“No? If the last few days have proven anything, it’s that I don’t have that time. We are going to need to talk about this.”

I turned to him. “Please, Papá. Not now.”

“When, Lucas? Tell me when I have to do this to you? Shatter your dreams? Make you become someone you should never have to be? Tell you it’s your duty?” His voice caught. “When do I do this? Gain my heir and lose my son?”

“Not now. Please. I have—” My throat seized up and I had to force the words out. “I have to go.”

HOPE BIOLOGY IS DESTINY

HOPE

BIOLOGY IS DESTINY

Had I ever envisioned myself in this situation—taken hostage and being led to a car—I’d have foreseen my mind flying ahead at warp speed, eyes darting around, trying to find an opportunity to escape or at least to call public attention to myself.

But I just walked. Focused on putting one foot in front of the other.

Jaz strolled beside me, his arm in mine, chattering away. The gun was in his pocket. It didn’t matter. The other gun—the one Sonny had for Karl—was more important. There are risks you’ll take for yourself because you know that if your plan goes wrong, it’ll be too late for regrets. But if you risk the lives of others and fail, you’ll have a lifetime to regret it.

Jaz’s plan rested on the presumption that Karl would have circled back for me rather than follow Sonny. I wasn’t so sure. He could be tracking Sonny right now to our rendezvous point where he’d have a chance to—

“Here we are.”

I teetered on the curb, and his hand yanked me back, jerking me from my thoughts. We were standing on a busy corner with no parking along either street.

“Where’s the car?”

“There’s one.” He pointed at a truck zooming past. “And there’s another, and another.” He slanted a sidelong glance my way, as if honestly expecting me to appreciate the joke. “Oh, you mean our car. Let’s see…”

He looked around, then leaned out and snapped his fingers. “Taxi.”

A blue compact steered out of the line of traffic and pulled to the curb. Sonny sat in the driver’s seat.

Jaz pulled open the back door. When I balked, he prodded me.

“Come on, Hope. It’s a no-stopping zone.”

I locked my knees and scanned the sidewalk, hoping…

“Jaz.” Sonny’s voice. Sharp.

“No problem, bro. Now, Hope, don’t—”