Chapter 23

chapter

twenty-three

Gage leaned closer to Nia. “It’s me. Don’t make a sound. Understand?”

Some of the tension seemed to leave Nia, but she remained stiff.

“Understand?” Gage repeated.

She nodded.

“There are two guys in the garage coming for you,” he whispered. “We don’t have time to run. We need to hide.”

Nia nodded again, though the action was rigid.

Releasing her slowly, Gage then took her hand. “Stay low.”

He began pulling her toward a line of vehicles parked against the exterior wall of the building. He’d already scoped out the best escape plan.

He led her past several before stopping by a large black SUV, one that wasn’t too new or too old.

One that blended in .

But he didn’t open the door.

Instead, he motioned beneath it. “We’re going under.”

Nia’s eyes widened.

A shout in the distance propelled her into action.

She scrambled beneath it. Gage followed behind.

Just as Gage pulled his leg out of sight, footsteps sounded on the pavement nearby.

Gage kept his head pressed to the gritty pavement. He ignored the scent of tar and motor oil. Ignored the tight space. Ignored the fact Nia stared at him, silently asking him questions.

The footsteps padded closer.

Stopped.

Gage spotted black, combat-style boots and tensed.

This guy was definitely one of the gunmen.

No doubt he was looking for them.

The man would probably assume Gage and Nia had gotten inside a car, and that would be the first place he looked.

Hopefully.

Nia drew in a shaky breath beside him, remaining perfectly still.

Her fear was real.

Nia didn’t strike him as a cold-blooded killer. The thought hit him again.

Her fear right now reinforced it.

But that didn’t mean she hadn’t taken Rob’s life. Maybe someone had manipulated her into doing it. Maybe it had been out of self-defense. Maybe an accident.

Gage didn’t know.

But he’d find out.

The man began walking again.

Paced closer.

Paused in front of the SUV.

Gage’s heart pounded harder.

Then he reached for the gun at his waist, ready to use it if he had to.

Nia could hardly breathe.

That guy was going to find them and shoot them.

It was only a matter of time before he leaned down and spotted them beneath the SUV.

Her pulse thrummed harder and harder until she felt certain everyone around her could hear it.

Gage seemed like a smart man. But how would he get them out of this situation?

He had seemed so trustworthy.

But she’d seen his tattoo.

She knew he was lying to her.

How could she possibly trust him?

She couldn’t.

Besides, what kind of computer repair tech carried a gun? And looked like he knew how to use it? Not just like he knew how to use it but like he was comfortable using it ?

Nia’s emotions and logic played tug of war inside her.

“I don’t know where she went,” the gunman muttered—maybe he was on his phone. “But I’ll find her and take care of her. She couldn’t have gotten very far . . .”

A chill raced up her spine. That man was talking about her. About taking care of her .

This wasn’t about Gage or anyone else.

A lump formed in her throat.

Seconds ticked by in slow motion.

Finally, the man paced away.

Nia wanted to feel relieved, but she couldn’t. It was too soon.

Her earlier theory that Gage was trying to earn her trust because he had an ulterior motive filled her mind.

If that was the case, why would he crawl under this vehicle with her?

Nothing made sense right now. Nothing at all.

She wanted to press her eyes closed. To disappear. To pretend this wasn’t happening.

But she couldn’t do that.

The guy paced back toward them—pausing again near the SUV. As she glanced to the side, she saw his dirty black boots. The tightly tied laces. The mud on the edges of the soles.

What was he doing? Was he peering inside?

Maybe.

Her throat tightened.

All he had to do was to lean down and . . .

Somewhere in the distance, a car door opened .

Sirens wailed.

Outside the garage.

Would that cause this guy to act faster? Or would it cause him to run?

That was the question.