But when Audrey came out of the bedroom with Trevor, the mere sight of the two of them together had me walking back one step, preferring to be anywhere but here. Even visiting Beth in prison sounded like a better idea.
“You need air?” Ryder asked from the side of his mouth.
“I could use it, yeah,” I muttered.
“Go. Do a perimeter sweep. Keep out of view of the cameras. We don’t want anyone knowing we’re here. Mitch’s hacker might be monitoring all the hotels in the area for him.”
“Roger that.” I pulled at the brim of my hat as I started for the door, no need to say goodbye to anyone before they left. I’d already said my hellos and offered my thanks for their help. I wouldn’t survive opening my mouth again with Audrey’s eyes on me.
“Alejandro?” Audrey called out, and the name I’d told her to use now stung to hear. “Where are you going?”
I opened the door, and Ryder saved me from having to lie, telling her, “He’s doing a property check for me.”
I didn’t turn back. Didn’t acknowledge her. I couldn’t. I had to find a way to focus on the mission, one that included having her share my last name come Friday.God help me.
In the hallway, I made sure to avoid the wide lens of the ceiling camera above the elevator. While Hollis’s brother, a cyber magician, had apparently placed the cameras on a loop out here to protect us, my paranoia still lingered like smoke in my chest.
I spent forty-five minutes Houdini’ing my way through the place like a seasoned professional, both inside and outside, before finding myself standing in the jewelry shop on the mezzanine level, which was open for twenty more minutes.
Why I walked into that store? I couldn’t tell you.
And why I stared at the mirror in there, my reflection blinking back at me likeIwas the ghost, not Mitch? No damn idea.
And when someone offered to help me, why I asked to see their women’s wedding bands even though Hollis had already given one to Audrey? Well, that was easy.
I wanted to buy into the illusion for two more nights. The pretend reality where I was capable of falling for a woman who actually loved me back.
I sent another text to Ryder for a status update about Echo Team and their op, then focused back on the view ahead of me.
It was barely fifty out and I was in short sleeves, but the breeze suited me just fine. Not to mention I wasn’t ready to return to our suite yet.
I’d parked myself by the lake after buying the ring and stayed rooted to the view, the weight of my Glock at my back and the ring box still in my pocket.
Ryder:They’re converging on the location now. A property twenty miles away from the vault in Arrowtown. Why aren’t you back yet?
Me:I’m pretending I’m on vacation.
Ryder:Pretend from the room.
Me:Yeah, yeah, I’m on my way up.
I was about to put my phone away and remind myself I was Delta Two with a mission to complete when Audrey’s name popped up on the screen.
Audrey:Where are you? You okay? Wish you were up here with us.
I couldn’t respond.
I could barely think. Couldn’t move. Couldn’t do a damn thing.
How’d I let this happen?
This feeling inside me ... God, it sucked. It was ten times worse than being shot by Beth. So much for waiting untilafterthe mission to get to the truth about her feelings, which I’d clearly been wrong about.
Audrey:I miss you. Is that weird to say?
She’d stuck a knife in my chest with that message, then twisted it. That wasn’t like her to hurt people. Was she back to being out ofcharacter? Was her concern about Eden or being away from Chase the cause? The jet lag?
Ryder:Echo Team has made contact. Eyes on Eden. She’s alive and safe. Uninjured and with the operative Gwen ID’d.
