Page 104 of Oath
Then—finally—he shifted. Straightened his shoulders. Took a sharp breath like he was about to head into a deposition. He tucked the folder under his arm and started walking.
Right past the courtroom. Straight for the elevators.
Smart boy.
When the panic hits, get to the car. Get to the phone. Get to whatever backup plan you thought was going to save you.
“Voodoo,” I said under my breath, already moving.
“Got him,” came the smooth reply. “He’s heading toward the west doors.”
I took the stairs down. No need to pretend anymore. My heels clattered against the concrete, fast and sharp.
I exited through the east side and looped around the building’s perimeter. There was a courtyard along the front step, mostly empty. A couple of lawyers talking near the benches. A security officer scrolling through his phone. Nothing that would hide him.
“He’s almost out,” Voodoo said. “Lunchbox get ready to tag in.”
Sinclair burst out the west doors with that stiff-shouldered walk people use when theythinkthey’re composed. But his pace was too quick, his gaze too shifty. He hit the sidewalk and cut hard left, heading down the block with a hand already fishing for his phone.
He didn’t even notice me half a building away, following his every move.
“Got him.” Legend’s voice crackled quietly in my ear. “He’s calling someone. Not on his work phone.”
“Burner?” Bones asked.
“Yup.”
“Working on seeing if I can grab it.” AB’s tone was distracted, but if it could be done, he’d do it.
Sinclair turned the corner at the end of the block. I followed, keeping my distance, my pace steady, even. I could still hear him through Legend’s comms mic.
“No, she’s here. I told you—I saw her. She looked right at me.”
There was a distinct pause, then…
“No, I don’t think it’s Amorette. It’s not—something’s off. I don’t know. I don’tknow. I’m telling you this isn’t good.”
Legend murmured, “He’s scared. Voice cracking. He’s headed for the garage.”
My stomach tightened. Underground garage meant fewer witnesses, fewer exits. If he bolted—if hepanicked—we risked losing him before we had what we needed.
“Lunchbox stays with him,” Bones cut in, his voice the calm in the center of the storm. “Dollface, roll it back.”
I stopped moving mid-step.
“Time for step two,” Bones said, firm. “You did what you needed to do.”
I hesitated. Just for a second.
I could still see him—Sinclair pacing by a black car, waving his hands as he hissed something else into the burner. His hair was sticking to his forehead. His back was hunched. He looked like a man already digging his own grave.
God, I wanted to watch him fall in.
But this wasn’t aboutme.
“Copy that,” I whispered and it hurt to back off.
I turned. Let the city swallow him.
