“Share a ride?”

Decker whipped around.

The man was truly a phantom.

This time, Donatti was with a young girl. She appeared around fifteen, but knowing how careful Chris was, she was probably eighteen. Donatti opened the door, and Decker got in. The girl slid in next. Last came Chris.

Her pixie face was painted with very little makeup and framed with dark hair. Innocent face, but the dress was anything but. She had on a red tank top, a leather miniskirt, and fishnets. Around her shoulders was a feathered boa. No bra, her nipples were big and erect. She must have been freezing in the getup.

Donatti gave the driver an address. No one spoke.

As the blocks sped by, Decker felt something against his leg. He moved closer to the door, but the child was persistent, nuzzling her limb against his. It was only after her hand had brushed against his thigh and had come to rest on his knee that he had had enough.

Fury welled inside of him. He shot Donatti a hateful look so filled with venom that even Chris’s stone demeanor cracked around the eyes. He pulled his charge’s hand off Decker’s thigh.

Donatti said, “Switch places with me, honey. You’re bothering him.”

With one swift motion, he lifted her across his lap, swatting her fanny as he put her on his right side.

“Ooh, do it again,” she purred.

“Behave yourself,” Donatti told her. “We’re in public.”

“Never stopped you before.”

This time, he gave her the force of his eyes, and she slumped back in the seat, hands in her lap.

“Pull over here,” Donatti told the cabbie. “Keep the meter running. Wait for me.”

The driver nodded.

Donatti said, “Get out. I’ll walk you to the door.”

The girl said, “He’s not coming up?”

“No, he’s not coming up.”

“Why not?”

“Because he’s not.”

“Well, maybe he’d like to come up.”

“No, he wouldn’t.”

“Are you coming up?”

“No. Get out.”

“Why not?”

“Out.” This time, Donatti didn’t wait. With his long arms, he reached over and opened the passenger door, then pushed her out of the hack. She fell on the sidewalk, but before she could get up, Chris was on her, yanking her to her feet, then dragging her to the front door of an apartment building.

Decker swallowed his wrath as he watched the abuse. Shaynda was still missing. As soon as Donatti and the girl were out of earshot, the cabbie said, “The company don’t like us waiting for fares.”

“If you want to take off, it’s fine with me,” Decker said.

The driver chuckled. “No, I don’t think that would be a good idea. You know who that is, don’t you?”

“Yes,” Decker said.

“You sure you know?”

“Christopher Donatti.”

“Just thought I’d say something, in case you didn’t know. Cause I heard him ask for you twose to share the cab. So maybe you didn’t know.”

“I know. Thanks.”

Decker peeked out the window. The girl had thrown her arms around Donatti, was in the process of trying to kiss him. He recoiled from her face and shoved her away. To mollify his rough behavior, he gave her another playful swat on the butt. Then he walked back and gave the cab his loft address.