Page List

Font Size:

“They were waiting.” Trent’s voice is like gravel. “Whole place was rigged to trap us. Not kill us.Catchus.”

“They wanted Grant.” It’s the only thing Oliver adds, sparing him a look that carries more weight than I understand yet

I glance back up at Grant, his hand on my shoulder steadying me—or maybe himself.

“They lured us in with recordings of her calling for help. But Sunny was never there.” Grant’s voice is edged with something dangerous. “Just taunts. She’s been moved.”

Fuck. I knew it. They used Sunny as bait.

But it’s not just Grant they’re after.

They want me, too.

I wrap the bandage around Grant’s arm, making it tight.

Oliver paces behind me like a caged predator. It’s a totally different energy than I’d been giving off an hour ago.

“We did get something. One of the guys we took down had a burner with an open map. A planned drop point. She’s not far.”

“Close enough to still be in play,” Trent adds. “But not close enough to wait around here any longer.”

Grant shifts forward in his seat, suddenly all commander again. “We’ve been compromised. The breach wasn’t just physical. They know we’re onto them. And they know we’re close.”

My heart lodges in my throat, and the pieces start falling into place.

I was right. And it almost got them killed.

“I’m sorry.” My voice is barely there. I don’t know why I can’t be strong when I’ve been so, so wrong.

Grant cups the back of my head, guiding my forehead to his, his warm breath brushing over my lips. “Don’t be. You saved us.”

After a beat, Trent’s voice cuts through it all, deep and final, “Time to go. We’re no longer safe here.”

32

GRANT

Harper asks several times where we’re going, but it’s better to keep her in the dark as we hustle her down to one of our armored cars.

With a swift nod to Trent, I handle her into the backseat. He nods back and gets behind the wheel. He’s got the best tactical driving of the three of us, and I’m not too prideful to admit it.

I slide into the back with Harper, her eyes are wild when she turns to me. I hate seeing that fear on her face. I stroke her cheek as I settle in, closing us in the darkness of the back. Oliver slides in the front passenger seat, but I can feel his gaze on us.

Especially when she leans into my palm.

“Come here.” I tuck her against me, against my good side, under my good arm, and she settles into me automatically.

I’m a goner for the way she feels. How she can bring me comfort and solace by merely being here with me? I haven’t felt this kind of sanctuary with a woman since my mother passed.

Although the way Harper’s knee hooks around my leg is very much not platonic. I love the way she nestles in.

Once we’re on the road, she distracts herself with the buttons of my shirt, running a fingertip around them one by one. Down, down, down.

A gruff breath of air escapes, puffing into her ear. She shivers against my side and aims those beautiful dark eyes up at me. The pain abates at the look in her luminous gaze. Her lip pinches between her teeth.

Heat builds from my middle, and I still owe her a punishment for her misbehavior earlier. Even if she’s beaten herself up far more than I ever could. Emotionally.

I can give her something physical to focus on. Something to give her a scrap of redemption for herself.