“We need to move. Now.”
I grip the strap of my go-bag tighter. “How did you find me so quickly?”
Declan’s sharp green eyes track my movements. “I was already in Chicago.”
His gaze sweeps across the room, lingering on the dismantled cameras. “You mentioned someone tried to break in?”
“A few hours ago.” I shoulder my bag, my body tensing as I match his alertness. “Three men. Professional. They couldn’t crack the apartment’s security system.”
“You’re lucky they didn’t succeed.” Something flickers in his expression—recognition, maybe concern.
“I have backup here,” he adds, voice measured. “Who exactly are you?”
“Liv Consoli.” The name feels heavy on my tongue. “I’ve been working with Remy to expose Ano Montoni’s operation.”
His face remains impassive, but doubt creeps into his eyes. “Is that so?” The non-committal response sets my nerves on edge.
“Let’s go,” he commands, holding the door.
The hallway lights cast harsh shadows as we move toward the elevator. I fight the urge to look over my shoulder, though I can feel Declan’s solid presence behind me. His footsteps are nearly silent on the carpet.
The elevator arrives with a soft ding. Declan positions himself in the corner, angled for maximum visibility of both entrances.
“How do you know Remy?” I probe, studying his reflection in the polished doors.
His expression remains neutral, but something hardens in his eyes. “That’s not relevant right now.”
The doors open to the lobby. I catch our reflection in the marble—we look like normal late-night colleagues. Nothing betrays that we’re racing to save a man’s life.
Outside, the Chicago night air bites at my skin. A sleek black Mercedes idles at the curb, its dark-tinted windows concealing whatever waits inside.
The Mercedes’s driver door opens, and I tense as another man emerges. His movements are liquid precision, and even beneath his expensive suit, I recognize the coiled readiness of someone who knows violence intimately.
“Greyson Lowery,” he introduces himself. His cultured voice carries an edge that makes my skin prickle. His eyes dissect me with surgical precision—the same calculating stare I’ve encountered in warlords and interrogators.
“We’re ready,” Greyson says to Declan, though his attention never fully leaves me. I’ve interviewed enough killers to recognize that constant awareness.
Movement flickers in my peripheral vision. My muscles lock, but Declan’s subtle headshake keeps me still. Another figure materializes from the shadows, moving with predatory grace. Scarred face, eyes that have seen too much violence.
“Nolan Ward,” he says, voice like broken glass. He assesses me in one sharp glance before sliding into the passenger seat.Through the window, I watch him activate what appears to be a tactical tablet.
“Back seat,” Declan orders. His hand hovers near my elbow—not touching, but ready. The gesture hits me like a knife to the chest, too similar to Remy’s protective instincts.
I hesitate, my reporter’s training screaming warnings. Three lethal operatives, and my only connection is Remy—who might be dead while I stand here doubting. The thought propels me forward.
The Mercedes glides through Chicago’s streets, each man’s presence filling the space with unspoken danger. I’ve interviewed enough criminals and killers to recognize the practiced stillness, the contained violence. My fingers tighten around my messenger bag.
“I need to know I can trust you,” I say, meeting Declan’s intense stare. “Remy’s life depends on this.”
Greyson’s soft chuckle sends ice down my spine. His eyes find mine in the rearview mirror. “If we weren’t trustworthy, you wouldn’t be here.”
“Trust is a two-way street.” Nolan’s gravelly voice carries an edge of threat. He turns, the scarring on his face more pronounced in the passing streetlights. “You’re holding something back. We’ll find out eventually.”
“Enough.” Declan’s command cuts through the tension. “Let her speak.”
I’ve faced down warlords and traffickers, but these men radiate a different kind of danger—controlled, refined, and lethal. “How do you know Remy?”
“We are friends,” Greyson answers smoothly.
