Page 93 of Shadow Undercover

“How long will that last?” Ben muttered.

“Not long enough.” Nico folded his arms across his chest. “Pedro had a boatload of money in various accounts. Hugo will want access to the funds and his father’s property. He’ll need the money to purchase weapons he’ll sell for a tidy profit. Any word on the missile purchase, Ben?”

The operative held up a hand as he grabbed his phone and looked at his screen. Ben grimaced. “Unfortunately, I just received confirmation that Hugo scrounged up a missile.” He glanced up, expression grim. “If we can’t find the chlorine in time, Wallace will have everything he needs to launch that missile with a deadly payload.”

Bridget frowned. “Why are you worried about Wallace? The federal agents have him under surveillance, right? They won’t allow him to finish the transaction.”

“That’s the kicker.” Ben’s hands clenched into fists. “Wallace slipped out of the Tennessee Valley compound sometime during the night. He’s in the wind.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Bridget stood and stretched, her back aching from hours of unrelenting work on the computer. She’d searched through multiple hits on Hugo’s name along with the aliases and learned zip.

Trace glanced up from his laptop, his gaze assessing. “Stiff?”

She nodded. “How long before we leave to buy clothes for tonight?”

He checked his watch and grimaced. “Less than 30 minutes.”

Sam turned from the balcony door where she was on watch with Joe. “If you leave now, you can eat lunch before you shop.” She leveled a pointed stare at Bridget.

Before she could argue against stopping for food, Trace rose. “She’s right. Whether you feel hungry or not, you can’t operate at peak efficiency without fueling your body.”

Bridget retrieved her pen and tube of lipstick and slid them into her pocket, then draped her purse diagonally across her body. Going shopping without a purse would look strange and part of her survival gear from Fortress was a large wad of local currency. “Any suggestions on what I should buy for tonight, Sam?”

“I’m no fashion plate, but you can’t go wrong with something in black.”

“Wearing black will help you blend into the shadows,” Joe added.

“I’ll see what I can find.”

“Make sure you can run in the shoes you purchase.”

Trace escorted her to the garage, his arm around her waist as he urged her toward the SUV.

Although he didn’t say anything, Trace’s attention focused on a man loitering in a darkened corner of the garage. Another man leaned against the wall near the exit to the street. After a hard stare at the second man, Trace appeared to dismiss both men as unimportant even though Bridget suspected he was aware of their location at all times.

Bridget drew in a careful breath. Based on their expressions and body language, neither of the men liked his dismissal. Their blatant interest made Bridget uneasy. Did Hugo know the truth? She and Trace could be walking into a trap tonight, one that might cost Ruth her life if Hugo connected Bridget to her sister. Who would free Ruth from the monster who had kidnapped her?

Fortress. She didn’t know much about the men and women who worked for Brent Maddox. What she did know, however, was that the CEO and his operatives wouldn’t forget about the innocent woman in Hugo’s clutches. Bridget had a feeling they would keep looking for her sister until they found her or discovered irrefutable proof she was dead.

That last thought shot an arrow through her heart. Making a mental note to call Zane later to find out if he’d discovered anything new on Ruth, Bridget moved faster toward the SUV, wanting away from the scrutiny of Hugo’s men.

Trace slowed her pace. Guess he wanted the men to believe they were unimportant. Easy to say. Hard to pull off the deception. At the moment, her skin crawled with the need to run.

When they reached the SUV and Trace tucked her inside, he slid his electronic gadget from his pocket and turned it on. He shut her door, circled the vehicle slowly, and climbed behind the wheel. After resetting the device, he waited for the chaser lights to turn green. “We’re clear,” he murmured. “You okay?”

“That was painful.” Man, her stomach was in knots. How would she eat and shop as though Hugo’s men weren’t following them around the city?

“You’re doing great.” Trace squeezed her hand, then drove from the garage. Four blocks away, he pulled into a restaurant parking lot. After watching the rearview mirror for a moment, he circled to Bridget’s door. “We have company.”

“Friends or enemies?”

He smiled. “Both.”

“Goody. Who’s watching our backs?”

“Nico and Jake.” Trace brushed his lips over Bridget’s. “Remember, we’re on a date. You don’t have a care in the world beyond flirting with your lover.”

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