Page 120 of Second Chance Savior

“Are you on pain meds?”

“Nah, only at night. It’s not as bad as the time I was chasing down a couple of bank robbers. Took one in the chest that time. Ended up dating my ER doctor though. My mother was thrilled.” He’d said all of this in the same even tone. Then he asked, “How’s your break from men going?”

I wrinkled my nose. “I may have fallen off the wagon.”

Torres nodded sagely. “Same here.”

His placid expression broke, and we both laughed.

Genevieve finished pestering them with questions for her upcoming article, and the two men finished the iced teas they’d ordered. Rainey told me that they planned to find a room at the hotel on the highway, but I scoffed at that. I was sure Jessi and Aiden could find space for them at Last Refuge.

“You’re my friends,” I said. “You helped save my life. I insist. Besides, the Last Refuge Tavern has the best food in the county.”

Agent Torres looked unsure, but Rainey was grinning ear-to-ear. “Sounds great. My car’s gassed up. You can ride with us.”

“I’m sticking around here. I was going to call ahead for you. Jessi will take care of you when you get there.” I wanted to head back to River’s apartment and see if he’d made any progress. And make sure he ate some real food, not just over-salted takeout.

But Rainey frowned. “No way, you have to let us treat you to lunch. You talked up this tavern, so now you’vegotto join us. Come on. I’m not taking no for an answer.”

I looked over at Torres, and he shrugged. “Hey, I’m on vacation. I’ll do whatever. Just as long as we can sit when we get there, because I’m already tired.”

“All right. I guess I’m on vacation, too. For a couple more days.”

I said goodbye to Genevieve, then followed the agents to their car. On the way, I sent a quick text to River, letting him know I was heading up to Last Refuge.

“Who’re you writing to?” Agent Rainey asked. “Is that Kwon? How’s he doing?”

“He’s well.” I pocketed my phone. “Just busy.”

“We weren’t sure about him for a while there. He seemed awfully intent on getting near you at the fundraiser. Then Torres said he magically appeared right as the shooting started.” A smile broke over Rainey’s face. “The man must have good instincts.”

“He does. I’m sure you’ll see him later.” I got the sense that Rainey was still undecided, but once he and Torres got to know River, they’d like him. Maybe it was silly, but it was important to me that they like him.

“Is he up at Last Refuge?” Torres asked.

“Not right now. He’s at his apartment. Working on something, but I’ll drag him away to meet up with us. He needs some fresh air.”

Rainey opened the front passenger door for me, and I got in. Torres drove, while Rainey rode in the back.

“It’s this turn.” I pointed. Refuge Mountain was about a twenty-minute drive from here, along a winding road.

“So Kwon is busy working,” Rainey said, picking up the thread of our conversation from earlier. He was lounging, arms resting on the seat backs. “Still hasn’t cracked the encryption on the list?”

“Nope, it’s been tougher than he expected. He—” I cut off abruptly. Looked back at Rainey, who returned my gaze with a good-natured smile.

“List?” Torres asked. “What list is this?”

“You know, the list from Jud Hale. Somerton mentioned it.”

Torres squinted at him in the rearview. “No, she didn’t.”

“Sure she did,” Rainey said. Still perfectly relaxed. “You need to listen better, man.”

Brynn wouldn’t have. There was no way. “How do you know about that?”

“Like Ijust said. Somerton.”

Foreboding spread like poison through my insides.

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