I hit my punching bag so hard the chain rips from the ceiling, covering me and the floor in chalky debris. Guess that’s what I get for imagining the faces of those two assholes while I was venting my frustration.
I’ve just stepped out of the shower when Ezra calls, and I hope he’s got good news for me.
I press the accept button, but I don’t get a chance to speak as Ezra’s panicked voice filters down the line. “I’m fucked, we’re fucked, this is some next-level shit you’ve got me mixed up in, and they’re going to fucking kill me. This is why I stay behind my screen. I never wanted to put myself in danger, and I’m going to die. We’re going to die, it’s?—”
“Stop,” I bark. What the hell is going on? Ezra is as cool as they come, and nothing rattles him. I have never heard him freaking out like this EVER. “Calm down, man, and tell me what’s happened.”
“I’m leaving.” There’s a loud crash in the background. “I need to go into hiding for a while. I bet they’re coming for me. Oh fuck, who’ll mind my cat?”
“Whois coming?”
“I don’t know.” Heavy breaths tickle my eardrum, and I think he’s in complete meltdown mode.
“Where are you, and I’ll come get you.”
“No! Don’t come here. They might not know about you.”
“Location. Now,” I snap. I have no clue where Ezra lives and works. Anytime we have met in person, it’s been at the hotel or a coffee shop or a bar in the city.
“There is no point in both of us being in danger.”
“This isn’t open for discussion. Send me the coordinates, Ezra. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
ChapterTwenty-Five
Drew
Ipull up in front of a dingy bar in the city forty minutes later after having run every fucking light on the way here. I called Ezra several times to ensure he hadn’t run, and to try to get him to calm down before he has a damn heart attack. I still don’t know what has happened, but I’m guessing it’s something to do with those photos.
I find him tucked into a booth in the back, cradling a gray and white cat in his arms and nursing a half-drunk beer. “Talk to me.”
“I’m sorry for freaking out, but I’m scared, man.”
I lean across the table. “Nothing is going to happen to you. I guarantee it. You can stay at the hotel. No motherfucker is getting to you there. I’ve put my men on high alert, so they’ll be extra vigilant. I have a car and men on the way here. They’ll take you to the hotel and get you settled.”
His features visibly relax. “Thanks, Drew. I didn’t know where to go or what to do.”
“You’ve had my back for a long time, Blackwood, and now it’s my turn to have yours. You can stay as long as you need to.”
“Are there, uh, any other guests staying there right now?” He pushes his glasses up his nose.
I smirk. “The last guests departed last night.”
“Of course, and good. I’m not sure I’d be able to sleep with any of those sick pricks on the premises.”
Now probably isn’t a good time to mention I’m expecting new guests after my weekend trip.
“You can use my stuff to work, and if you need any other equipment, send me a list and I’ll organize it for you.”
“I can’t use my system because it’s completely fucked.” Ire mixes with fear in his gaze.
“Tell me what happened.”
“I uploaded all the photos Anton sent us to my secure facial recognition software system, the one I built blocking Zayn’s code so nothing is off-limits to us. But the instant the first pic loaded, my screen went black, and then everything died. It was like poof, and then all my screens went down, every piece of tech blacked out, and an alarm rang out, followed by a flashing message across all the screens. It said a warrant was issued for my arrest for breaching national security and they were coming for me.”
“Who the fuck are these guys? They sure as fuck are not politicians.” And how the fuck does Athena know them?
“I don’t know, but if they find me, I’m a dead man.”
