Page 70 of End Game

She didn’t look convinced. and, frankly, neither was he, but it was the only lead they had at the moment.

“Why Vicky?”

“That’s what I need to find out.”

“You?”

“Tracking down bad guys is what I do.”

“Who’s your backup?”

“I’m going to feel out Grimball first, before I get the task force involved.”

“No, sir, you’re not. That’s why there’s a task force. Safety in numbers. Many minds avert disaster, and all that.”

He fished his phone out of his pocket to check the time. “I have to go.”

“To talk to the ex-con?”

“Come on. I’ll walk with you to Wade.”

She stood. A resolute expression on her beautiful face. “I’m going with you.”

“The hell you are.”

“I’m not letting you go alone.” She started toward Wade. “And besides, I want to hear what this guy has to say.”

He set his jaw and followed, regretting the bone he’d thrown her after his harsh treatment. “And I’m not allowing you to accompany me while I talk to Seb Grimball.”

“I’ll have Mason follow you.”

The bodyguard glanced between them, tension radiating through the veteran. “Need me to grab the car, Ms. Krowne?”

Kayla looked up at Ash, raised a brow. His gaze flicked between her and Wade. The last thing he needed was an emotionally-compromised civilian sitting in on his interview with Grimball.

But he had no doubt that she’d follow up on her threat to have Wade track his vehicle. Then he’d have an Army Ranger of unknown background and temperament in the mix.

“Fine,” Ash growled. “But the bodyguard stays.”

Wade shifted closer to Kayla. She put a hand on his bicep as if to forestall violence. “Agreed.”

The Ranger’s hard gaze swiveled toward his employer. “I go where you go.”

“Not this time.” She nodded toward Ash. “I’ll be perfectly safe.”

A muscle worked in the Ranger’s jaw before he stepped back. He locked eyes with Ash. “If anything happens to her, I’m coming for you, Feeb.”

32

After passing a fourth barely standing matchbox-sized house on the narrow gravel mountain road, Kayla started reassessing her decision to join Ash while he interviewed the ex-con.

The vehicle’s GPS announced, “In one thousand feet, your destination will be on the left.”

Relief that they’d finally made it without any no-trespassing bullets zinging their way dissipated the moment she saw the large black and red BEWARE DOG sign at the foot of Grimball’s driveway.

Before parting ways with Mason, she’d grabbed her workout bag from the trunk of her vehicle. Even though she had an in-house gym, she kept a membership at her local YMCA. They had a larger variety of equipment and an enormous swimming pool. The Y was also a great meeting place for the community and a practical, yet strategic, way of monitoring the needs of everyone, not just her wealthy peers.

Now she wore running shoes, though she preferred not to have to test them against an angry dog.

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