I stood up at the news and started for the hotel.
Me:Mitch? Rhett? Beau?
Ryder:Negative. Only two heat signatures are inside the property. No one else was in there when they arrived.
Ryder:Rhett and Beau must’ve passed her off when they landed and joined Mitch somewhere else.
Since no one on our team had found Mitch on any CCTV footage after Chandler faked his death, the man was clearly doing a bang-up job of actually appearing to be dead. Keeping away from all cameras and laying low.
Ryder:Hold on, Echo’s reporting a second SUV just rolled up.
Audrey:Eden’s alive and looks okay, thank God.
I stopped walking, unable to handle being a dick and ignoring her.
I sent her a quick reply, letting her know Ryder already told me and that I was glad Eden was safe.
Another message came from Ryder as I started walking again, unsure if we’d be suiting up and joining them on an op to end this tonight.
Ryder:Four heavily armed military-aged males just exited the vehicle. None of our HVTs.
Me:Can they get clear images of them so we can ID who these other bastards are?
Ryder:They tried, but they’re hunkered down far away and lighting is shit. They’re using scopes and thermal imaging, and the men are currently all inside. If any come back out, they’ll try again.
I went into the hotel, careful of the cameras, then took the service stairwell.
Me:What are Echo’s orders?
Ryder:Sit tight for now. Wait and watch. Only move in if they feel Eden’s at risk.
That’s what I’d figured.
Ryder:I’ve requested additional reinforcements. They’ll be cutting it tight, but I don’t think we have a choice.
Ryder:Feels like we’re going up against ourselves here, and I don’t like it.
Me:Even worse. They’re us but with ten to fifteen years more experience under their belts.
Ryder:Don’t remind me. Now get your ass up here already.
I hurried to the eighth floor, returning to our suite. The door swung open before I could use my key. Hollis must’ve had eyes on the hallway and knew I was coming. She let me in and stepped aside.
Audrey was across the room by the windows. She slowly looked up at me. “Hi.” The word sounded so damn small, while also somehow full of emotion.
I remained a statue as she started for me.
All I could think about, all I could remember, was that she’d kissed Trevor in her bedroom. Well, not that I’d witnessed that myself. God didn’t hate me that much to force me to see it, I supposed.
“Are you okay?” She lingered in front of me, fingers drumming at her sides as if fighting the urge to reach for me.
“I need to be alone, I’m sorry.” I moved around her, hating myself for being cold, but I was too upset to talk to her right now. “I’ll be in my room. If something changes, let me know.”
I took off my hat and tossed it on one of the two queen beds. I was about to shut the door when Audrey blocked my ability to do so.
“You can’t just walk away like that and expect me not to worry.” She opened her palms, staring at me with narrowed eyes. “Talk to me. What’s going on? What happened?”
My jaw clenched, body locking tight. I was in an irrational state of mind. Hurt one too many times. “I can’t do this, I’m sorry. I’m mad at you. I have no right to be, but I am.” I looked away from her, unable to handle the sight of her being sad. “Please, just leave.”
