Page 72 of Wyatt

She might be overreacting. She probably didn’t need to scoot down in the corner of the kitchen or better yet, sneak over to the pantry and close herself inside it.

“Ruby Jane?”

“I’m good. I’m just…um…” Oh, her voice wavered. And now she sighed. “I miss you.”

She winced. Really? She had to go there? They’d exchanged a few emails, all business, and frankly, maybe she should stop dreaming of something romantic blossoming between them—

“I miss you too.”

He did?

“You do?”

“Of course. You’re not here to annoy me or get me into more trouble. It’s downright boring.”

She grinned, unable to account for the crazy tears that edged her eyes. “You got yourself into trouble, double-o-seven.”

He laughed too, and the rumble of it slid under her skin, simmered there. “Where are you?”

“Still in Montana. Specifically, I’m sitting in the darkened pantry, but it’s not usually where I spend the night.”

“Right. Me either. I prefer a grimy alleyway myself.”

“Now you’re just bragging.”

“I wish. But really…are you okay?”

She closed her eyes, leaning her phone against her shoulder. “I am. I can’t wait for Wyatt to get here with Coco’s information. It’s time I come out of hiding.”

“About that—he’s still here.”

Oh. “I thought he was traveling with his team.”

“Things got a little complicated. He’ll fill you in, but I’ll try and get him on a flight out of town tomorrow. Um…I don’t like you being in Montana. I think…well, the short of it is that Gustov attacked Wyatt in his hotel room—”

“What—?”

“And he got the jump drive.”

“Oh no—”

“But Kat was able to restore the information. So he has a duplicate. But…we think that maybe Gustov hacked into my emails and…well, he knows where you are.”

He knows…“Is my family in danger?”

“I don’t know. You, for sure, but—”

“Tate wants me to go to Seattle and give the information to Senator Reba Jackson. She’s running for VP, but she has contacts that could clear my name.”

“I don’t hate that idea.”

Silence.

“I wish you were going to be there.” More silence, and a hand gripped her chest, started to squeeze. “York?”

“Yeah, uh. So…Ruby Jane. I…”

A pause and she closed her eyes. Please, don’t—

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