Chapter 42

CHAPTER

FORTY-TWO

Kai watched as Gage parked behind the motel. Anyone who saw the SUV with its busted windows and bullet holes would become suspicious, and they couldn't risk that.

Nor would they be able to safely drive the vehicle tomorrow without raising attention.

They would need to figure out a new plan.

But first, they needed to treat Stephen's wound. Even though the bullet had managed to avoid anything major, the wound still needed to be cleaned and treated before infection could set in.

Kai's best guess was that someone had tracked Stephen to their meeting tonight and then ambushed them. Based on the expression on Stephen's face, he'd had no idea the attack would take place. Plus, the fact he'd been shot made it seem unlikely he was a part of what had unfolded.

Kai hoped their theory was right and any type of tracking device that might have been inside Stephen had been destroyed by the bullet.

They all climbed out, and Kai and Gage glanced around to make sure no one was nearby watching.

Everything appeared clear.

They followed Kai up the stairs to their room on the second floor.

Seconds before he used his keycard to unlock the door, the hair on the back of his neck rose.

What had caused that reaction?

He paused and glanced around, looking for a sign that anyone was nearby or anything was out of place.

He saw nothing.

The door was shut. The room was dark. Everything appeared as they'd left it.

But still, something seemed off.

"Kai?" Gage narrowed his eyes. "What's going on?"

"Just a gut feeling," he muttered.

Had someone been in this room while they were gone?

Kai didn't like the thought of that.

No one should have been able to follow them here. So who? And how?

Maybe he was overreacting. But he'd learned to trust his instincts.

His thoughts raced.

"Stay back," Kai told Tori and Stephen. "Gage, be ready to get them out of here if needed."

Then he drew his gun.

He opened the motel room door and quietly stepped inside.

When he hit the lights, he confirmed his instincts were right.

A man sat in a corner chair by the desk, facing him.

Waiting with no fear.

Waiting to make a statement.

Tori froze, wondering what Kai saw that caused him to tense so quickly.

Then she heard him mutter, "Larchmont?"

Her heart beat harder. Larchmont? Why had he come?

And he was in their motel room right now.

Gage pushed past her and peered inside before shaking his head. "What . . . ?"

"Come on inside." Kai motioned to her and Stephen with the sweep of his hand. "It's safe . . . relatively speaking, at least."

They flooded inside, Stephen still holding the towel over his shoulder. The bleeding appeared to have stopped, but he still needed medical help. Tori worried about the amount of blood he'd lost.

Kai locked the door behind them—after first glancing around one more time to make sure they hadn't been followed.

Tori stood near the door, watching as the three men walked closer to Larchmont, who sat at the corner table, looking as if he belonged there. The man was tall with a shock of white hair and distinguished features. His skin was tan, and he was probably in his late sixties, if she had to guess.

An air of authority surrounded him as he nodded at everyone before looking at her. "Hello, Tori."

Her lungs froze. "How do you know my name?"

"I know a lot of things."

Her gaze went to Kai and Gage, whose expressions were stony.

Then she glanced at Stephen. He showed no sign of recognition.

"How did you find us?" Kai demanded, a defensive edge to his voice and his hands firmly grounded on his hips.

"I was able to track you down after you called your colleagues to warn them about their implants."

"Our phones are encrypted," Gage said.

"I have my ways." Larchmont shrugged as if it weren't a big deal. "Everything has a backup plan. Everything ."

Tori's mind still reeled as she stepped farther into the room.

Was it a good thing that Larchmont was here?

Or had he come to finish everyone off? She wasn't sure if she could trust him or not.

It appeared she was about to find out.

But while Kai and Gage asked him questions, she needed to continue to treat Stephen. There was no time to waste.