“I understand now why you’ve had a stick up your ass since we left Pittsburgh,” Atlas said, breaking the still air in the car.
“The hell is that supposed to mean?”
Atlas lifted a hand in surrender. “I’m sayin’ I understand, asshole.” He sighed. “Leaving Molly reminds me of the night you left me with Laine and Emmy.” Regret churned inside him and mixed with the guilt he’d carried since that night.
The night his best friend almost lost his family—because of him.
“Oh,” Rogue said softly. “Yeah. I think about that day all the time. More now that I’m not there with them.”
His friend jerked his head to face him for a moment, then refocused on the road. “You feel the same leaving Molly?”
Atlas rubbed his thumb over his fingertips. “It’s hard not to. Something happening to Molly might be my karma for what happened to Laine and Emmy.”
“Laine and Emmy are fine.”
“I know. But they almost weren’t.”
“There’s no karma on you, man. It wasn’t your fault. Besides, don’t forget, you almost fucking died, too.”
Atlas’s chest tingled and his leg ached at the memory. He’d never forget it. Because when Rogue should’ve been focused on finding his girlfriend and her daughter, he’d been keeping Atlas alive until help arrived.
“Anyway,” he drawled, not wanting to bring up any more shit. “I get it. It sucks leaving people behind.”
“You’ve fallen for her, haven’t you?” Rogue’s question didn’t carry even a hint of amusement. Just curiosity. Maybe even empathy.
“I like her. A lot. I don’t want anything to happen to her.” It was more than that. So much more. “I’ve only known her two days. Hell, barely that.”
“Two days in battle is a lifetime. And it’s been a battle since the moment we found her.”
Atlas stared out of the window. The scenery had changed. Instead of high-rises, now he saw large industrial buildings, narrower streets, and even fewer streetlights.
“Nothing’s going to happen to Molly—Rex is right here,” Rogue said, as he pulled into a back parking lot a few buildings down from the warehouse. “Harry’s inside and confirmed Rex is there.”
“Doesn’t mean he won’t send someone after her.”
Rogue shifted into park. “I realize that.” He clapped his hand on Atlas’s shoulder. “So let’s make this quick. We both have women we want to get home to.” He withdrew his hand, a muscle jumping at his temple. Amusement swam in his friend’s hazel eyes. “For what it’s worth, I like her.”
Atlas smirked. “Not too much, I hope. Wouldn’t want to have to beat your ass today.”
Rogue barked out a laugh. “I’ve got eyes only for Laine.”
Headlights shone in Atlas’s side-view mirror as the guys pulled in behind him. Moments later their men slid into the back seat.
“Earpiece test,” Reaper said, passing out the bugs.
While waiting for their pizza to arrive back at the hotel, they’d cemented their plan. Atlas and Viper would head to the back exit of the warehouse, which faced an alley.
Harry had confirmed a shipment was coming in now, which meant someone would be at the loading dock. Rogue had also received the code for the front entrance from Harry, which would allow Reaper, Havoc, and him to get in undetected.
Atlas tucked the little device into his ear.
“Test,” Reaper said.
Everyone echoed their response.
“Move out,” Rogue commanded.
Atlas climbed out of the front passenger seat, his AR-15 slung around his chest. A handgun sat at the small of his back, and a knife was strapped snugly to his ankle.
