Page 55 of Love Undercover
He shook his head. “Not specifically, but our circles overlap.” He winced. “I haven’t talked to him much in the last year. More responsibility with Zim means I haven’t had time to maintain contact.”
That didn’t sound promising, and her stomach wound tighter until he finally flipped his lights on and reduced their speed. They’d started to encounter more cars as they got closer to the outskirts of Baltimore, its buildings flaring up against the darkness.
Chase's eyes went to the mirror again. For the first time in their thirty-minute flight, headlights flashed behind them, but he didn’t speed up. “I think we’re in the clear for now.”
Streetlights popped up along their route as they got into the main drag of the city, the glow flashing over his face in waves, alternating between light and shadow like moving tiger stripes.
She released her grip on the armrest and console, dropping her hands into her lap, but they twisted together there, her panic replaced by the hum of her latent fear. Chase reached over to hold her hand in his again, and her fingers interlaced with his automatically.
“Kyle’s is just a stopping point," he said. "Somewhere safe while I figure out my next step. I’ve gotta check in with my boss, Jared Gibson. He might have some insight for me.”
She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and nodded as they turned into some of the more rundown parts of town. Not the most dangerous but definitely not wholesome. It was the kind of neighborhood you might not worry about drive-bys but you would worry about break-ins.
It was late enough that some of the barred front windows were dark, while others still blazed with activity. Chase released Sadie’s hand and parked. After he turned the car off, he waited, silent and motionless, maybe to see if anyone prowled down the street after them.
Minutes ticked by, each one building Sadie’s anxiety higher. His focus jumped from house to house as if to check for nosy neighbors or lurkers on front porches.
Finally, he got out of the car, and she took it as her cue to follow, though she moved more slowly, weighed down by uncertainty and inexperience.
He walked to the trunk to retrieve his black duffel, shutting the lid softly, then rounded to the sidewalk where she stood. He took her hand and led her down a few houses. He’d probably parked in front of a different one on purpose.
The neighborhood was older, and the narrow sidewalk was barely wide enough for the two of them. The slabs of concretewere pockmarked and buckled along its cracks every few feet. In contrast to the aged homes and shoddy upkeep, there were beautiful, mature trees that shivered in the heavy summer breeze. They provided some manner of normalcy that lessened the anxiety inside her.
She matched Chase's light tread as he led her up the porch steps, assuming there was a reason. His edginess wasn't obvious, but it buzzed through their connected hands.
He rapped softly on the front door and released her hand. The silence snapped tighter, and she strained to listen for footsteps inside the house. There weren’t any, but the door jerked open a fraction, and she almost jumped back.
She did take a step in retreat when the barrel of a gun caught the smallest sliver of moonlight.
Chase's hands came up. “It’s Chase.”
“Lundgren?” came the tight reply.
“Yes.”
“Who’s that with you?”
Chase turned to Sadie, and she practically folded in on herself. “Someone I’m trying to keep safe.”
Kyle muttered a low oath and pulled the door open all the way to let them in, though he didn’t quite lower his gun. He took Sadie in quickly as she shuffled by behind Chase, then his gaze swept the neighborhood before he shut the door and locked it behind them.
The entire house was dark, and the uncertainty crescendoed inside her. She missed the reassurance of Chase’s hand in hers, but she didn’t know what was acceptable in this situation, so she wrapped her arms around herself. It didn’t do much to calm her.
“You’re taking a big chance coming here, Lundgren,” Kyle said as he walked past them to switch on a floor lamp against the opposite wall. His voice was gravelly and menacing—definitely not happy to see them.
The frail light illuminated the room just enough to show there wasn’t much in it. Just a rickety TV stand and a beat up leather couch. The stereo and gaming system were pretty fancy, though.
“I just needed a safe place for the night until I figure out what to do,” Chase said, drawing Sadie’s attention back.
Kyle turned, dark brown eyes almost black in the dim light. He was a shorter, squat guy who was clearly packed with muscle. On top of the tight muscle, there was a layer of padding, giving him a menacing bulk. His hair was cropped so short, the sheen of his scalp was visible under the brown fuzz.
“What’d you get yourself into?” His gaze raked over Sadie again, this time with slow deliberation, and the faintest light of understanding glimmered in his eyes. “Doesn’t look like a whore.”
Chase stiffened.
“Excuse you,” she growled. Or at least tried to. She was shocked to find she could feel offended in this situation. Were prostitutes their usual idea of female company?
Kyle’s mouth twitched at her response.
