Chapter 46

chapter

forty-six

Gage felt the bullet whiz by his ear and jumped out of the way.

Thankfully, the red-headed man holding the gun in the doorway was a bad shot.

But even bad shots got lucky sometimes.

Cormac raised his gun again, ready to fire. A wild look captured his gaze.

“Wait!” Gage shouted. “I’m not here to hurt you.”

The handgun trembled in Cormac’s hands, and sweat poured down his face as he stared at Gage. His jerky motions made it clear he could change his mind at any time and pull the trigger.

“How did you find me?” Cormac demanded.

“It’s not important. I just want to talk.”

Cormac extended the gun farther, the weapon still trembling uncontrollably in his hands. “I know who you are. You want to kill me. Just like you killed Rob.”

Gage raised his free hand, not daring to take his other hand off his gun. “I’m telling you, I’m not here to hurt you. I want answers.”

Cormac stared at him, clearly uncertain.

How would Gage convince him to talk?

The guy was on edge.

If he pulled that trigger again . . .

“Cormac, we just want to talk,” a gentle voice said behind them.

Nia. Gage’s jaw hardened. She hadn’t stayed in the car like he’d asked.

Now she might get hurt too . . .

Cormac’s gaze drifted to her, and his features seemed to soften. “Nia?”

“We’ve been trying to find you.” She moved closer, her hands in the air to prove she wasn’t a threat. “Someone’s trying to kill me. They’re coming after you too, aren’t they?”

Cormac lowered his gun slightly. “Did anyone follow you here?”

“They didn’t,” Gage said. “I checked the entire drive.”

“I didn’t do anything.” Cormac shook his head with such small motions that his skin almost seemed to vibrate. “I’m afraid nobody’s going to believe me. I know the police are looking for me. I saw it on the news. My face is plastered everywhere, but it wasn’t me. I didn’t kill Rob or shoot that guy in the club. I promise!”

“Can we come in?” Nia nodded to the door. “You can tell us your story. Maybe we can help. ”

Gage stared at Cormac, curious how the man would react.

After a moment of thought, Cormac lowered his gun. “I guess it would be all right. Come in.”

Gage and Nia rushed through the door and into the house before the man could change his mind.

Nia sat on the edge of the couch, anxious to hear what Cormac had to say. Based on his jerky motions, tempestuous gaze, and shallow breathing, he was frightened. Really frightened.

“The police think I shot that man at the club.” Cormac paced, but at least he’d put his gun down.

But Nia knew Gage still didn’t trust him. Probably rightfully so. She wasn’t 100 percent sure she trusted Cormac either.

“You were at the club that night.” Gage leveled his gaze with Cormac. “We saw you.”

“I got a text saying I should go there and meet someone. I’ve been getting these texts, and the sender is threatening to go to the police and tell them I killed Rob.” Sweat beaded on Cormac’s forehead.

Nia’s heart beat harder. “What?”

“I even got a text the night Rob died, saying I needed to go to his apartment. I knocked, but he didn’t answer. I used the code he’d given me to open the door. But when I walked in . . .” His voice cracked, and he rubbed his throat. Then he dragged his gaze up to meet Nia’s. “I saw you.”

“I didn’t do anything,” she assured him. “I promise you I didn’t.”

“I didn’t think you would. Besides, I knew you couldn’t text me. You were unconscious on the floor. I knew something was up. So as soon as I saw the scene, I ran. I didn’t know what else to do.”

“So you went to Avenue 12 last night, but you didn’t find the person who told you to meet them there, correct?” Gage directed the conversation back to the original purpose.

“That’s right. Then I started to leave, but I heard the gunfire. I ran, just like everyone else. I was afraid I’d get shot. Then I heard the police thought I was guilty. I knew I couldn’t stick around town.”

Nia leaned forward, her elbows resting on her legs. “Whoever is threatening you is also threatening me. I think both of us are being set up and used as pawns.”

Cormac froze from his pacing. “What? Really?”

She nodded. “We have to figure out who’s behind this, and I’m hoping that you might have some answers for us.”

“That’s all I have been thinking about. How I want answers.”

“Have you thought of anything?” Gage asked.

He ran a hand over his face. “No, entire sections of my memory seem to be wiped . . . It’s hard to explain.”

The blood drained from Nia’s face, and her pulse quickened. “I know exactly what you’re talking about.”