Page 44

I remained silent rather than admit he was right. And if I was being honest, I was impressed he could cover our tracks. Not that I’d tell him.

Watching Brandon weave his cyber magic piqued my interest. “What else can you do on that thing?”

He continued typing lines of mumbo jumbo. “Chances are if you can imagine it, I can do it.”

I guessed that explained why he wasn’t stressed about hiding here, even though it still made me uneasy.

Brandon pulled a cell phone from his laptop bag. “You should call Lettie and tell her to stay somewhere else for a while. This is encrypted and untraceable.”

Oh God. Lettie!

“She’s staying at her boyfriend’s tonight. Will she be safe there?”

He nodded and passed me the phone. “Shep just killed the Wolf Street Mob’s boss, so he’ll be their immediate focus. It takes the heat off us, too.”

“Okay.” I exhaled deeply before tying my hair into a high pony. How the hell was I going to explain to Lettie that we couldn’t go home until…well, I had no idea when we could return.

I dialed on speaker because I figured Brandon needed to hear this call. Lettie would have a bunch of questions, and I wasn’t sure which were appropriate to answer.

She picked up on the third ring. “Make it fast. I’m busy,” she barked, obviously not knowing I was on the other end of the line.

“Lettie, it’s me.”

“Sage? I’ve been trying to call you nonstop. Are you okay?”

I paced beside the large window overlooking the city and the Delaware River. “Sorry, my phone got busted. And I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?” I rolled my eyes at hownotfine I was.

“Sirens have been screaming past James’s building for the last half hour, and social media is blowing up about some shit that went down at Vixens.”

“Wow. Vixens? Really?” I winced at my pathetic attempt to act clueless.

“As if you know nothing about it. Where are you?”

I glanced at Brandon, who gave a sharp shake of his head. “I can’t say. Lettie, I have to tell you something, but you have to promise not to freak out, all right?”

“There’s zero chance of that. Just hit me with it.”

“I need you to stay with James for a while.”

“Why?” From Lettie’s demanding tone, I knew she’d be nailing me with her stare of death if I were standing before her. It was intimidating enough to make a grown man’s balls shrivel to raisins.

“Because…” I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Because it might not be safe at our apartment right now.”

Silence. “Shit. You were at the club tonight, weren’t you? How many times did I tell you to stay away from that place?” She raised her voice. “And now look what’s happened!”

Lettie didn’t even know the half of it. “You’re right, okay? I should never have gone near Vixens. I’m so sorry I dragged you into this.”

I’d done it again. My actions had endangered the lives of others because of my stupidity and pigheadedness. Tears stung the backs of my eyes, and my throat closed over.Don’t cry. Don’t cry.

“I understand why you did it. I just wish you had a better sense of self-preservation,” Lettie said, her tone a little calmer. “I’m sorry, too. I shouldn’t have snapped at you. Are you all right? Please tell me you’re somewhere safe.”

“I am. I’m fine, really.”

Brandon approached and topped off my champagne. He watched me closely with worry lines etched into his brow as I downed half the glass in one shot. “Thanks,” I said. He nodded and returned to his computer. My gaze shifted to the bloodstained apron around his bicep. We needed to take care of that soon.

“Is someone there with you?” Lettie asked.

“You can tell her,” Brandon said.