Page 2 of Safe Haven

She’s probably right.

Savannah’s life has been as hard as mine has been easy, and I would do just about anything to make sure she never has to deal with another bad thing. Audrey is her friend, and Audrey will stay her friend—her living, breathing friend.

Anyone who tries to change that will find out the hard way why I’m usually the triggerman when someone has to be taken out.

Because I don’t give a fuck about putting a bullet in the brain where it belongs.

As I close in on the address plugged into my phone’s GPS, I do a lap, circling the area to get a lay of the land and look for anything that stands out. I’m a little surprised to find a suspicious-looking car parked a few houses down from the aging mansion that’s my final destination.

Tapping the screen on the dash, I dial Isaac’s number, waiting for Shadow’s tech lead to answer as I coast past the vehicle in question. The windows are tinted even darker than mine, making it difficult to see who’s inside, but I’m almost positive it’s a surveillance vehicle. It’s black and nondescript, with basic rims and dusty paint. Unremarkable by most standards.

Unless you know what you’re looking for.

“Calling already?” Isaac answers as I reach a stop sign. “I wasn’t expecting to hear from you… at all, honestly.”

“I wasn’t expecting to call you, but I think I might have company.” I rattle off the location and description of the car as I turn, scanning the surroundings as I work my way along the side street. “Can you run the plate and see if there are any cameras on it?”

“On it.” Isaac hangs up as I reach the closest main road.

Audrey’s first-floor apartment is in an old house that was converted to apartments at least fifty years ago. And while it’s by no means high-end, it seems to be decently maintained. The city where it’s located might be close enough to qualify as a suburb of Memphis. It’s nothing fancy. Mainly strip malls and multi-family housing. And most of what I’m seeing might even be considered run-down. But, based on the scaffolding anddumpsters lining the street, the old downtown area seems to be in the process of revitalization.

I mark a few places of interest—grocery store, police station, and a couple gas stations—on my phone, then circle back toward Audrey’s as the sun goes down. I’m pulling into the alley that runs behind her building as Isaac calls back.

I connect the call, studying the rear of the mansion as I ease past. “Find anything interesting?”

“I guess that depends on how you look at things.” The sound of typing carries through the line. “I ran the plate and it came back to a black sedan that matches the car’s description, but the address listed is all the way on the other side of the state.”

“Maybe someone’s visiting family.” I reach the end of the alley and turn in the opposite direction of the car, just in case. “I’m guessing there’s more?”

“There’s for sure more.” Isaac sounds bothered, and he’s a pretty even-keeled guy, so if he’s bothered, then I should be bothered. “We were able to find a camera that has the car within view, but it’s in the distance, so everything’s a little blurry.”

“And?” I check my mirrors, making sure no one’s tailing me, because I’m not liking where this is going.

“And from what we can tell, it pulled into place a few hours ago and no one’s gotten in or out since it parked.” Isaac lays out the reason for his concern.

And it’s a pretty decent reason.

“Well that’s fucking annoying.” I was planning to park my happy ass right in front of Audrey’s house. I’m nothing if not ballsy, and sometimes the best defense is a good offense. If her ex knowsshe’s got someone with her, the chances he’ll try to cause a problem could go way down.

But now I’m rethinking that plan. At least until I know exactly what I’m dealing with. “Give me a spot to put this thing for now.”

I already passed once in a car that looks a whole hell of a lot similar, so if someoneisconducting surveillance, they’re paying just as much attention as I am. I can’t risk them seeing me a second time.

Not yet anyway. Not until I know if my presence will help or hurt.

Isaac directs me to a side street a few blocks away where a number of dark sedans line the curb. I wedge mine into an open spot and wait for the sun to finish its descent while I plan my approach.

Under normal circumstances, I would call Audrey. Ask a few questions, see if she knows who might be outside her apartment. But I’ve been around long enough to know if someone goes to the length of stationing a set of eyes outside the place you live, they’re probably trying to put eyes—and ears—other places too. So until I know differently, lots of shit is off the table. No phone calls. No emails. No messages on social media. Hell, I wouldn’t even send a carrier pigeon to her place right now.

So much for starting out on an easy job.

Once I’m sure it’s dark enough I can move around relatively undetected, I slide out from behind the wheel, collect my bag, and melt into the shadows. Pierce named our team appropriately, and I do my best to live up to it. Especially at times like this. Times where my ability to move through the world unseen can be the difference between life and death.

The type of neighborhood Audrey lives in works heavily in my favor. The buildings are old and few of them are well-lit. A number of them seem to be unoccupied, and few have anything significant in the way of security. I’m not surprised when my movements don’t trigger any outdoor floodlights as I silently make my way between the houses.

The path I cut is jagged and indirect, but I want to see as much of the surroundings on foot as I can. I’m looking for anything that might be a problem now or in the foreseeable future. Keeping my eyes open for more suspicious vehicles. Anyone who might be peering out their windows. I’m scanning for cameras, whether it be one Alaskan Security can tap into, or systems put up by someone who might be using them to watch Audrey.

It takes me nearly a half hour, but I finally reach the back corner of the property where my new client lives. Hunkering down in a clump of weedy overgrowth and pulling out my binoculars, I spend the next ten minutes going over every inch of what’s visible from my vantage point. I scrutinize windows, doors… even the foliage around the perimeter. I’m looking for any sign someone has attempted—or been successful at—entering the building by means other than the front door.

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