“As long as it takes.” She held the man’s green stare.
With afair enoughtilt of his head, Baker reminded her, “You have my number. Use it if you need it.” And then, with a parting, “Stay safe out there,” he turned and walked away.
She watched him go, waiting until he was out the door and walking across the lot before picking up the manilla envelope from the table and heading out herself. Shadow folded the envelope vertically in half, and then…as Baker had done…she shoved it into the back pocket of her jeans.
The hem of her black leather jacket was just long enough to keep the envelope hidden, as well as the holstered pistol she carried at her hip. She made her way down the tiled aisle between the booths and the bar stools, her head moving from side to side as she walked out into the night in search of her car.
When she’d first arrived, Shadow had purposely parked as close to the diner’s entrance as she could. Even backed into the space in case the need arose for an expedient getaway.
Baker wasn’t wrong to be concerned, nor was her father. But what neither man understood—what they couldn’t possibly comprehend—was that until she took down the man who’d murdered her mother, Shadow would never truly be able to find peace.
I will get justice for you, Mom. Even if it’s the last thing I do.
A sudden breeze lifted her ponytail into the air, whipping its thick ends around from behind her shoulder. She secured the unruly locks with her left hand while retrieving the key fob from her jacket pocket. Pointing it toward her car, parked several feet away, she pressed the button to unlock its doors.
Technically the vehicle wasn’t hers. It was a rental that had been secured under a name other than her own.
Shadow opened the door and slid behind the wheel before locking herself safely inside. Her hand reached for the button to fire up the ignition, but she paused at the last minute when Baker’s words from earlier rang through her mind.
Sweetheart, this has suicide mission written all the hell over it.
She shook her head with a huff, brushing off the notion that she was in any actual danger. “No one even knows you’re here.”
Pulling in a long, deep breath, she exhaled slowly and pushed the damn button. The car’s engine came to life with a gentle roar without a single sign of impending doom or danger. With a mental reminder not to let paranoia screw with her head, Shadow put the car in gear and drove away.
The no-tell motel she’d chosen for the duration of her stay was only a few miles down the road. After the short and sweet drive there, she was grateful to find the empty parking spot directly in front of her door.
Not that she’d have had far to walk if it wasn’t. The rathole, two-level establishment wasn’t that big, and it had most definitely seen better days.
But it was cash only, no questions asked, and there wasn’t a single camera in sight. Normally, those things would be huge ass red flags she’d avoid at all costs. In this instance, however…
No cameras plus no payment trail equals no proof I was ever here.
It was the best kind of math for someone in her situation. And since she wasn’t much for sleeping these days, Shadow figured it didn’t matter much where she stayed.
Right on cue, a yawn parted her lips as she opened her door and climbed out of the car. Damn. Maybe tonight would be different, and she’d finally be able to get some rest.
Feeling hopeful—and emotionally drained—she reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out the room-specific key. Stepping up onto the sidewalk lining the building’s front, Shadow walked the few steps to her room.
She stopped, checking that no one had entered her room in her absence. When she saw the tiny scrap of paper was still stuck between the door’s bottom right corner and the frame, she felt confident the coast was clear.
With the white plastic number plate dangling from the metal ring, she inserted the key and gave a turn of her wrist. As expected, the door unlocked with ease.
Shadow stepped inside the unlit room, more than ready to call it a night. Tossing her room key onto the bed positioned a few feet away, she turned around and started to push the door closed when a man’s hand came into view.
What the…
A set of masculine fingers wrapped around the door’s edge, preventing her from closing it all the way. The reality of what was happening sank deep in an instant, and she rushed to try to slam the door shut.
A deep grunt reached her ears, and a second later, the jerk pushed against it with far more strength than she could hope to possess. Shadow lost her footing, stumbling back a few feet, but she still had the wherewithal to reach for her gun.
Her hand went to her hip. She pulled the weapon free from its holster, regaining her balance before swinging the pistol up and around.
“Don’t!” The shadowed man growled, swinging an arm out to block her.
The unexpected contact caused her to lose her precious grip, and the gun went flying out of her hand.
No!
