“Good.” Kali exhales, tension draining from her shoulders. Then she reaches into her back pocket and produces a tube of lipstick pepper spray. “I’m ready for any asshole who wants to tango. Pierce or her creepy stalker. They get too close, they’re eating a face full of pepper spray.”
I glance at the tube in her hand.
Unassuming. Nonthreatening.
Just like her.
I take it from her and angle the nozzle outward. “If it comes to that, make sure the nozzle is pointed away from your face.”
She lets out a small, embarrassed laugh. “Right. Good tip.”
I’m ready to go when I reach for her suitcase.
The lock is broken.
“What happened here?” I ask.
Kali steps closer. “Probably TSA. If they can’t open it, they break the lock.” She shrugs. “It’s been that way for a while.”
I fiddle with it and see the misaligned lock. “I think I can fix that.”
My phone buzzes.
“Evans.”
“Hey, it’s Tony. Maddox is headed up. We tried to stop him, but?—”
“It’s fine. I’ve got what I need.” I look around and glance at Kali. “But her PA needs a different room. Can you make sure she gets one?”
“As soon as she comes down, I’ll get her a new keycard.”
I turn back to Kali. “Grab your things.”
She does. I grab Ava’s suitcase, and we head out.
We reach the elevator just as the doors are about to open. I guide her aside, keeping us out of sight.
The doors slide open. Pierce storms out, and we step in as I hit L.
The doors close.
“That was close.” Kali exhales and stumbles back against the wall. “Tell Ava that if she needs anything, I’m just a text away.”
“I will.”
CHAPTER 27
Harrison
By the time I get home, I open the front door and get punched in the face by the scent of cleaning supplies.
I step inside.
The living room is pristine. No video game controllers. No wires. No mysterious sticky things on the carpet that my kids insist none of them did.
The couch is straight. The throw pillows are aligned. The usual trail of abandoned snacks is gone.
Where am I?
