Page 81 of Shadow Operative

Austin ate another piece of his bacon. He’d ordered double meat and was taking his time with his meal. “I’ll keep searching the security videos until I find something. But in the meantime, if you need something from me, let me know and I’ll be there.”

It seemed weird, but Nia was so thankful she was able to team up with these two guys. There was no way she’d be able to find this information by herself, nor would she want to. She might be good with computers and business deals. But guns and tracking down bad guys?

Not at all.

Maybe if they combined all their skills, they could figure out what was going on here.

chapter

thirty-eight

Nia tooka shower and dressed in some clothes Gage had purchased in the gift shop downstairs. Then, using her new untraceable phone, she called into the office and told Melissa she’d be late if she came in at all today.

Melissa said that people were starting to talk. That they were wondering what was going on, and Graham seemed especially agitated about her absence.

That didn’t surprise Nia because Graham thought he owned the place.

“Remind him that it’s my company, and I’m the boss,” Nia said. “I’ll come in when I can.”

There were times when she simply liked doing business but not being the boss and managing people. It was why she’d hired Graham—so he could do that for her as the VP of Operations.

But sometimes he was the one who required the most managing of all.

After her phone call, she found Gage in the livingroom. Nia forced herself to ignore the way her heart sped at the sight of him.

“Are you ready?” He checked his phone before sliding it into his pocket.

She nodded and pushed a curl behind her ear. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

He nodded toward the door, and they stepped up to it. As per usual, Gage checked the hallway before indicating for her to follow him.

No one else was out and about right now, and that made Nia feel a little better—though she did wonder how long it would be before their hideout was discovered.

Whoever those men chasing her were, they were smart and resourceful. She knew it was probably just a matter of time.

Nia didn’t like the thought of that. At least the room was reserved under a different name and on someone else’s credit card.

Hector’s office was only a couple of blocks away, so it made more sense to walk than it did to drive.

With every step, Nia prayed Hector could provide some answers for them.

Gage watched as Nia talked to the receptionist at the law office.

Nia had a very convincing way about her, which he was certain helped her in the business world. She seemedlike a natural when it came to making deals and convincing people to see things her way.

Again, she impressed him, something Gage hadn’t been expecting.

No, what he’d been expecting was that she was a murderer.

But he didn’t think that. Not anymore.

Even their conversation last night hadn’t swayed him otherwise.

He just didn’t think Nia had it in her to take someone else’s life.

Still, he reminded himself to be cautious and keep his distance. He couldn’t let himself get close to people. It would only be a liability.

Several minutes after they arrived, they were ushered into a large, spacious corner office. A thin man with a shock of white hair, a narrow nose with wire-framed glasses, and a stuffy but expensive business suit sat behind the massive desk there.

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