Page 57 of No Mistake

He heard Dex sigh. “Alright. I’ll talk to Sam. Where are you taking her?”

“My place.” His house was secure. It had cameras the farm could access. It was alarmed, and he had weapons there. It made perfect sense and Dex would get that.

“Let me know once you’re there.” Dex ended the call.

Ryan released his grip, grateful Dex had agreed, but he hated the obvious tension still between them. They needed to have it out and get passed what happened.

AN HOUR LATER THEY were inside his house. He typed a quick text and Dex responded saying he’d call him shortly.

“Why don't you go and take a bath,” Ryan suggested. Sophie stood in the middle of his living room, looking lost and afraid. She’d barely spoken on the way, and he knew shock was a big part of that. Sophie would know it, too. Ryan joined her, placing his hand on her shoulders. Her body shook.

“You’re safe here. I promise. No one is getting through me.”

“Why are they coming after me?” she whispered.

His whole body tensed at the thought of how close they’d got. If he hadn’t been at Sophie’s when Dex called... shit! Way too close. He forced himself to relax.

“I wish I could give you the answers you want, but I can’t. Not yet anyway. I might know more once I speak to Dex.”

“Are you leaving?” Panic flashed across her face.

“Not a chance.” He kissed her gently on the lips. “Come on. Let’s run you a bath, so you can try to relax. I’ll even bring you a tea. I think I have a few bags somewhere.” He gave her a small smile,

She nodded. “OK.”

He led her to the bathroom and started running the water. Once he showed her where everything was, he left her alone to go make the tea. As he thought, he had a small box from when his mom had visited last. By the time he took it to her, Sophie was in the tub covered in soapy bubbles. He knelt, placing the tea on the bath tray.

“You have no idea how much I want to join you in there.”

Sophie blushed and he smiled. She was so damn sexy when she blushed, he loved it. His phone buzzed; Dex was calling.

“I have to take this. I’ll be downstairs. If you need anything, call out.”

Reluctantly, Ryan left her as he answered the call. Both Dex and Sam were on the line.

“Any more problems?” Sam asked.

“No. I’m pretty sure I lost them at the industrial park. And I doubled back a few times, before crossing back over the bridge, just in case.”

“Sanchez sent agents to the park to do a sweep, and we’re checking camera footage in the area.”

“Did they find my car?”

“Yes. Torched.”

“Son of a bitch.” Man, he loved that car. “I didn’t have time to remove the plates, they might trace it to me, the house.”

“If they tried, they wouldn’t have found you. Mackie created a fake record of ownership,” Dex said.

“Nice. So what’s the deal with Tracer?”

“He’s working with them.”

“Are you shitting me?” That dude had iced them out years ago. Ryan listened as Dex brought him up to speed.

“Do you believe him about Chloe?”

“I do. He got brought in after Perez took Chloe. And he didn’t have to give me the tip on Sophie.”

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