He shoved the drive and phone in his pocket, locked the panel door, and grabbed her hand. “Let’s go.”
Sasha clutched him tight as she scanned the park with wary eyes, as if she couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched, either.
When they reached the car, he handed her back the chain and key. He didn’t know how sentimental they might be for her. But damn it, he hated the thought that Sasha might be sitting right beside him and pining for Mike when some part of him wanted her to be his so damn badly he could barely stand it.
She slipped them back around her neck. “Now what?”
He pulled out of his parking spot and back onto the road. “We have to find some way to read what’s on this drive. Make sure it’s the evidence Mike meant to leave us.” That time, weather, and human tampering hadn’t erased it.
“Public libraries usually have computers anyone can use.”
“We can’t risk someone else getting a glimpse of whatever we’ve found, any virus zapping it, or any system administrator erasing it.”
“You’re right. Clifford is sneaky. He has eyes and ears everywhere.”
Which was why Nick felt like, now that he had the flash drive, he was racing against the clock. It was only a matter of time before the corrupt SOB came after them. He didn’t know how, when, or where; he just knew it was inevitable. He had to get the data to someone with enough power to take the DA down and get Sasha to safety.
Nick yanked his phone out of his pocket as he gunned the accelerator through a yellow light.
Xander picked up quickly. “You find it?”
“I think so.” Nick explained the situation. “I need a computer.”
“You just left the park? Go west on Veterans Memorial. A few blocks beyond Division, you’ll run into an electronics store on your left.” He rattled off the address of the big chain’s location. “I’ll have something ready for you by the time you get there. You’ll just have to haul inside and pick it up.”
“Thanks.” He frowned. “Are you tracking this SUV?”
“Yep.” Xander sounded proud of himself. “GPS is my friend.”
“You son of a bitch.”
“Well, I’m a son of a bitch who’s worried about you. Call me once you know what’s on the flash drive. And tell Sasha that Harper is doing really well today. Her fever has broken.”
“Will do.” Nick hung up and focused on the road, looking beside and behind him to ensure no one followed them as he relayed the message about the girl.
Sasha breathed a sigh of relief. “Xander seems like a good friend.”
“He and Javier are fantastic…now. Without London, I’m not sure either of them were going to make it much longer. Javier was quickly drinking himself to death after his first wife’s murder, and Xander seemed well on his way to getting some flesh-eating STD.”
“How did they wind up with the same woman?”
“Well, Xander and his brother weren’t speaking at the time. London was working as Javier’s secretary—and everyone knew he wanted her. So of course Xander was trying to seduce her. If the situation hadn’t been so fucked up, it would have been funny.”
“What I mean is that she’s not legally married to them both, so?—”
“No, she’s legally married to Xander. Dulce is biologically Javier’s daughter.” He shrugged. “I don’t know how they make it all work, but those three love each other. Whatever they share…it’s what they all need. I’ve never seen either brother happier.”
“If I hadn’t seen them for myself, I would have doubted a successful relationship like that was possible. I certainly would have been wary about London’s moral character.” Sasha winced. “I grew up in a pretty religious household, and my dad would label their marriage blasphemy. But they really opened my eyes, and I’m so grateful for all they’ve done.”
“Me, too.” Nick waded his way through more lunchtime traffic until they reached the electronics store. He parked and yanked the keys from the ignition. “Let’s go.”
Three minutes later, they were walking out with a top-of-the-line MacBook Pro that would have no problem reading—and storing—whatever was on Mike’s portable drive.
“Now what?”
Nick’s thoughts raced. They’d checked out of the motel. But if this contained what he thought it did, they couldn’t leave New Orleans without getting this fucking evidence to the FBI or the mayor—someone who could prosecute this wretched son of a bitch.
“You drive.” He tossed her the keys and made his way around the vehicle. “This computer may have just enough battery life to read whatever Mike left us.”
