Taking Control (Kerr Chronicles #2)(71)
Author: Jen Frederick

“What’s the point of this?” she asks.

“You need to make him stop.” That’s Cecilia Howe’s voice. Thin and weak and…menacing?

“I’m not sure what you want him to stop doing. It was your husband behind the mic.”

“Ian Kerr is a menace. He’s bought up all our debt and is requiring us to pay within the next thirty days. The house, the cars, the cabin in the Hamptons.”

I hear the rustle of paper, as if Cecilia is shaking paper in Tiny’s face.

“Do you know how humiliating it is when your credit is denied, not just once but with every single card? Those saleswomen were looking at me like I was a piece of trash. Me, Cecilia Montgomery Howe! My family came over on the goddamn boat.”

“Yeah, um, say it, don’t spray it.”

“What did you say?”

I press the mute button on my phone and pick up the landline to dial Jake. “Cecilia Howe has Tiny. Can we trace Tiny’s phone?”

“I’m going to need to hack into her cell phone service and see if we can pull up a GPS signal. Call a car service and come here. I sent Steve to get Marcie.”

Cursing, I ask. “How’s the traffic? Maybe I’m better off taking the subway.”

“You have her on the phone? You’ll lose her once you go underground.”

“Fuck, you’re right. I’m leaving right now.”

I don’t connect the phone to Bluetooth. I’m too afraid of losing the connection. In the drawer, I pull out a handgun. I’ve had this piece since my days on the street. It’s unregistered, and the serial number has long since been filed away. Tucking it into my suit coat pocket, I fold the jacket over my arm to disguise the bulk.

“Call the car service. I want one to be waiting when I reach the street,” I order, striding past Rose.

“What about Steve?”

“He’s busy.” I slide my card into the panel next to the elevator bank and ring for the elevator. One appears within twenty seconds, but that’s almost too long for me.

“I said, what is it that you want me to do?” Tiny repeats.

“Call Ian right now. Tell him to make everything right.”

“No.”

At first, I’m angry that she’s antagonizing Cecilia like this, but then I realize that she can’t call. She’s already on the phone with me and an incoming call might be heard on the other end. Tiny smartly doesn’t want to take the risk. The car is waiting, and I get in. “80th & Amsterdam. West side. There’s five hundred cash if you can get me there in ten minutes. Five hundred plus any traffic fines.” I waive the money at him, and he nods. I’m barely in the car before he takes off.

“What?” Sissy screeches.

“I’m not calling him and asking him to do that. Do you know what your husband did to Ian?”

“Duncan Kerr died because he was weak,” she sniffs. “And Ian’s mother. Disgusting. She actually propositioned Richard in order to make him pay off their debts.”

“But kidnapping is so much better?”

Oh for god’s sake, Tiny.

I’ve gotten lucky. The traffic up the Hudson River is sparse despite it being Monday. Plus, my driver is weaving in and out of traffic like in he’s in a Formula One race.

“What does he see in you?” I hear after a long pause.

“I give really good head.”

I pound my head against the window and let out a weak laugh.

“This isn’t funny,” Cecilia fumes.

“I agree. I’m not amused at all, but what can I do while I’m trapped in the basement of your townhouse?”

I tap the driver. “Change of plans. Take me to 64th and Lex.”

“I’m going to have to navigate Central Park traffic. That will take some time.”

“Double the bonus if you can make me forget there’s traffic. And give me your phone.”

He hands me the phone, and I give him the five hundred right then. It works because he stomps on the gas and we shoot forward. I call Jake. “She’s at Cecilia’s.”

“I’ll meet you there. Don’t do anything without me,” he warns.

“I’m not leaving her to stew in Howe’s clutches while I wait for you.”

“Do you want to have a happy life with Tiny, or one where she visits you at Riker’s?”

I disconnect in response and throw the phone in the passenger seat.

“Call him,” Cecilia shrieks. “Call him right now.”

“Okay, but I told you he’s working. You know, to save his business.”

We all hear the phone ring, and it seems like everyone—including the driver—is holding their breath. It rings three times and then Rose answers. “Kerr Inc., Ian Kerr’s office. May I help you?”

“Answer,” I hear Cecilia hiss.

“Um, just wondering if Ian is there. It’s Tiny.”

“No, Miss Corielli. He just left a few minutes ago. Wasn’t he talking to you?”

Oh shit. Oh motherfucking shit, no.

“What?” Cecilia shrieks and then there’s a scuffle.

“How long has this phone been on?”

There’s no response, and then the distinct sound of flesh striking flesh repeats itself one, two, and then three times.

I unmute the phone. “Goddammit, Cecilia, if you hit her one more time, I will end you myself.”

“You’re so clever, Ian Kerr. Did you figure out I was hitting her just from the sound alone? What does this sound like to you?”

There’s a boom and then the line goes dead.

TWENTY-SEVEN

TINY

CECILIA’S GUNSHOT DESTROYING MY PHONE galvanizes me into action. I’ve had enough of this farce. There are weapons everywhere in here. One strike with a glass wine bottle, and she’d be out of it. I lunge at her. In surprise, she jerks backward and shoots, but I go in low and the shot careens high. As she stumbles backward, we crash into a wooden rack filled with bottles.

“You bitch,” she says, shooting again, but I’ve got my arms around her. The shot makes a pinging noise as it hits a wine bottle or two. There’s a sharp bite in my side, but I ignore it because I’ve pressed the on button for her psychosis and it’s either her or me now. And it’s going to be me. I have way too much to live for. The love I have for Ian is supercharging me. I know he’s coming to save me, and I’m going to be alive when he gets here.

Cecilia is strong and a few inches taller than me, but she’s gym strong. She works out to look good. I’ve been doing the biking equivalent of manual labor for six years. The knock on my head and the bruise on my cheek only fuel me to fight her harder.