Minutes later, the food arrived. Reaper and Havoc woke up and joined them, and Rogue returned from his call.
While eating, they went over Rex’s background and where he could be hiding. “Goddammit, he could’ve left the country by now,” Rogue said, throwing down his half-eaten burger.
Reaper shook his head. Certainty flashed in his dark-brown eyes. “No. He’s got unfinished business. Otherwise he would’ve left weeks ago.”
Atlas nodded in agreement. He needed to believe Rex was within reach because he had business with the fucker.
The business of smashing in his face.
“We’ve gotta speak with Harry,” Havoc said. “Who’s coming with me?”
Atlas glanced at his watch. It was just after 8:00 p.m. While he wanted nothing more than to get information from their source, he needed to catch some shut-eye in case they landed Rex’s location tonight.
Rogue pointed at him. “You need sleep. I could use some also. The three most rested guys are going.”
“I feel fine,” Viper chimed in.
Rogue glared at him. “You know the drill. We rotate with shifts and we all need sleep.”
That meant Havoc, Reaper, and Wraith. The guys rounded up their Glocks, tucked them in the waistbands at their backs, then left.
Rogue stood. “Could be a long night. If they get info from Harry, we’re bringing Rex in tonight. I’m gonna rest for a while.”
Atlas stood. “Yeah, me too.”
They all cleaned up the table, then Viper dropped on the pull out. Atlas crossed through the door between their rooms and into the bedroom, closing the door behind him. Locating his charger, he plugged his phone into the wall near the bed then dropped down on the mattress.
Exhaustion hit him like a dumbbell to the chest. He rolled onto his side and closed his eyes. Amber irises and angelic blond hair filled his mind. The thought of Molly’s sweet smell and feminine softness tickled his senses.
Need stirred his cock. In the parking lot, all he’d wanted to do was kiss her. To stand there forever and commit every fine line of her pretty face to memory. Molly had ignited desire in him so deep and raw he was certain he’d never fill the emptiness without her touch.
Regret hit him fast and hard. He might never see her again. He’d promised to call her once they’d secured Rex, but that didn’t mean much. Sure, he could ask her out, but they’d have only a small window before his next job.
And he couldn’t stay in Panama.
“Fuck,” he mumbled with irritation. He had to get Molly out of his head because running on fumes and fatigue would guarantee a bullet between his eyes tonight.
He pushed away all thoughts and fell into a dark wasteland of jungle leaves and snakes.
Chapter
Eight
Molly sat on the couch, the empty takeout containers on the coffee table in front of her. She’d managed to get into her apartment without being stopped by her neighbors. Thank god because she hadn’t figured out how to explain her absence—and appearance—to those she spoke with often.
Word would get out that she was home, and it was likely people would come by to see her. Not that she had friends in Panama outside Tara, but she did have a couple of caring neighbors, including Sandy Milne, who lived two doors down.
Sandy worked as a flight attendant and had given Molly a key to her apartment so she could pop in to check on her cats while she was away. Guilt sat in the pit of her stomach. She hoped Sandy had found someone to care for the animals and that they hadn’t gone without food and water.
Tomorrow she’d stop by Sandy’s place. Thankfully, Molly kept Sandy’s key in her kitchen cupboard and not on her key chain. She’d leave Sandy a note explaining what had happened and that she’d be happy to resume caring for the cats.
For how long, she couldn’t say. Coming to Panama had been an adventure. A way to escape her sheltered life back home. Until a couple of weeks ago, she’d loved every minute. Now, the little life she’d created was tainted. Perhaps with therapy and time, the trauma would pass and she could move on.
But would she see Atlas again?
Her heart ached at the thought that it might not happen. Atlas had been a comforting presence for her when she’d needed it the most. A true, rare gift. Part of her wondered if he was even real. Maybe she’d imagined this whole thing and had just escaped on her own.
Oh god. I’m losing my mind.
