Eli.
I answer immediately. “Talk.”
His breathing comes through hard and uneven. Running. “Connor got partial plate. Dom’s already running it. Van turned east off Marlow, then cut through side streets. Tate’s on foot trying to catch camera angles. I’m heading toward Parker now. Dom’s pulling a feed from the gas station.”
“Eyes?”
“Not yet.”
My grip on Olivia adjusts. She feels it. Her eyes lift to my face. I keep mine forward. “Get them.”
“We’re trying.”
“Try harder.”
“Yes.”
I end the call before he apologizes again. Not useful. An apology doesn’t put the van back in sight.
Olivia’s fingers curl against my shirt. “They’re following it?”
I look down. “Yes.”
Her throat moves. “Good.”
No.
Not good.
Not yet.
But I don’t say that.
Headlights turn the corner too fast, then slow before pulling up near the curb. Two SUVs. Dark. Clean. Club cages.
Hammer gets out of the first one, broad shoulders filling the space between the vehicle and the street.
Joker steps out of the second. Joker looks at the alley first. Then Olivia in my arms. Then me. His face doesn’t move much, but his eyes go darker. That’s his version of understanding.
Hammer crosses toward Tessa and Mia. “You two with me.”
Tessa looks him up and down despite the fear still sitting on her face. “Are you Hammer?”
He gives one short nod.
“Of course you are,” she mutters. “Why wouldn’t you be?”
Hammer looks at me. “They know anything?”
“No.”
Tessa snaps, “We know she got hurt.”
Hammer looks back at her, and for a second I expect him to scare her quiet without meaning to. Instead, he says, “Then you know enough for tonight.”
Tessa’s mouth opens.
Hammer adds, “You want to help her, get in the cage, let me get you home safe, and don’t make her worry about you while her head’s about to fall off.”
