Page 60 of Shadow Operative

She sensed he was telling the truth back in the Glades. His story . . . it was wild. She tried to imagine his past and how that had shaped him into the person he was today. She couldn’t begin to understand it.

Did he believe what Nia had told him? She wasn’t sure. But it had felt good to get it off her chest.

The elevator dinged, and they stepped inside.

No one else was with them.

Another good thing.

But she knew they were far from being out of trouble.

There was still so much they needed to figure out.

And at the top of her list? Uncovering what had happened to her memories.

She kept hoping something would resurface and give her a clue about last night.

But so far, her thoughts were blank. She still had no idea what had happened or why she’d forgotten.

Being drugged made the most sense. It just seemed strange that once the drugs had worn off, she still couldn’t remember.

It was unnerving, really.

But maybe—just maybe—she really could trust Gage. It would be nice to have someone on her side. To not go through this investigation alone.

The elevator stopped, the doors opened, and they padded down the expensive carpet toward their suite.

Gage unlocked the door and pushed it open.

But as soon as Nia stepped inside, she saw a man standing there.

A broad man with a hulking build and sharp eyes.

Eyes that stared at them without even a hint of fear.

She took a step back, her lungs tightening so quickly she could barely breathe.

Was this the man who’d chased her? If so, how had he found her here?

chapter

twenty-seven

Gage sawNia’s reaction and placed a hand on her arm. “It’s okay. It’s just my colleague.”

Her shoulders fell as she let out a breath. “I thought . . .”

He squeezed her bicep. “I know. I’m sorry. I should have mentioned he was here.”

Austin stepped toward them just then, his arm outstretched. “Austin Greenwich. Sorry to scare you.”

Nia studied him a moment, took in his short beard, his broad shoulders, his brooding gaze. Then she extended her arm and shook his hand. “Nia Anderson.”

Gage double-checked the locks on the door before turning back to his colleague. “Have you been back long?”

“Ten minutes. Everything okay with you guys?” Austin glanced back and forth between them.

Gage stole another glance at Nia, remembering theirearlier conversation, before nodding. “We had a rough go of it for a while, but we’re back here now, and we’re fine. Why don’t we all sit down?”

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