Page 66 of Kilo's Edge

“Your other friends?” he asked.

“Hopefully,” I told him with a weak smile. I wiped my hands on my jeans. “I’ll get it.”

“No,” he replied. “You wait here. I’ll answer it.”

Going back to the sink, I started to wash my hands again. When screams echoed through the house, I shut the water off and ran into the living room. Skidding to a stop, I stared, confused at the man inside the house. I didn’t recognize him. Didn’t know him. But Roger was lying in a heap on the floor next to him, a gash on his head from where he’d been hit with a gun.

The man was pointing the handgun at us.

Prissy crossed the room, standing in front of me. “Get out of my house now.”

“Sure thing, just as soon as she comes with me.” He waved the gun, clearly pointing at me.

“Who are you?” I asked.

He seemed to consider my question for a moment. “I’m with the FBI,” he told us. “Kruzman has found you and we need to get you somewhere safe.”

“Why do you have a gun?” I challenged him. “Why did you hurt Roger?” I was so worried about how still Roger was lying on the floor, but I knew if I made a move toward him I’d put us all in danger.

“I thought your friend here was going to attack me,” he lied. “I thought he was holding you hostage.”

Glancing over, I saw Mama look my way and shake her head. Fear was written all over her face. I knew it was for me. She didn’t want me to go with him. “Why didn’t Brian come get us?” I asked, keeping my voice calm, trying to buy us time.

“Brian’s too busy. He called and asked me to pick you up. He’ll be meeting up with us later.”

I scoffed to myself. This man was so arrogant, he hadn’t even bothered to read much of the information he’d hacked into. If he had, he’d at least know the names of the Marshals protecting us. Looking around the room, I tried to figure out what to do. I didn’t want to go with him, but if I pulled my gun out right now, someone was going to get hurt. Plus, he might not be alone. Better to draw them away where Prissy, Mama and Carmen would be safe. And then they could help Roger. He might need a hospital and the longer I stood here, the longer it would take until he’d get to one. “Okay,” I told him.

“Camila,” Carmen gasped.

“I’ll go with you,” I told him, giving her a pointed look. She needed to stay here. They needed to help Roger. And hopefully with me gone, no one would bother them. Once the Viking’s Rampage got here, they’d be safe. That was all that mattered right now.

Prissy gripped my arm. Even though she didn’t know Dustin or Jeremy’s names, she knew this wasn’t right.

“It’s okay,” I told her. “I’ll be okay.”

“We’ll send them after you,” she whispered.

They wouldn’t know where to go. “No. They need to protect you all. Just in case. If Kruzman gets to them…” We both looked over at Mama and Carmen. “Please. Keep them safe.”

Prissy looked torn, but she finally nodded.

I stepped around her and walked over to the agent. Bending, I felt for Roger’s pulse and let out a sigh of relief when it thrummed steady and strong against my fingers. “You didn’t need to hurt him.”

“Let’s go,” he said, voice cold. His blue eyes were dead inside. I wasn’t dealing with a man I could appeal to. He’d ignore anything I said because I doubted there was anything he cared about. Except maybe money. I just knew, without having to be told, that was what this was about.

We walked out of the house and I got into the car parked out front. I didn’t bother to plead. To warn him that he was going to regret this decision. He’d find out soon enough. I needed to bide my time.

He pulled away from the curb almost as soon as he got into the car. He wasn’t wasting any time.

“Are Dustin and Jeremy okay?”

“Who’s that?” He kept his eyes on the road.

“The real U.S. Marshals.”

Now he looked my way. “You knew I was full of shit?” I nodded. “And you came anyway?”

Shrugging, I watched his expression. I couldn’t read much. A man like this wouldn’t understand loyalty or caring about someone else other than himself. That was why he didn’t understand why I’d come with him.

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