Page 53 of Shadow Operative

It was only a matter of time before he leaned down and spotted them beneath the SUV.

Her pulse thrummed harder and harder until she felt certain everyone around her could hear it.

Gage seemed like a smart man. But how would he get them out of this situation?

He had seemed so trustworthy.

But she’d seen his tattoo.

She knew he was lying to her.

How could she possibly trust him?

She couldn’t.

Besides, what kind of computer repair tech carried a gun? And looked like he knew how to use it? Not just like heknewhow to use it but like he wascomfortableusing it?

Nia’s emotions and logic played tug of war inside her.

“I don’t know where she went,” the gunman muttered—maybe he was on his phone. “But I’ll find her and take care of her. She couldn’t have gotten very far . . .”

A chill raced up her spine. That man was talking about her. About taking care ofher.

This wasn’t about Gage or anyone else.

A lump formed in her throat.

Seconds ticked by in slow motion.

Finally, the man paced away.

Nia wanted to feel relieved, but she couldn’t. It was too soon.

Her earlier theory that Gage was trying to earn her trust because he had an ulterior motive filled her mind.

If that was the case, why would he crawl under this vehicle with her?

Nothing made sense right now. Nothing at all.

She wanted to press her eyes closed. To disappear. To pretend this wasn’t happening.

But she couldn’t do that.

The guy paced back toward them—pausing again near the SUV. As she glanced to the side, she saw his dirty black boots. The tightly tied laces. The mud on the edges of the soles.

What was he doing? Was he peering inside?

Maybe.

Her throat tightened.

All he had to do was to lean down and . . .

Somewhere in the distance, a car door opened.

Sirens wailed.

Outside the garage.

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