Page 70 of Top Secret Cowboy

“And hope she’s alive.” Bronte’s voice wobbled, but she remained strong and didn’t break down, though she’d wrapped her arms around herself as if holding together the pieces.

Fuck, he wanted all this to end. He was finished with all the threads waving around loose and none of them able to catch hold or to connect them so far.

It’s only a matter of time,he told himself.We’ll find the bastard and end this. Then Bronte can go home safe. Keep going with her vision for Artemis.

Without him.

As long as she was safe and happy, he could go on. It was the idea of anything else that made him want to wage war.

“What is this guy going to do to me if I don’t give in to him?” Bronte’s question drove through the silence.

Jace wrapped his fingers around her arm. “We won’t let it go any further. Besides, the worst that happened to the last woman he threatened was that she fell for my brother.”

Jaren grunted.

Ross held out his hand for the note, which Jace gave him. “I’ll have this analyzed. Noah, you dig into the camera footage. I want every person who made a move toward that purse checked out or brought in for questioning. Got it?”

“Copy that.”

“Jaren, you go with Jace and Miss Burns. You’re leaving. Find a safe spot to hole up until we have more on the situation.”

Bronte placed her hand over his and squeezed it hard. The chill in her fingers bled through his skin. All he wanted to do was tuck her up in his arms—his bed—and warm every inch of her with his own body.

Jaren moved to the door. “I’ll bring the car to the closest exit.”

Jace nodded. “We’ll meet you.”

Ross and Noah both nodded to Jace before taking their leave.

A sigh burned in his chest. They were close; he could feel it. But close to what? He could only hope it was the answer—and the end to the games.

Bronte looked up at Jace. “Remember when I said I sometimes have to go to the bathroom when I’m nervous?”

“Damn. Now?”

Biting her lip, she nodded.

“All right. Let’s find you a restroom.”

Relief passed over her face. With all his senses on high alert, he led her out of the office, making sure to check where the nearest exit was so they could get back there and meet Jaren at the car.

Once he spotted the sign, he opened the door and scanned the inside. The few stalls were empty.

“Make it quick.” He gave her a little nudge and turned to see a woman coming down the hallway toward the restroom. She wore a pair of black pants and a simple white button-down shirt, the same as the waitstaff at the dinner, but her oily, pasty complexion looked like she needed a restroom and fast.

Not wanting her to blow chunks on him, he pressed his back to the wall and allowed her to enter.

The Broker said two days. The clock was ticking, and there didn’t seem to be any place that The Broker couldn’t find Bronte. So far, he’d outwitted the Abel brothersandthe WEST Protection team.

Jace was going to put a stop to it.

Then he was going to tell Bronte that they werefarfrom finished with this affair.

* * * * *

Stupid bladder couldn’t handle the smallest little stressor.

Okay, to be fair, knowing that The Broker was not only hunting her through the state but also came to Trade Con was enough to make anybody pee their pants.

---