“I’m not going to approach her, but we can’t lose her now. I’ll stay a safe distance back,” James said.
“I’ll go with you,” Lachlan said, and all eyes turned to him.
James looked to him, their eyes locking.
“I owe Fred this, if nothing else,” Lachlan said with a nod.
James exhaled a long breath and nodded, but he didn’t have time to jump up and down with joy.
“I’ll drive. Let’s go!” Deacon said as Cami stood, rushing toward the second weapons room they’d built next to Samuel’s office, because it was the most efficient place to have a supply room for their use only.
She unlocked the room, grabbed pistols and vests, and thrust them at Lachlan and Deacon.
In less than two minutes they were in Deacon’s car and en route. James loved the design of that building. Their first headquarters had been good, but this one was built with everything they needed—and built for efficiency. They had the fastest elevators in the world, and it meant they could get from Samuel’s office near the top of the building and into the garage and on the streets in less than a minute. One more minute for weapon selection and they were lethal and ready for attack.
Adrenaline pulsed through his veins.
He was going to look Widow in the eye then finish what he’d started.
JAMES
“She’s at the ticket counter, fourth in line. We have eyes on her, sixth in line,”Samuel said through his earpiece.
“Copy,” James said, his eyes dropping to his watch. He needed to be at the station before that train came.
“I’m trying,” Deacon said, groaning as he turned into grid-locked traffic. “Shit.”
James shook his head. He was so close to Widow, he was not letting her slip through his fingers again. Cars were backed up as far as he could see, but he didn’t need a navigation system to know they were close.
“We’ll get out here. Meet us at the station,” James said, his hand already on the door handle.
“I’ll see you there,” Deacon said. They both knew they needed a car at the station for whatever happened next. A quick getaway, an injured man, Black Widow’s lifeless body... whatever it was, they needed an exit and by the time this was done, traffic should’ve cleared nicely—at least for New York.
James looked over his shoulder. Lachlan leaned forward, appearing calm but James could see in his eyes he was ready. Sometimes, as much you didn’t want to face things in life, tying up loose ends gave one a sense of satisfaction like nothing else.
“Let’s go,” James said as he opened the door, stepping out into the traffic and honking horns.
Lachlan was right beside him as they wove through the cars and ran down the sidewalks, weaving between busy pedestrians eager to get home from work. James was eager too, but his shift was just beginning.
“What is the plan for the station?” Lachlan asked.
“Once we know what train she’s planning to board, and the platform she’ll leave from, we’ll formulate a plan. Right now, I just want to get to the station so we’re close enough to her that she can’t slip away. My guys watching her are good, but as we both know, no one is slipperier than Widow. I can’t let her go now, not when we’re this close,” James said, stealing a sideways glance at Lachlan.
His eyes swirled and he gave a tight nod.
Lachlan might not be thrilled at this unplanned development in his life, but James knew the pull to finish this with Widow was greater. Lachlan Taylor was in, even if he didn’t fully know it yet. If Widow lived to see another sunrise, Lachlan wouldn’t walk away from her. Not now. Not when they were so close.
They ran through the streets, keeping a steady pace.
“We can see the terminal,” James said. “Where is she?” He was surprised another update hadn’t come through. She should have a ticket by now, she should be moving toward the platform. Worry crept up his throat but he pushed it down.
“The passenger in front of her took a while to organize his ticket... some issue with the time and then his credit card wasn’t working. She received her two tickets a moment ago. The train leaves in ten minutes.”
The pit of James’s stomach churned and he picked up his pace. He was getting on that train.
“You said two tickets,” James said, frowning.
“Correct, she purchased two tickets but she appears to be alone. Matt is getting two tickets for you now. The other agents are tracking her,”Samuel said.