“Believe me, he’ll spill his guts as soon as I get my hands on him.”
I wince, and unfortunately, Winger sees it.
“I need answers,” he says.
“I know, I know,” I tell him breezily. “I just, I don’t think I can be there for that.”
“You won’t be.” His voice is firm, leaving no room for argument.
“Okay,” I agree.
“Are you sure you’re okay with it, Max? Because it won’t be the first time I’ve hurt someone to get what I need, and it certainly won’t be the last. Can you live with that?”
“Of course I can. I wish I were strong enough to do it myself.” My tone carries a note of censure that he would even question that. “I’m not a hypocrite, Winger. I just have a weak stomach, and the screams… I don’t like the screams.” I lose a little steam at the end of my argument as the truth comes out.
His fingers cover mine and give them a soft, reassuring squeeze. The interior of the car is so quiet, I hear his phone vibrate in the next second. It’s a good thing too, otherwise I might have kissed him again if it hadn’t.
“Yeah?” he answers, and a few seconds lapse before he adds, “Find a place to park and watch. See if anyone follows him in or out. I’ll plant the tracker in case he made you.”
I already have my fingers wrapped around the door handle, anticipating getting out. As soon as Winger pockets his phone again, I stick one foot out.
“Where are you going?” His fingers curl tightly around my forearm.
“With you.”
“No. If he has someone else watching, they would know to look for you.” He shakes his head.
“So I’m supposed to just sit here?”
“I’ll only be gone a few minutes.” He dangles a key fob in front of my face. “If anything goes wrong, you get the hell out of here. I don’t care if you have to run someone over, you leave and head back to the apartment.”
“And leave you here?” I’m incredulous.
His response is emphatic. “Yes. I’m not kidding, Max, not about this. If you don’t listen to me, I will lock your ass back in that apartment until I kill everyone on that list and let you be pissed at me for it.”
“Fine.” I yank the door closed again. I’m pouting, I know I’m pouting, and it’s stupid. All he’s doing is planting a tracker. I don’t need to be glued to his side.
Winger tips my chin toward him with his fingertips, forcing me to look at him. “I expect you to be here when I get back, Max. If not, I expect you home in two and a half hours. Don’t bother trying to leave me. My resources are unlimited. I will find you.”
“Just hurry up.” I turn my chin away from him.
The door closes much softer than I just slammed mine, and then he strolls in front of the car, making sure I see him while I’m staring out the windshield. Wearing jeans and a fitted T-shirt, he looks casual, but anyone with half a brain would know he’s anything but. He moves fluidly with a confidence born of past accomplishments.
The people around him take notice of his presence too. Women watch him as he passes, giving him a second look once they are out of his line of sight, as if they were afraid he would catch them looking. Men subtly shift out of his way, stepping around him on the sidewalk.
I watch his retreating back for as long as he’s visible, then I train my gaze on the entrance to the park to see if I can spot Ian.
The steady flow of foot traffic keeps me busy for the next several minutes. I scan everyone who gets close, and I start to wonder if maybe I somehow missed Ian, but then a man catches my attention. He’s slim and dressed in black slacks and a thin gray jacket. When he turns his head to check behind him, I suck in a breath through my teeth. It’s Ian, there’s no question.
The click of the door opening startles me enough that I let out a little squeak. Winger ducks his head in and pauses to look at me.
I avert my gaze and look for Ian again, but he’s already gone. “Did you even wait for him to get out of the car before planting it? You almost beat him here. He just walked in.”
“Really? He’s either slow as hell, or he didn’t come straight here.” Winger glances in the direction of the entrance.
“He seemed to be keeping up with everyone around him,” I tell him.
“Let’s loop around a few times and see if we spot anything.” Winger angles out of the parking spot.
