He doesn’t look at me. Instead, his eyes drop to my hand resting on his, which makes me suddenly overly aware of the contact. My palm instinctively starts to warm, and as I’m about to pull it away, his hand flips over, and his fingers wrap around mine.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and Cole releases my hand. The screen shows TJ, and knowing Track and Hope are gone, I answer.
“Hey.” I peek at Cole.
He stares out the window, most likely trying to figure out who’d do this. That’s what I want to know, and I’m going to figure it out.
“I’ve got a situation.” TJ’s quiet, serious work tone gets my attention. “I’m at the Marquee watching Nichols, but one of our contacts sent a message saying they suspect activity.”
I try to shift modes back to my real life.
“We don’t have a lot of time,” TJ’s urgent, hushed tone does the trick. “Nichols is having drinks with a small group in the lounge. I think this is why they’re here, but I’m not sure. I don’t feel good about this.”
I glance at Cole.
Shit.
“I have Cole. We’re on our way back from the stadium.”
TJ lets out a low, forceful, “Fuck! Ry, Track is gone. Jos is at The O, and she can’t. . . If I go, these guys could—”
“No, you stay. You make sure they don’t leave their drinks.” I feel Cole’s eyes on me now. “I’ll search and recover.”
“Ryder, going in alone is—”
“We don’t have a choice this time.” I quickly cut over to another lane, pressing on the gas, and Cole sits up straighter.“I’ve got this. Message me if one of them leaves. I’m about ten out.”
“Ry,” his low, soft tone catches me before I hang up. “You need to be quiet, unseen, with minimal damage. The card and number are stashed in the usual spot. I’m not sure what’s happening yet, but this is so much bigger than this one.”
“I got it. You’d better give Rodrigez a heads up in case I hit trouble.”
“On it. Be careful.”
I click end as my adrenaline soars, and I accelerate a little more.
“Uh. . .you want to tell me why we’re speeding?”
My eyes snap to Cole’s.
Fuck.What do I do with him? I don’t have time.
I reach behind the driver’s seat for my backpack and set it on the center console. “TJ needs my help. You uh. . . ”
I can’t send him home. I need to sweep the apartment, and anything could happen between the parking garage and his door.
Tick. Tick. Tick.
The clock is ticking.
“Shit!” I grip the steering wheel tight, making a fast right turn. Two miles between me and. . .
“Listen, I need you to follow directions. No time for questions.”
His brows pull together. “What’s going on?”
“You’re going to drop me off behind the hotel up ahead and drive. Make sure no one is following, just like I taught you. You keep doing that until you hear from me.”
“What?” His upper body shifts toward me.
