Chapter 22

CHAPTER

TWENTY-TWO

They waited outside the doctor's office thirty minutes to make sure no one was inside.

Though all the lights were off, one car remained in the parking lot.

Kai wondered if someone at the office had gotten a ride home and would pick up the remaining vehicle in the morning. It made the most sense.

Ideally, no one should be here. The last thing they needed was for someone to return in the middle of their covert mission.

Gage had already used a program on his laptop to turn off the security system and cameras so they wouldn't be caught that way. They'd found the blueprints of the place as well, so they could figure out where to go.

As they sat in the SUV, Kai glanced at Tori, and a rush of concern rippled through him.

He knew she didn't want to do this, that she was uncomfortable at the thought of breaking into a doctor's office. He could appreciate that. If there was any way they could do this without her, he would tell her to stay put.

In reality, Kai could probably figure out how to use the X-ray machine. But he wanted to be certain the procedure was done correctly. That meant he needed Tori.

He touched her arm as she sat beside him.

She flinched, clearly lost in another world.

"Sorry," she murmured.

"It's okay," Kai told her. "You sure you're ready for this?"

She nodded even though she looked shaky. "Ready as I'll ever be."

"We'll keep you safe," Kai assured her.

That got a faint but quick smile out of her. "I know."

"Let's go guys," Gage said before opening his door.

They scanned the parking lot one more time to make sure no one was watching.

It was clear.

On the count of three, they ran toward the side door of the building.

While Kai worked on the lock, Gage placed a camera near the door so they could monitor the outside of the building.

A moment later, a click sounded, and the door released.

They were in.

Now came the hard part—discovering the truth.

Tori's thoughts swirled as she walked into the eerily quiet doctor's office.

It wasn't as if she'd never been in a doctor's office this late, after hours. But it had always been for professional reasons.

Not because she'd broken in.

Every time she started to have cold feet, she remembered Nathan.

She could do this for him.

She, Kai, and Gage wound down the hallway. Past the check-in desk. Into the clinical area.

So far so good.

When Gage said that he'd disabled all the security cameras, she prayed he was correct.

Because it would be hard for her to find out answers about Nathan if she was in prison.

Tori pointed down another hallway. "Right here. This is the radiographic imaging room, where the X-ray machine should be located."

Gage remained on guard outside the door while Kai and Tori stepped inside.

Only then did they turn on the lights. Tori blinked against the brightness as her eyes adjusted.

In front of her stood the X-ray machine.

That piece of equipment could give her the answers she so desperately wanted.

Equipment that should have shown Landon that something wasn't right with her brother.

She still couldn't figure out why he would have lied.

Tori glanced at Kai one more time. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

Because really, the results would affect him more than they would affect her.

Depending on what she found out about him, the course of his life could change. It was a big deal and not something to be taken lightly.

"I'm sure," Kai reassured her.

Drawing in a deep breath, she used Landon's badge to turn on the machine and boot up the computer. Then she had Kai take off his belt, empty his pockets, and lie on the table.

Once he was situated, she glanced at him again. On a whim, she reached over and squeezed his hand. A rush of nerves fluttered through her.

"Whatever happens, whatever we discover, it's going to be for the best," she assured him. "It's better to know than not to know, right?"

"Absolutely."

But Tori thought she saw a flash of hesitation in his gaze. Anyone in his shoes might have a moment of questioning if this was the right thing or not.

And Kai, even though he might be a super soldier, was no different.

She lowered the X-ray machine into position.

Then she stepped back to the computer and, using Landon's keycard, unlocked it. A few minutes later, she placed her trembling hand over the keyboard, ready to start.

"Okay, take in a deep breath and hold it," she told Kai.

Then she began capturing images of his bones . . . and anything else that might be hidden beneath his skin.