Page 50 of Shadow Operative

Gage’s heart thumped harder.

It was him. The gunman who’d been chasing them earlier. Still wearing black slacks and a white T-shirt. A Miami Dolphins ballcap covered his head, concealing much of his face.

Gage could see the bulge at the back of his shirt—a gun.

This guy had figured out where Nia had gone.

Now it was only a matter of time before he made his next move.

Gage glanced at the time.

Six p.m. It was dark now, and darkness always seemed to side with the enemy. It made it easier to hide, to conceal things, to keep secrets.

A lot had happened since Gage had gotten to Miami. A lot had happened since he’d had coffee with Nia this morning, for that matter.

Did she plan on staying at work all night?

As if on cue, the light in Nia’s office went dark.

She was about to leave.

Gage had seen her car in the parking garage. If he had to guess, that was where she’d go.

The gunman seemed to know that too and headed that direction.

Quickly, Gage fell into step behind him. He didn’t want to make his presence known.

But he needed to stop this guy before he hurt Nia.

The gunman exchanged a look with someone across the street.

Gage saw the man and sucked in a breath. These two were working together.

Were they targeting Nia?

It was too early to say.

How many of these guys were there?

More tension stretched between Gage’s shoulders.

He had to figure out what they were planning before someone else was hurt.

Nia made it to the skybridge between her office building and the parking garage without noticing anyone suspicious.

However, as soon as she stepped into the garage, something in the air changed.

Danger, invisible to her, followed her every step. She didn’t see anyone specific. But she could sense peril closing in.

Leaving by herself had been a bad idea. She should have called security to escort her. But she’d feared they’d ask questions. Report her suspicious behavior to police.

What had she been thinking?

Of course, right now, everything seemed like a bad idea. Being on her own. Being with Gage. Being at her apartment. Being anywhere.

She’d run out of options.

She felt so exposed here.

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