Page 63 of Emi's Hero

“White polo shirt, blue sports jacket?” Hawk asked.

“Yes,” Emi said. “Headed your way.”

The man didn’t stop until he reached the VIP tables. To George’s surprise, Fallon dropped into the empty seat between Hollingsworth and Mr. Parkman. Hawk sat across the large table from their target.

Hawk lifted his napkin to cover his mouth. “He’s making this too easy. Kalea let her father know it’s our guy. He’ll drop the tracker into the pocket of the man’s sports jacket. Be ready to follow him when he leaves.”

Emi sat on the edge of her seat through the last acts on the stage, her focus on Fallon, no one else.

“Hollingsworth just introduced your guy as Vincent Warren,” Hawk’s whisper sounded in the radio headset. “And get this...he’s Hollingsworth’s son-in-law. His daughter is Tasha Hollingsworth. She kept her maiden name.”

George’s gut churned. The man was married and had kidnapped another woman to use whenever he wanted. He deserved a slow and painful death.

“I bet Tasha knows nothing about his compound or the people he holds hostage there,” Emi said.

As the luau and the shows ended, people stood, preparing to leave.

Mr. Parkman leaned around Warren to shake hands with Hollingsworth. Hollingsworth and Warren walked away together.

Mr. Parkman said something to Kalea and Hawk.

“Our target has been tagged. Rex and Dev, follow him all the way to his vehicle.”

“George here. Since I have one of the handheld trackers, Emi and I are headed to the parking lot.”

“Good,” Hawk said. “Knowing Hollingsworth, he and Warren might have valet service. You’ll need to get out of the parking lot before everybody and his brother if we want to keep up with Warren.”

“Please,” Emi said, “don’t let him out of your sight until he gets into the car.”

“This is Rex; I’m five feet away from him. I’ll keep him close.”

“Dev here. I’m on his other side.”

“Let’s go,” George said. “I’d like to get out of here before Warren does.”

Emi fell in step with George, skipping to keep up with his longer stride.

They caught up with Hollingsworth’s group. Warren walked beside his father-in-law, their heads close together. Hollingsworth was frowning and appeared to be speaking heatedly to Warren.

As George and Emi passed them, a gust of wind whipped the ball cap off Emi’s head. The movement must have caught Warren’s attention.

Emi’s nemesis looked up, his gaze locked on Emi, and his eyes widened briefly. He said something to Hollingsworth and headed toward Emi.

“Fuck.” George shoved Emi around to the other side of him. “Just keep going.”

“What’s happening?” Hawk said.

“Warren spotted Emi,” George hooked his arm around Emi and half-carried her toward the exit, dodging slower-moving people in the way.

“Get her out of here,” Hawk said. “We’ll run interference.”

George had to trust that Hawk could waylay Warren long enough for him to get Emi into a car and out of the parking lot.He didn’t look back until he had Emi in the rented car, and they pulled into the line of traffic moving at a snail’s pace out of the event’s location.

When he glanced in the rearview mirror, he saw a man running along the line of cars, peering into each along the way.

“Get down on the floorboard,” George said.

Emi glanced out the back window and gasped. “It’s him. He’s coming.”

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