
No one crosses me, Storm. And no one crosses the boss. No one.
On the sidewalk, Mark shifted his weight. He should call Foley. If he was up against Laroche and Jimar, he could use some extra manpower. Besides, he’d just had a screaming message from his boss wanting to know where the hell he was.
But last night Paige had begged him not to get involved. Not to bring the Feds in. He stared down the street and rubbed the back of his neck.
He’d have to smooth talk her with all he had. He’d have to really turn on the charm and convince her. Then he’d call Foley and fill him in.
He turned and hustled back to the deli, hoping she hadn’t left.
###
Paige sat staring at the cutout letters, her coffee cold and forgotten on the table. Gradually she became aware of a figure standing beside her.
Slowly she raised her head and caught sight of Mark’s cocky half grin.
He had the audacity to come in here now? She eyed his tight jeans and the shirt that hugged his attractive muscles. Did he keep a whole wardrobe in his trunk? His dark wavy hair was combed back with gel, and it glistened as sexily as his sapphire blue eyes. Why did he have to be so good-looking?
He held out a plate to her. “Everything bagel with strawberry cream cheese. Do you still like these as much as you used to?”
She glared up at him, wanting to barf on his shoes. “If I were hungry, I would have ordered one.”
He set the plate in front of her and sat down. “You always said breakfast was the most important meal of the day.”
His gaze was on the open letter. Quickly, she folded it and shoved it into the envelope along with the key. Then, despite herself, she pinched off a bite of the bagel and put it in her mouth. It was delicious. She was hungrier than she thought.
“I don’t know why you’re so upset. I was simply passing by when I saw you in here.”
She narrowed her eyes at him and pushed the plate away. “Do you think I’m a fool, Mark? I saw you watching me from out there.” She nodded toward the window.
His face became granite hard as he dropped the act. “The man in the white suit.”
“What about him?”
He studied her a long moment, his jaw flexing, as if he wasn’t sure he could trust her with what he was about to say. Finally, his words came out on a ragged exhale. “I know him.”
Paige’s heart nearly stopped. She didn’t know what to think. Or whether she was more stunned or angry. “You know him?”
“I used to work with
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