“What’s wrong?” Benny asks.
“Shh. Hold my bag.”
I drop the handle without looking back and raise my phone, already snapping photos of the man across the street lingering near the coffee cart as it opens for the morning.
His head is on a swivel. I can tell he’s on high alert.
My pulse spikes as I walk closer, switching to video to record. A sick feeling rumbles in my stomach as I inch closer.
I fucking knew it.
The coffee vendor hands him a cup just as a horn blares down the block, causing the guy to look up and lock eyes with me. He freezes, but for only a split second, before the cup hits the pavement and he bolts.
“Motherfucker.”
I take off after him, ignoring Benny shouting behind me. The coffee guy is yelling about the mess, but I don’t slow down.
I pump my arms hard, cursing the brand-new Ferragamo loafers that were definitely not designed for sprinting through Manhattan at dawn.
There’s no ducking and weaving; the streets are near empty on this Sunday morning, but still, he had a head start, and he’s fast as hell.
Shit.
I push harder, and my lungs are burning as I blow through a red light, nearly eating pavement on a section of sidewalk the city still hasn’t fixed. Then I see him cut across Houston just as the light turns.
My stomach drops.
I know I’m fucked, there is no way I’m going to make it.
Cars are already driving through the intersection with no clear way across, not without getting taken out by a speeding car.
I lose sight of him as he disappears behind a building.
“Fuck!”
With a shaky hand, I pull out my phone, go through my contacts, and press send.
“Ethan Scott.”
“Ethan, I need you to pull some of Juliette’s security detail until you can send people over to New York.” I pant. “Immediately.”
“Whoa, slow down, Davenport,” Ethan says sharply. “What’s going on? Lincoln giving you problems again?”
“No. Well, he could be involved. I wouldn’t put it past him.” I force my breathing under control. “Remember the guy who knocked on my door the other day? He was back last night.”
“Fuck.”
“It gets worse.” My jaw tightens. “I was heading out to the airport and spotted him across the street not ten minutes ago. He was casing the building.”
“I’m on it.”
Nausea rolls through me. What if I didn’t see him?
“Something’s off. I don’t know what he wants, but this isn’t a coincidence anymore.”
“I’ve already sent a message to the guys. You’ll have one stationed outside the building, one in front of your door, and Leo’s until I can send a full crew later today.”
“Thanks.”
