Regge’s face had a thoughtful look as he nodded. We took off. Down the hall, a door opened. Skylar’s voice still held that cheerful lilt as she thanked the men. We headed in the other direction, taking the stairwell rather than the elevator. It was a few flights before Regge paused to look at me.
“That was close.”
“We got eleven floors to go.” I gestured to the next set of stairs. I wanted out of there. I didn’t want to run into whoever was searching Julian’s place. I didn’t want to be alone in the stairwell with Regge. Too much time for thought.
“Hunter, wait.” He caught up with me and put a hand on my wrist.
I stopped, but I dropped my hand from his grip. I waited. I wasn’t sure why. Or even what I wanted. Something. An apology? Something more than a mumbled sorry. Yeah, a real apology would be good. An explanation would be better.
Regge’s previous reassurances had been fiction.You’ve hit your head, mate. That’s why you’re groggy. No worries, you’ll be fit as fine.Did he even know that I remembered this? His lies? Did he care?
“No. You’re right. Let’s go,” he conceded. Skirting around me, he took the lead.
Another two flights. My legs started to burn as we cleared another floor. My mom’s words came back to me. That I should consider Regge’s past, how tough it had been. My mom didn’t know the half of what Regge had been through, but she had a point.
I could tell him that I understood how hard it was to trust people. I could do that now. We were alone with nothing but more stairs to descend. The number eight was painted on the stairwell door. Plenty of time to talk.
“Good job getting the key card by the way. That was something.” There, I’d said something. Another turn around the railing. Another half flight.
“Thanks.” Floor six.
Regge paused and looked back at me. “It was easier than I thought it would be. I’m a bit out of practice.”
This wasn’t at all what I wanted to talk about. I wanted to pin Regge down on his feelings. His obvious desire morphing to indifference in the daylight. Maybe that’s just how he was. How he would always be. “Still. Good job.”
Silence. Fourth floor. We’d be in the lobby soon and the opportunity would be gone.
“Did you find anything in the cabinet?” Regge asked.
“His passport, his birth certificate. Some bank stuff.”
“Good, maybe that will help.” We turned the corner and were at the door to the ground floor. “Did the boss say to meet here or the garage?” Regge had his hand on the door.
I stopped, slightly winded from the trek. Sixteen flights carrying bags was no joke. I cringed at my cowardice. At dodging a real conversation. This was it. Now or never.
“So we should just stick with the friend thing then?” My ragged breath caught in my throat. My left knee throbbing, I balanced on one leg to ease it. My sweaty palm was slick on the metal handrail.
Regge’s forehead glistened under the fluorescent lights. I’d never seen a more beautiful green than his eyes. A forest lake at the height of summer, long wide meadows of whispering grasses, jade stone carved to catch the light—all came second to that color. That depth. The shutters of his lashes came down, closing me out.
“We’re a great team, HB. I… I don’t want to mess with that.”
I let out my breath, thinking it might be my last. So that was that. It was done. Over before anything real had started. I managed a neutral expression and ticked my chin at the door. Regge pulled it open to see Skylar jogging toward us.
“About time. Let’s go.” She led us down more stairs to the garage. Pery pulled up in the SUV. Once we were going, Regge relayed the details of what we’d found. He held up some paperwork and a stack of cash.
“How did you get those guys to leave the apartment?” I asked Skylar. She turned and gave us a smile. Her long hair held up in a ponytail, her almond shaped eyes carrying a silver glint.
“The apartment next to Julian’s was empty, so I jimmied the balcony door. Turned on the kitchen faucet, splashed water around, and played the helpless neighbor.” Her dazzling smile glinted in the car’s dark interior. “It’s amazing what men will do to help a female in need.”
“Brilliant,” Regge said, including me in his gaze. “We make a good team.”
“Let’s not make breaking and entering part of our usual activities, okay?” Pery glanced in the rearview mirror.
“What breaking?” Regge lifted his eyebrows, looking innocent. “There was no breaking. That was a very clean entry and exit. Larceny in its purest form, my friend.” He grinned.
“It’s not like we didn’t have permission. And it was for a good cause,” Skylar agreed.
Pery pulled into Pinkie’s lot and parked. Regge hopped out right away, practically running to the door.
