Chapter 32

CHAPTER

THIRTY-TWO

Tori heard a mental timer ticking in her head. The only problem was she didn't know when it would ding and this would all be over.

But she, Kai, and Gage couldn't go on like this forever.

Especially since the people they were chasing for answers seemed to be determined to either put them behind bars for a murder they didn't commit or to silence them for good.

They drove back toward the city. As they did, Tori kept her eyes wide open, not just for any signs of a dark sedan that might be following them. But also for any cops.

Going back to Atlanta was risky. She knew that. Their faces were no doubt plastered everywhere since they were wanted now in connection to Landon's murder.

Every time she thought of it, tension squeezed her heart.

She would never do anything to hurt Landon—would never do anything to hurt anyone.

But now Landon was dead, and Tori was a suspect in his death.

Even once this was over—if they survived—how would she bounce back from something like this?

She wasn't sure. She wasn't sure if this would have a truly happy ending or not.

They pulled into a parking garage several minutes later, and Gage cut the engine.

"Broadreach is located in the building across the street." Gage nodded to a high-rise. "I don't exactly know how we're going to do this. It's not like anyone's going to let us walk right up to Howard Monarch and ask questions. My guess is as high-powered as he is, he'll have multiple layers of security."

"So what's our plan?" Tori scooted closer to better hear the conversation.

"We could wait here and watch for him," Gage said. "When Mr. Monarch leaves, we could confront him. If that doesn't work, we could follow him. See where he lives. I couldn't find his address online. It might be better to corner him at home. Or maybe even if he goes out for dinner or something."

"That plan sounds a little flimsy." Kai frowned. "I'm not sure how effective it's going to be. It leaves too much to chance."

"You have a better idea?" Gage glanced at his colleague, his eyebrows raised.

Kai's frown deepened. "Unfortunately, I don't. You're right that we're just going to have to be patient and wait for the right opportunity. Even if this Howard guy is guilty, it's not as if he's going to own up to anything just because we ask him."

"Do we stick together?" Tori asked. "Or are we more likely to be noticed if we do that?"

"We're definitely more likely to be noticed if all three of us are together," Kai said. "But we can't afford to leave you alone either. I think we have a good view of his building from here. We can stay in the 4Runner and wait."

His words brought her a measure of relief. She didn't want to be alone.

She knew what that end result would probably be—she'd most likely end up dead.

"So we hang out here until we see him?" she clarified.

"Yes, that's the plan." Gage leaned back in his seat. "For now."

Tori's heart thumped harder into her rib cage. She didn't even want to think about what could go wrong in the meantime.

She could do this. She had to do this.

For Nathan's sake.

Kai was not only waiting for Howard to emerge, but he was also keeping his eyes open for both the police and for the men who'd been following them.

Too much was on the line.

He glanced in the back seat at Tori, and regret filled him.

They'd had a moment last night. He couldn't deny that they had.

But he'd had no choice but to pull away—for her sake.

He wasn't in a place for a relationship. Larchmont had made sure of that.

However . . . Gage, Austin, and Trevor were now in successful relationships. They'd struggled with many of the same things that Kai now struggled with, and they'd overcome them.

Maybe Kai could do the same.

This, however, was the worst time to figure that out. Kai had too many other pressing things he needed to focus on.

They'd been sitting in the SUV two hours when someone leaving the building caught his eye.

"Is that him?' Kai asked.

Gage and Tori both straightened, and their gazes followed where he was pointing.

Sure enough, Howard was leaving. Two men flanked either side of him.

"What do you think?" Gage asked. "Should we approach him? Or follow him?"

"I doubt he'll talk." Kai tapped the side of the door with his finger as he thought it through.

"We may not have another opportunity," Tori reminded them. "He may be unreachable once he gets to his house."

Kai couldn't argue with that.

"Okay," Kai murmured. "Let's go see what he says when we catch him by surprise."