Page 89 of Can You Take It?

“Once we get him in custody, we’ll squeeze every damn detail out of him. He won’t know what hit him,” Colton declares.

What the hell are they even talking about? Who cares? As long as their engrossed conversation gives me a way out. I carefully inch my way toward the door, keeping low and using every bit of furniture as cover. I just need to make it out of Liam’s living room without them noticing.

I take another step, and the floorboards creak beneath my weight. My heart skips a beat, and I freeze. I hold my breath, praying they won’t notice, but my attempt at a stealthy escape doesn’t go unnoticed.

“Hold on. Did you hear that?” Colton asks suspiciously.

Emily narrows her eyes, scanning the room. “Maybe it was nothing. Let’s keep moving.”

I continue inching forward, but my nerves are on high alert. I’m so close to the door, just a few more steps and I’ll be out of here. I can feel their eyes sweeping the room. I move slowly, carefully, avoiding any more noisy floorboards. I reach out, my fingers brushing the doorknob, and—

A hand clamps down on my shoulder, hard. Colton and Emily have me cornered. I can feel the cold, hard metal of their guns pressing against my back.

“Turn around,” Emily commands.

Fuck. I’m caught. There’s no way out now. I slowly turn to face them.

Colton and Emily’s expressions shift from high alert to outright surprise as they spot me near the exit. Their guns, once trained on an unseen threat, now hesitate mid-air as they process the unexpected sight.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Colton demands.

I let out an exasperated sigh, rolling my eyes. “I came here to see Liam. Thought I’d surprise him.”

Emily’s eyes narrow as she glances at the lock I clearly picked to get in. “Surprising someone involves breaking and entering?”

“Yeah, because knocking politely wasn’t an option,” I shoot back, crossing my arms. “What’s it to you anyway?”

Colton steps closer. “We’re looking for Liam. He’s got some serious shit to answer for, and now you’re part of the equation.”

“Great,” I snort, “because my life wasn’t already a fucking mess.”

Emily’s grip on her gun tightens. “Don’t play games with us, Izel. We know you’re involved with him.”

Again... What are they hinting at?

I raise an eyebrow. “Involved? That’s a pretty loaded word. Liam and I have... had... a complicated friendship.”

“Complicated? That’s one way to put it. How about you explain what the hell you’re really doing here?”

I laugh bitterly. “What’s there to explain? I came to find Liam, just like you. Only difference is, I wasn’t planning on shooting anyone.”

Colton and Emily exchange a glance that I can’t decipher. There’s something in their eyes, a secret communication. Colton nods slightly, and Emily’s expression hardens.

“You’re under arrest,” she says, grabbing my wrist and snapping the cold metal around it.

“You can’t be serious,” I hiss as she starts dragging me towards the door. “For what? Breaking and entering? Give me a break.”

“You’re a suspect in a much larger investigation, Izel,” Emily retorts, not missing a beat. “You’re coming with us.”

I cast a last, desperate glance at the carpet where I left the USB drive behind. It is the ticking time bomb I’ve planted in their investigation.

“Let’s go,” Emily says, pulling me toward the door. Colton stays behind, probably to search the place. I can’t let them find that drive.

“Wait,” I say, buying myself time. “You don’t even know what you’re looking for. Liam’s not here.”

“We’ll find out soon enough,” Colton says, giving me a hard look. “You just worry about yourself.”

Emily pushes me out of the room and towards the car parked outside. She opens the back door of the car and practically shoves me inside.

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