Page 70 of Finding Denver

The million other things he could be doing. Sending men to Arizona. Going to Arizona himself. Finding out what else this guy knows. Going home.

But instead, he comes with us to the hotel. Colt doesn’t say much on the drive over, only asks me if I’m okay, and I nod quickly. Seeing him like that was … strange. He has a reputation for a reason, but witnessing it firsthand was intense.

We reach the hotel, and one of Charlie’s men, Victor, strides alongside us as we cross the lobby.

“I want six downstairs, two on each stairwell,” Colt says. “And two on each floor.”

I skid to a stop, giving Colt a pointed look. “Colt, this is my security, not yours.”

Victor keeps a neutral expression, but Lewis snickers, looking at Colt as if they’re siblings and he got away with the cookie that Colt was caught with.

Colt tenses his jaw and clearly swallows several words before gesturing for me to take over.

I say, “The floor below mine has been closed for maintenance for a few days. Send four men there now, because if Spider has anyone in this building, that’s where they’ll be.”

Colt looks like he’s rolling a bitter candy around his mouth. “If Spider’s men are there, four men?—”

“The elevator doesn’t stop there because they’re refurbishing, and the owners don’t want workmen sharing the elevator space with guests,” I interject. “Four men is enough with only one entrance and exit.” I wait for Colt to disagree, and he doesn’t. “Can I continue?”

“Yes.” He scowls, folding his arms.

I finish giving Victor instructions, and as Lewis, Colt and I take the elevator upstairs, Colt finally speaks.

“I’m used to giving orders.”

I take my gloves off. “There’s an apology in there somewhere.”

Lewis looks ready to combust with amusement. Colt Harland, Ghost, my old rival, rolls his neck. “I’m sorry.”

The doors ding open, and as I pass him, I smile. “Good boy.”

Lewis howls out a laugh, heading to his room, and I feel particularly smug as Colt follows me into mine. I’ve grown used to living mainly out of my suitcase, so I’m almost packed within twenty minutes. Colt waits by the door.

“So … who was the guy by the house?”

I lean out of the en suite, twisting my metal hairpin through my hair to pull it away from my face. “Who?”

“You were talking to someone before the gunshots.”

Right. The teacher with the question mark kids. “Just a dad. Why? Do you think he was involved?”

He shakes his head. “No, just—” He’s cut off by his phone ringing. “I’ll be one minute.” He disappears back into the living room, and I place my makeup bag in my open suitcase on the bed.

My phone is on the pillow, and I tap my leg in a quick rhythm.

Should I call Ranger?

Things are beyond tense between us at the moment, but surely an attempt on my life is something he should know about? If Spider is coming for me, he’s likely going to try to hurt Ranger, too. He should know this is all happening.

As I reach for the phone, sprinkles of warmth spatter against my neck and shoulders. The rich smell of iron fills the air, and I freeze, a shudder running through me. Holding my breath, I turn.

Colt is behind me, one hand gripping the back of a man’s neck, the other hand holding a knife buried in the stranger’s throat. The man’s eyes are wide, his lips parted as rivets of blood spill down the front of his dark clothes and onto my shoes.

The closet is open, so whoever this person is must havebeen in there, waiting for me. Watching us. Listening. Waiting for the time to strike.

Colt gently lays the man down and straightens, taking my hand. He hovers a blood-covered finger by his lips to silently request I don’t speak, and I nod numbly as I grab my phone, letting him guide me to the door.

Instead of going to the exit, he opens the adjoining door to Lewis’s room. Lewis is zipping up his bag, and when he sees Colt’s hand, he immediately looks at me.