Chapter 38

CHAPTER

THIRTY-EIGHT

Tori listened as Kai and Gage discussed what to do with her during tonight's meeting.

They talked as if she wasn't in the room. Apparently, leaving her in the hotel was risky. But so was taking her with them.

After they debated for several minutes, she stepped closer, tired of being quiet. "I want to go."

The two men stopped talking and stared at her.

"It could be dangerous," Kai said. "We don't know what we're getting ourselves into."

"I know," she told them. "I'm prepared to take that risk. I definitely don't want to stay here."

Finally, Gage nodded also. "Okay, but if we tell you to stay put, then you've got to promise to listen."

"I will."

"Since that's settled . . ." Kai rose. "We need to go."

Tori felt the tension in the air as they headed back to the SUV. Everything outside appeared normal. She'd halfway expected the police to have found them, to just be waiting to pounce.

But the cops hadn't located them. Not yet.

The ride to their meeting spot was quiet except for Kai and Gage occasionally discussing various tactics.

She glanced out the window. Darkness had fallen outside, and she shivered at the sight of it.

Would they walk away from this meeting? Even if they did, would they be the same afterward?

She had no idea what this guy's agenda was. To help them? Or to covertly destroy them?

Dear Lord . . . please be with us. Please!

Her palms were sweaty.

But all Tori could do for the rest of the ride was continue to pray.

Apprehension rippled through Kai as they headed toward the warehouse. Before they reached it, Gage's phone rang.

Larchmont's number popped on the screen.

"Should we answer?" Gage asked.

"Probably," Kai muttered with a frown.

Gage put their boss on speaker. Before he even said hello, Larchmont lit into them. "You two are wanted for murder? Do you even realize the repercussions of this?"

Gage cast Kai a look. "We're well aware."

"What were you thinking? This is not the case I assigned you to."

"Something popped up that we needed to look into," Kai said.

"You're supposed to be in DC." Anger zinged through his voice.

"Listen, we can't talk right now," Gage said.

"You'll talk when I say you talk?—"

"We'll call you later," Gage rushed.

Before Larchmont said anything else, Gage ended the call.

A moment of silence fell in the SUV.

Kai let out a sigh. "Larchmont was the last person I wanted to talk to."

"You and me both." Gage let out a half-snort at the words.

"You think he knows?"

Gage rubbed his jaw, his tone heavy as he said, "It wouldn't surprise me. But we can't worry about that now."

They pulled up to the warehouse where they were supposed to meet.

On one hand, this location was a good idea because most likely no one would catch them out here. But on the other hand, if anything were to happen to them, no one would find them for days.

Meeting this guy here was a gamble. But Kai hoped the risk would be worth the reward.

Gage pulled to a stop in the shadows. As he cut the engine, he glanced at Kai. "We're right on time. Do you think this guy is here?"

"We're about to find out." Kai glanced back at Tori. "You should stay here with the doors locked. We don't know what we are up against right now."

"I figured that much," she murmured with a resigned frown.

His gaze lingered on her another moment.

There were things he'd like to say. Things he knew would be a bad idea to express aloud.

How was it possible to begin to care about someone in such a short amount of time? It didn't make any sense. Nor was it wise.

That thought settled on him like a weight.

Kai pulled his gaze away from Tori and opened his door.

He waited until he heard the lock click behind him before walking away.

Then he and Gage headed toward a stretch of pavement behind the building. A lone streetlight shone above them.

Best he could tell, no one was here.

But if this guy was as smart as Kai thought he might be, there was a good chance he was here, standing just out of sight.

Kai stood poised to grab his gun if necessary. He didn't like being out here in the open. It was risky.

And possibly calculated.

He had to consider every possibility as to how this would turn out.

"What if this guy doesn't show?" Gage scanned their surroundings.

"I think he will." The man had seemed sincerely surprised by the revelations they'd shared with him and had seemed like he wanted to know more.

Kai hoped his gut instincts didn't fail him now.

Tension zinged in the air as he and Gage anticipated what might happen.

Then Kai heard a footfall.

Was it him? The man they were waiting for?

Kai held his breath as he waited to see who it was.