“Is that right? Well, next time. You seen Emily?” I’d let her get some sleep this morning and gone home at the crack of dawn to change my clothes.
“Yea, she was around here somewhere. I think she said she was taking Darby out for coffee or something.”
“Oh, really?” I glanced at her desk and frowned. “She left her phone here? And her cuffs and pepper spray,” I worried.
Hunter sighed, heading to his desk. “I don’t think she was planning on robbing the coffee place, so I guess it’s all good. Relax, man, it’s a coffee run.”
“And she’s an agent now, and at least one skip knows her face. It’s dangerous.”
“It’s pumpkin spice lattes. Chill,” Hunter tossed at me and then put his headphones on and got to work. I grabbed my laptop and opened it, unease churning my stomach. After a few minutes of pretending to work but really watching the clock, I slammed the lid shut.
“I mean, what’s taking so long?” I demanded to no one in particular. Hunter ignored me while Troy tilted his head to the side and narrowed his eyes. I trusted both of them with my life — they were part of our original squad during our first tour — but I trusted Troy’s gut more than Hunter’s. He stood up suddenly, and I felt my heart pulse hard in my chest with a sense of danger.
He reached for his jacket and nodded toward the door. I didn’t need him to speak to know what he meant.Let’s go and check.
He didn’t have to ask twice. I followed him outside as Hunter sighed dramatically.
We walked toward the local coffee place, fall leaves crunching under our boots.
“So, you and Emily, that’s finally happening?” Troy said, stunning me. I didn’t know why I was so surprised. Troy saw everything that was going on in that office.
I nodded. I wasn’t going to lie to him, and besides, I knew he’d never tell Bennet.
“Congratulations, I know it’s been a long time coming.”
“Too long.”
“Yeah, but now it’s here. Don’t waste time on regrets,” he reminded me, pushing open the coffee shop door and letting out a gust of warm, cinnamon spiced air. Inside, I stilled, my tension racketing back up to a new high.
“She’s not here.”
“Call Darby.”
Troy already had his phone in his hand. I didn’t even have the new girl’s number, but Troy did, thankfully. He waited as the phone rang and then his brow scrunched as he heard something, before he lowered his phone and fixed me a look that was a sucker punch to the gut.
“What it is? Tell me,” I demanded.
“The guy Emily’s been going after saw them. He grabbed Emily when she came out the coffee place, and Darby followed.”
“Where are they now?” My blood was already roaring, ready for a fight. I’d end this motherfucker for touching Emily.
“A back alley off Orchard Street. Diesel—” Troy stopped me as I turned to sprint toward Orchard.
“What?” I practically yelled, anxiety making me sloppy and panicked.
“He has a gun.” Troy was calm, despite the words he’d just said. “Now, calm the fuck down, and get a grip. Remember who you are,” he said starkly. That statement sobered me and reminded me of my training. Running in hot could make more problems than it solved. He was right. I couldn’t afford to be emotional.
“Call Bennet and update him. I have to get over there, but I won’t engage before we check it out,” I promised, hoping I could keep my word.
Five minutes later,we were standing at the mouth of the alley, and Darby was with us. Her enormous eyes were wide with worry, and I could see how only her training had held her back. She was a former Marine, just like us, and she wanted to bust in there and help Emily, but that’s not how we did things. We worked as a team, something that was really riling me up right now.
“What did he say?” Troy asked her.
She blew out a frustrated breath. “He ranted how he can’t get any relief from this court stuff. He thought Emily was there to try to catch him again, and he just lost it. He’s armed and seems to be on something as well — erratic and violent.”
I turned and resisted the urge to smash my fist into the wall beside the nearby dumpster. I couldn’t stand the thought of Emily being alone with that guy for one more second.
“Ok, I’ve got the info, thanks. I’ve considered all options and I’m going in. Alone,” I told them, steadying myself.