Chapter 22

chapter

twenty-two

Gage arrived back in downtown Miami, parked, and found Austin still standing on the sidewalk overlooking Nia’s workplace.

“No movements since you left,” his friend informed him.

“Good to know,” Gage murmured. “Thanks for coming and doing this for me.”

“Of course. What else can I do?” Austin shifted, ready to help out however he could. He’d proven himself to be a good friend.

“I need you to trace the whereabouts of this woman.” Gage pulled out his phone and found a picture of Brittany. “I’ll send you her information, including her address. But watch her socials. She seems like the type to post too much.”

“I’ve met that type before.”

“Haven’t we all? Anyway, keep an eye on her. See where she goes. Who she talks to. ”

The woman had a reason for lying, and Gage wanted to figure out what that was.

“I can do that.” Austin nodded slowly.

“I also want to talk to Rob’s assistant, a guy named Cormac Westerly. I need you to track down his address and see if he’s in town or not.”

“Will do.” Austin glanced up at Gage and narrowed his gaze. “What will you be doing?”

He nodded at Nia’s office. “I’m going to keep an eye on her. She’s my number one suspect.”

Austin followed his gaze to the third floor and let out an approving whistle. “If you need to keep an eye on someone, she’s the one you want to watch.”

Gage narrowed his eyes. “It’s not like that.”

“This is purely business?” Austin raised his eyebrows.

“Purely business,” Gage echoed.

Austin didn’t look as if he believed him, but he nodded anyway. “Got it.”

A moment later, his colleague climbed into the Porsche and pulled away.

Gage glanced up at Nia’s office again. Though he couldn’t see her right now, he remembered watching her at her desk earlier.

She was beautiful.

But potentially deadly also. He needed to keep his distance from the woman while also keeping her in his sights. He had no other choice.

Gage stood against the building, trying to appear as if he were simply playing on his phone. But his gaze continually flickered to Nia’ s office.

She still wasn’t back.

Then he scanned the street.

Ten minutes after he sent Austin away, someone across the street caught his eye.

Gage’s heart thumped harder.

It was him. The gunman who’d been chasing them earlier. Still wearing black slacks and a white T-shirt. A Miami Dolphins ballcap covered his head, concealing much of his face.

Gage could see the bulge at the back of his shirt—a gun.

This guy had figured out where Nia had gone.

Now it was only a matter of time before he made his next move.

Gage glanced at the time.

Six p.m. It was dark now, and darkness always seemed to side with the enemy. It made it easier to hide, to conceal things, to keep secrets.

A lot had happened since Gage had gotten to Miami. A lot had happened since he’d had coffee with Nia this morning, for that matter.

Did she plan on staying at work all night?

As if on cue, the light in Nia’s office went dark.

She was about to leave.

Gage had seen her car in the parking garage. If he had to guess, that was where she’d go.

The gunman seemed to know that too and headed that direction.

Quickly, Gage fell into step behind him. He didn’t want to make his presence known .

But he needed to stop this guy before he hurt Nia.

The gunman exchanged a look with someone across the street.

Gage saw the man and sucked in a breath. These two were working together.

Were they targeting Nia?

It was too early to say.

How many of these guys were there?

More tension stretched between Gage’s shoulders.

He had to figure out what they were planning before someone else was hurt.

Nia made it to the skybridge between her office building and the parking garage without noticing anyone suspicious.

However, as soon as she stepped into the garage, something in the air changed.

Danger, invisible to her, followed her every step. She didn’t see anyone specific. But she could sense peril closing in.

Leaving by herself had been a bad idea. She should have called security to escort her. But she’d feared they’d ask questions. Report her suspicious behavior to police.

What had she been thinking?

Of course, right now, everything seemed like a bad idea. Being on her own. Being with Gage. Being at her apartment. Being anywhere .

She’d run out of options.

She felt so exposed here.

Maybe she should turn around and go back to her office.

That was what she’d do.

She would go back, she decided. She’d barricade herself inside until she figured something else out.

She took a step back when a footstep echoed in the distance.

Her throat tightened until she felt as if she couldn’t breathe.

She wasn’t alone.

She took another step back, nearly falling. She caught herself.

A step sounded behind her also. So quiet it was almost ghostlike. But it was definitely there.

She couldn’t go back into the office. She needed another plan.

She glanced around the parking garage, still seeing no signs of movement.

Maybe if she could make it to her car fast enough . . .

It was her only option.

She had to move. Otherwise, the guy behind her would reveal himself.

Wasting no more time, she darted to the right.

She sprinted past various cars in the dim space, suddenly wishing she hadn’t parked on the far side of the garage.

As she passed a concrete pillar, someone stepped out .

A hand pressed over her mouth. An arm reached around her midsection, locking her limbs in place.

This was it, wasn’t it?

She would die without any answers.

And Nia would have no one to blame but herself.