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Baruti held up his hands. “Let’s take this back to the hotel, huh?”
“That’s a good idea,” Kelsey chimed in.
Jessica remained silent, staring up at Samuel.
“Get walking,” he said in a cold tone.
Those words hurt for some reason.
Jessica turned and fell into step with Kelsey.
“Thank you,” Jessica muttered.
Kelsey glanced at her. “It was a calculated risk. We lost this one. That’s all there is to it.”
Was there, though?
They walked almost a whole block in silence. Baruti led the way with Samuel hot on Jessica’s heels. She could feel his angry glare every now and then.
She’d really fucked this up.
But was it really too good to be true?
Eventually, the hotel came into view. She hadn’t given Oliver the closest tube station to the hotel on purpose.
Would they stay here? Did they think it was another risk?
When Baruti entered and climbed to the second floor, so did she. They filed into the guy’s room. The adjoining door was open again, and she eyed it longingly, tempted to flee in there and lock herself away.
It sucked being wrong.
“Is it safe to stay here?” Kelsey asked.
“I don’t fucking know,” Samuel replied.
Baruti went into the other room and peered out onto the street. “We weren’t followed, but this Oliver character could already know where we are.”
Samuel whirled to face Jessica and Kelsey. “What the hell happened out there?”
Jessica winced and took a deep breath. “I messed up.”
“I’ll say.”
She watched him cross his arms over his chest. His face was mostly in shadow, giving him an ominous air.
“Let’s focus on one thing at a time, right?” Baruti stepped between them. “Are we staying here? Or are we moving?”
“I think we stay put,” Kelsey said. “Jessica had him on speaker when he called and I listened to their exchange. I’m not certain the guy was going to do anything.”
“I was wondering if he intended to shake me down for some cash,” Jessica admitted.
Kelsey nodded. “He seemed very worked up. There was no one else there. It just doesn’t add up if this guy is after Jessica for this Edward guy. Besides, we’re at most risk when making rash, snap decisions. And we all know we’re most vulnerable when moving. It’s past midnight now. Where are we going to go? How are we getting there? Who is to say it’s more secure?”
“Agreed,” Baruti said. “Though I do say we move first thing in the morning.”
Samuel began to pace. “I think we should go the fuck home.”
Jessica was partially inclined to agree with him, but she couldn’t give up. Not after they’d come so far.