Page 78 of Phoenix Rising

“It is not a contest,” she protested.

“Not a close one,” he agreed, and she slugged him again.

He laughed and caught her arms before lifting her against the wall and kissing her silly. Oh, his mouth should be declared a lethal weapon. He wielded his lips like a maestro . . . it made little sense, but he did that to her. He scrambled her brain.

A door slammed. “Henry? Tina?”

“I am going to kill him,” Hunter muttered.

Talia wiped a thumb across his lips. “Not if I kill him first.”

#

When Reese, Audria, and Christian arrived back at Spiritual Beginnings, they showed the security guard their wristbands so they could reenter. After passing through the metal detector, they stopped by their room to grab their weapons and remove their disguises. Reese had to shampoo the gray out of his hair. While he did, Audria popped out the contacts and removed the wig, shaking her hair to release the strands. Once they were ready, they navigated to the hallway that ended with a door marked private, which contained a biometric lock. Elijah had given Hunter the code, and he’d texted it to them. Reese punched in the numbers and the lock released. Hunter’s directions told them to take the second left, then the next right, and they would be at Elijah’s suite.

Reese pounded on the door. No answer. He pounded again. It swung open, and Hunter stood in the doorway. “Who are you? What do you want? How did you get back here?”

“FBI.” Reese slapped his badge against Hunter’s chest, who fought a smile. “We’re here to speak to Richard Caraway.”

“There is no one here by that name,” Talia claimed, coming up behind her husband.

“You might know him by Guru Phoenix Valo.”

Talia gasped audibly. “Yes, the Guru is here, but his name is not Richard Whatever. You have the wrong person.”

“Caraway, get out here now, or I’m arresting these people for aiding and abetting a fugitive. That’s a felony. They will go to prison.”

Talia tipped her head toward a closed door. Christian tested the handle, but it was locked. “Is there a way out through there?” he mouthed to Hunter, who shook his head.

“Bathroom,” he mouthed back.

Christian stood back and, with a booted foot, kicked the door off its hinges. It went flying inside, landing with a thud. Reese heard a panicked shriek.

“What are you doing?” Talia screeched in fake outrage. “Leave him alone!”

Reese entered the room gun first. He ripped the shower curtain aside to see Elijah cowering on the floor.

“Get up, Caraway.”

“You have the wrong person,” he insisted. “My name is Phoenix. Phoenix Valo. Tell them, Henry.”

Christian grabbed his shirt and hauled him out of the tub, forcing him out of the bathroom.

“Unhand him this instant,” Talia demanded.

“Ma’am, step back right now, or I will arrest you too,” Reese warned.

Talia pursed her lips but moved away.

“You have the wrong person,” Hunter said, not at all convincingly.

Reese addressed Hunter and Talia. “Who are you two?”

“We’re old friends of the guru,” Hunter drawled.

“Names?” When they both remained quiet, Reese turned to Audria. “Cuff them, and we’ll haul them in for obstruction.”

Audria reached into her pocket, but Talia threw up her hands with disgust. “Fine. We are Tina and Henry McKay.”

---