Page 10 of Silent Sins

Her captor leaned in the back seat. “Scoot over.“ He motioned for her to move, and slid in next to her.

She eyed her handgun, but she had to admit, his reflexes were way better than hers. Struggling for it in the confined space could only result in disaster.

He grunted softly, clearly reading her mind. Eyes locked on hers, he handed the weapon over the seat. “Put this in the glove box,” he ordered.

Once Paul had her Glock secured, Mason fished the keys from his pocket and handed them up, too. “Keep to the side streets. We’ll figure out the rest later.”

Avery glared at him. “You don’t want to do this,” she repeated.

He laughed mirthlessly. “Can’t disagree there, ma’am. Desperate times … you know how that goes.”

She should be terrified with these unknown men. But oddly, she wasn’t.

Angry. Check.

Frustrated. Absolutely.

And intrigued. Seriously intrigued.

Paul fired up the engine. His eyes were wide in the rearview mirror. “You sure you want to––?”

“Drive,” Mason ordered. “Go.”

As the car lurched forward, snapping her head back, she made a new plan. Watch, wait, and listen. Gather every sliver of info she could, and then, when she saw her chance, she’d run.

7

One eye on his captive,Mason craned his head, trying to make out any landmarks in the dark. The mist was clearing at least, leaving the Seattle streets slick and shining with fresh rain. The hilly city was ablaze with lights, reflecting off damp pavement as Paul nosed the rental car onto the street.

Mason focused on the woman crammed into the seat beside him, acutely aware of her floral perfume mingling with the scent of rain in the enclosed space. She radiated fury, arms crossed tightly, full lips pressed into a hard line. But she couldn’t hide her quickened breathing or the way her pulse fluttered at the base of her lovely throat.

He kept his knife at the ready, hyper aware of her proximity. She was all coiled energy and defiance, ready to erupt into action at the slightest opportunity.

“Circle around the neighborhoods. Stay on quiet streets,” he told Paul gruffly, eyes never leaving the agent’s stormy gaze.

Her eyes flashed, and he felt a ridiculous urge to smooth the little furrow between her brows. He had to keep his wits about him and ignore her distracting nearness. Getting information was his sole focus … no matter how aware of her he was.

It wouldn’t take long to get the information he needed from this agent, then they could drop her wherever she wanted.

“You are in so much trouble,” she warned, eyes flashing.

“Probably,” he agreed mildly. Grabbing her was a desperate move, but he couldn’t think of any other way to make her talk quickly. Subtle interrogation wasn’t his specialty. He left the talking to Bridger and Fenn. Usually, he just threatened people or knocked a few heads together.

He met her defiant gaze with a steady stare of his own. Hopefully they could handle this without violence. But one way or another, he was getting answers.

The woman shifted farther away from him, until she was crammed up against the door. “My backup’s going to start getting antsy.”

“Nice try.” He made a sympathetic face. “I know you’re flying solo.”

“Am not,” she insisted. “My partner probably already called for backup.”

“Doubtful. I swept the area before entering the restaurant. There was no one around. No fake utility vans. No other agents loitering nearby.”

Her lips thinned. “Doesn’t mean they aren’t on the way. You really think I’d go into a situation like that alone?”

“Yup.” He gave her an earnest look. “Whatever case you’re working, it seems off the books. Unofficial.”

“You don’t know anything about it.”

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