“Well fuck.”
I bristle. ‘What-what is it?”
Ben twists in his seat to check the monitor that still has the transaction photos up.
He scrolls through the data, then sits back in shock.
“Colin Jester just crossed state lines from Missouri to Iowa.”
That’s close--too close to where we are.
“Where was he coming from?”
Somehow, I know what he’s about to say next.
“The drop off that we just saw him do was in Ransom, Texas.”
Gabe looks at me, his eyes widening at the realization.
Ransom was my last assignment before Gabe lured me here.
Sotnas is getting close, and that could only mean one thing.
Ria wasn’t the only one being followed.
I was too.
* * *
Luckily,Gabe and I had enough training drilled into us that when I first came here, we made a few stops and circled around in the event we were being followed.
Regardless of how I felt at the time, my training was ingrained into me.
Safety and security come second nature to me.
Even if Sotnas did follow me to Nebraska, there was no way they could have followed us to the cabin without us noticing.
Walker and To also assured me that they weren’t made on their way here with Ria and Adrian, but I wasn’t going to gamble my family’s lives based on assurances.
Within a few hours I secured backup. Again. But not before Ben ran a background check on them and I approved every single one assigned to support us on this case.
I have agents posted at the nearest town and in the clearing a few hundred yards away, along with a few who set up camp across the river from the cabin.
We’ve also clued in local enforcement.
CJ won’t be able to enter the state without our knowledge.
Adrian stirs and my head clears instantly.
I gaze down at my son sleeping on my chest. He had slept through the night but woke up as I was entering the room, like he sensed his daddy in the room.
I bite my bottom lip hard enough to taste copper to keep the sobs from coming.
Now is not the time for me to break down and curse the powers that be for inflicting this on us.
I have to stay strong. I’m the one who’s supposed to be in control and protect my family.
I shift Adrian to one arm, leaving the bottle I just used to feed him on the arm of the recliner.