Page 41 of Hero's Heart

He stopped in front of a shop, making it look like he and Sloane were admiring what was in the window. But what he was really doing was looking for a reflection of anyone following them—not that the Kozaks’ men would be very subtle.

It looked like they had made it without being spotted. But Callum’s mind raced, searching for a new solution now that their embassy escape plan had imploded.

He needed to contact Bear and Theo, get an update, and let them know what was going on. He had money, but without some form of ID, things were going to get sticky quick. Especially trying to get out of the country. Callum himself didn’t have any contacts in the area, so it was time to rely on someone who relied on other means to get things accomplished.

Lincoln.

The younger guy was mostly a pain in Callum’s ass at home, but one thing was for sure: he could get black market shit done.

“We need to keep moving,” he said in a low voice, placing a hand on Sloane’s arm and guiding her back into the throng of people. “I have an idea, but we’ll need help.”

Sloane glanced at him, worry clear on her delicate features. “What kind of help?”

Callum steered them down a less-busy side street, his instincts on high alert for any signs of pursuit. “There’s someone I know, a tech genius named Lincoln Bollinger. If anyone can get us the resources we need to get out of here, without going through the embassy, it’s him.”

“Can we trust him?”

“I’d trust him with my life—and have on more than one occasion.” Callum shook his head, trying to find the word to describe the younger man. “Lincoln is…eccentric, but he’s one of the good guys. Brilliant with computers, not so great with people. But he’s got connections that could be our ticket out of this mess.”

“So, how do we contact him?”

Callum scanned the street, looking for a suitable location. “We’ll need to find a secure way to reach out to him. An internet café.”

“I’m not sure what that is.”

Callum wasn’t surprised. Most Americans didn’t. “In this part of Eastern Europe, not everyone has their own computer or even smartphone. They can come to an internet café to get online.”

Callum’s eyes shifted from storefront to storefront until he spotted a nondescript internet café tucked between a laundromat and a kebab shop. He nodded toward it, guiding Sloane with a gentle hand on her lower back.

Then dropped it. Damn it, why couldn’t he seem to keep his hands off her?

“There,” he said quietly. “But I don’t want to just walk in. We need to be sure no one is watching it or following us.”

They circled the block twice, Callum’s trained gaze sweeping the area for any signs of surveillance or pursuit. Sloane matched his pace, her earlier fatigue seemingly forgotten in the face of their heightened vigilance.

“See anything?” she whispered as they rounded the corner for the second time.

“I think we’re clear.”

He led Sloane into the dimly lit café, the smell of stale coffee and the low hum of computer fans greeting them as they entered.

“They should have private booths in the back where we can close the door,” he murmured, scanning the room. He spotted a secluded booth in the back corner, partially obscured by a potted plant. “There.”

They made their way to the booth, Callum positioning himself so he could keep an eye on the café’s entrance. He logged in to the computer and set up a secure connection. It wasn’t perfectly secure by any means, but it was a chance they’d have to take.

The video call connected, and Lincoln’s face filled the screen, his eyes widening in surprise and relief. “Callum! Thank God. I was afraid you were dead.”

“Nope. We made it out.”

“I’m glad. Theo contacted me and said…” Lincoln paused as he caught sight of Sloane. “Wait, what are you doing with Marissa? I thought she was?—”

Callum cut him off. “Lincoln, this is Sloane. Marissa’s half sister. She was the other victim in the compound you let us know about.”

Lincoln stared at her until Sloane began shifting in her chair uncomfortably.

“Polite thing is to say hello, Linc,” Callum reminded the other man.

“Right. Sorry. Hello.” Lincoln gave an awkward wave from his side of the screen. “You look a lot like your sister. Your half sister.”

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