Page 103 of Silver Secrets

“I’m sorry, Red. But this is about your safety. If Elias was looking for the codes to get in here…”

Her stomach was going to revolt. The worry in his eyes was screaming at her to understand without him having to say the words out loud. And in that instant, she did. “You think he’s… him?? You think Elias is coming after me?”

“I don’t know. I don’t know what to think. Every hacker has a signature thing, a way they write their code, or a little quirk that sets them apart. Elias and I have talked about his before. And I just saw it in action. We need to get a hold of Agent Liu. And we also need to contact the FBI Field Office in Dallas at the very least.”

“I’ll try Agent Liu.” Gunner started spouting off directions as Sloane tried to inch closer to the door. “Stone, take the girls back upstairs, then call Agent Ramos in Dallas. I’m sending you his information now. Kimi put me in contact with him when Sloane ended up in the hospital. He can help us.”

He turned back to Sloane. “I’m sorry, Sloane. You can’t go anywhere right now. You need to go upstairs with Mae and Lily until we can figure out next steps.”

“Courtney said that Elias was in New York. He’s not supposed to be back until tomorrow.”

She wasn’t going down without a fight.

“We have to go. She’s our friend. And Darius needs our help too.” But Gage didn’t so much as move his gaze from Hawk. “We can’t leave Courtney out of the loop about your suspicions with Elias. What if he hurts her?! I can’t live with that, Gage. I won’t.”

“Call her back and tell her to come here.”

“You’re going to just let Darius die?!” Her voice betrayed how utterly horrible she found that.

“Fuck, Red! I don’t know! The only thing that matters is keeping you safe.”

“I am safe. It doesn’t just have to be you and me, going. Nash will go with us, won’t you?” She turned to Nash who immediately put his hands up in surrender.

“Uh, I’m with Gage on this one, Sloane. Your life is more important.”

“Not more important than Courtney’s!”

“Fine.” Gunner said. “Wings, you and Tracker go. Sloane stays here.”

Her mouth dropped open. “Absolutely not. I’m going?—”

“For fuck’s sake, Sloane!” Gunner roared. “Lily, I swear to god this is your fault for being so stubborn.”

“Excuse me?” Lily’s eyes went wide as she stepped out of his hold and shoved her closed fists onto her hips. “You want to try again with what you just said?”

Gunner raked his hand over his face. “I just want everyone to take a breath and think this through.”

“I’ve taken enough breaths. Our friend is waiting for me. Gage and Nash might be okay with lifting Darius and getting him help, but Courtney is scared to death and alone and it’s not only my job as her friend, but it is my literal, actual job to help people in distressing times! I’m going. If you both want to go, you better keep up.” Sloane glared at Gunner as she reached the apartment door. “I have my tracker on. You have my permission to watch us go there and come back.”

“Let’s go, Red.” Sloane slipped her hand into Gage’s and she picked up her pace to keep up with him. By the time they reached his truck, she could feel her mask of confidence slipping away. She held it together as they drove down the road, but groaned when a sharp pang of anxiety hit. Sloane willed her stomach to settle before she made herself sick.

“You okay, Sloane?” Nash asked from the backseat while Gage’s grip on her thigh tightened.

“Yeah. My stomach is just in knots. I can’t make sense of anything right now. But thank you for coming with us.”

“It’s nothing. We’ll get your furry friend to the vet and the other guys will find Elias. It’ll all get straightened out.”

They eventually pulled up in front of the Silver Springs Animal Rescue. Gage put the truck in park, pressing a kiss to the back of Sloane’s hand before releasing her. She looked at him, knowing her worry was written all over her face.

“Whatever it is, Red, we’ll get him the help he needs. Let’s go.”

The shelter was eerily quiet. The place was completely dark, except for a few of the hallway lights leading from the reception area to the kennels.

“This is so weird. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it like this in here?”

“Ellie likes to turn some of the lights off at closing. Maybe Court was in the middle of the closing procedure if Ellie had to take off?” Gage shrugged, pulling her closer to him.

“Court? Why are the lights off?” she called out.

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