Page 35 of Gabe (Blue Team #2)

My heart was racing. This was it. All the pieces were clicking into place.

Delilah Watts was a whistleblower, not a bad guy, and now I was seriously worried for her.

“Speaking of Lawson,” Tex cut into my thoughts, “I looked deeper and can’t find a single connection to Abrams. Lawson’s dead and whoever did him in is in the wind.

The cops got nothing. I looked into that as well but without knowing where he was snatched and killed all we got is a tall figure dressed in black, face covered, coming out of the shadows to dump Lawson in a dumpster.

It’s a safe bet the figure is male but only because he was carrying Lawson over his shoulder.

And I don’t know too many women who could carry a two-hundred-pound man then toss him.

That being said, no car caught on any camera, nothing even indicating where he parked.

He’s a ghost. Which tells us Abrams isn’t messing around; they sent a professional to take him out.

Means they either caught on to what Delilah sent or they’re just plain freaked.

She’s essentially quit her job and run and now they’re trying to clean up. ”

“Any ideas who Abrams would hire for a job like this?” Cooper asked.

“My guess is they’d keep this in-house. I’m running checks on all their security personal but so far no one’s standing out. Something for you to ask Delilah when Evette calls her,” Tex returned.

And suddenly I was nervous about what I was going to say to Delilah.

Yesterday I wasn’t all that fired-up about convincing her to meet with Myles and Kevin, assuming Delilah was in California.

I trusted Gabe with my life but I wasn’t sure I trusted him with hers.

He’d given every indication he’d put my safety above all else, and he didn’t believe Delilah was on our side.

I didn’t think Myles and Kevin would hurt her as such, but I also wasn’t under the illusion she’d be treated to a five-star hotel and an abundance of friendly conversation.

They’d interrogate her and probably scare the bejeezus out of her by their presence alone.

But now I needed to persuade her to accept their help.

“How much can I tell her?”

“What do you mean?” My gaze went to Lincoln and I was momentarily struck by how blue his eyes were. Much like his brother’s only a shade lighter. I figured that was because he didn’t have the same demons shadowing his, the way Gabe explained that Zane had.

I hadn’t met Lincoln’s wife Jasmin, though Anaya had told me about her. Tough but sweet, that was how Anaya had described her, and looking at Lincoln I knew it was the tough that attracted him but it was the sweet that hooked him.

Then something occurred to me. These men weren’t normal. They didn’t grow and learn how to be protectors, they were born that way. It was something—instinct, nature, compulsion—that made them who they were.

Anaya had one. Piper and Kalee had the same. And I did, too. Gabe would move heaven and earth to keep me safe, I knew that. But he’d also give his life to save mine. I didn’t know how I knew that but I did and I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.

“Evette?” Gabe called.

“Yeah, sorry. I mean, when I talk to Delilah how much can I tell her about what you’ve uncovered? And if she’s not supposed to know I’m here, how should I say I found all this information?”

“You need to tell her everything you know and use it to motivate her into meeting with Myles. He can get her safe and her going to him rather than him and Kevin wasting time looking for her.” That came from Gabe and I was shocked at his change of opinion.

“So, you think she’s on our side?”

“Said it once and I’ll repeat, I don’t trust anyone outside of my team to keep you safe. But, yeah, I think she was trying to get information to you. I get why she did it—looking for an ally. But I can’t say I’m happy that ally was you. What she sent you put your life in danger.”

“Gabe, me poking around put me in danger. Like Tex said, if Abrams knew what Delilah had sent me, they wouldn’t have sent a carjacker after me, they would’ve sent the other guy. The one who obviously knows what he’s doing.”

Gabe’s face turned to stone and the air surrounding us chilled. It was so cold I felt it clawing its way through my skin until it seeped into my bones. And when he spoke I knew just how unhappy he was.

“You must’ve missed this part, but you’re still in danger.

Lawson’s dead, taken out by a professional and if he’s not right now hunting Delilah he’s searching for you.

Abrams has made it clear they’re willing to kill to keep a lid on this information.

You have this information, Evette; they know it and they want it back. ”

I actually hadn’t missed that part. I was just ignoring it so I didn’t freak the hell out and mess up my call with Delilah. I needed to be calm and in control.

“I didn’t, Gabe, but I have all of you to protect me.

Delilah is running scared and I hate to say it but we need her to fill in the blanks and we won’t be able to use her if I’m a sobbing mess.

So I’ll process that part later and in the meantime, I know you have my back.

So does your team. I now know that Piper, Kalee, and Anaya aren’t in danger so that makes it easier.

I’ll talk to Delilah, and after we’ll talk about what our next step is. ”

“Our next step?”

I took in a breath and remembered him telling me: that’s how I know.

Gabe had never wanted a wife or family until he’d met me.

He wanted me to give him a chance. This was no longer all about me, it was about us.

The relationship we were forging and the future I wanted.

A future that included Gabe, a home, and children.

None of that would happen if something happened to Gabe or me.

The revenge I started out wanting no longer sounded sweet.

I wanted justice, sure, but I also knew Kalee would never want me to put my life on the line to get it.

That was not who she was. Not before she was taken and not now.

She was all about Phantom, her friends, healing, and moving on.

Before Gabe, I was all about the past and not able to let go of the pain I felt when I thought she was dead.

I hadn’t learned a single thing from Kalee's miraculous return. Life wasn’t about dwelling in the past, it was about going forward. And to go forward I had to give in.

“You said you wanted to take me somewhere and cut off all communication until this was over,” I reminded him.

“You’re willing to do that?”

“I’ll need to make some arrangements with work, but yeah. I don’t want my stubborn stupidity to get anyone hurt. I want Abrams taken down for what happened to Kalee and all the people who died that day but not at the expense of your life.”

The look of relief that washed over Gabe’s face made my heart clench. He was worried—like a lot , a lot. Way more worried than I’d thought he was and I knew he was pretty damn worried.

“Gabe,” I whispered.

“Let’s finish up with Tex and prep you for your call with Delilah. We’ll talk about everything else later.” I nodded and he went on. “Good. Anything else we need, Tex?”

“Yeah, one last thing. The scientist, Alejandro Arias from Santa Ana, isn’t missing. He’s dead.”

“How?” Zane clipped.

“Car accident.”

“Are there no assassins left that have any creativity? Serious as fuck, the car accident is overplayed. Whatever happened to bonus points for imagination?”

“Please tell me he’s kidding,” I murmured.

“Only a little,” Gabe sighed. “Any idea who took out Arias?”

“Nope,” Tex answered. “And I looked. Normal car wreck as far as the local law enforcement was concerned. ”

“’Preciate your time, Tex,” Zane announced. “I’ll be in touch after Evette talks to Delilah.”

“Copy that.”

Tex disconnected and a moment later Owen broke the silence.

“I don’t like it.”

“Neither do I,” Linc put in.

“We’re not going down another rabbit hole,” Zane mumbled. “Been there, done that. We get Evette clear of this shit and leave the rest. I’m not cleaning up this mess.”

“What mess?” I asked.

“The mess that is Ramon Gates and Alejandro Arias. We neutralize the threat however we need to and leave the brain experiments to someone else or whatever mad scientist bullshit Abrams is into.”

“And Delilah? You’re gonna help her, too, right?”

Zane’s jaw clenched and he tipped his head back to stare at the ceiling. He did this mumbling about invoices not being paid and losing money. What he didn’t do was deny help.

“You have five minutes before your call with Delilah,” Garrett reminded me. “Any questions?”

“No. I’m gonna wing it.”

Zane righted his head and narrowed his eyes on me.

“Wing it?”

“Yep. I need her to trust me and that won’t happen if what I tell her sounds rehearsed.”

Zane’s gaze slid to Gabe and he inquired, “Are you taking off after this?”

“Thinking about it, yeah.”

Zane nodded and said, “Rhode’s cabin in Sandpoint or Fish’s place in Rathdrum if you want to head back to Idaho.

Though, Rhode’s cabin might be burned. Abe’s letting Myles and Kevin use his place and I don’t think it’s a good idea for Delilah and Evette to be in the same place. You could use the place in—”

“I have a place,” Gabe cut him off.

“The cottage?”

“Yep.”

Some sort of silent male communication passed between Zane and Gabe.

And whatever was communicated made Zane happy.

So happy he smiled and when he did two dimples appeared.

Perhaps I should’ve curbed my response, but I was so shocked—first because Zane was happily smiling but second, when he wasn’t scowling and spewing out inappropriate, sarcastic comments he was super freaking hot.

“And another one bites the dust,” Linc grumbled.

Zane’s lips twitched, then if it was possible, his smile broadened and if I wasn’t madly in love with Gabe I would’ve been seriously jealous of Ivy Lewis.