Page 43 of Ground Zero

“I can’t argue with that.”

Ty’s words brought Maverick a small measure of relief.

“You’ve got to listen to me. Something big is going to happen in less than seventy-two hours,” Maverick told him. “Bigger than the previous attacks. I’m trying to stop it.”

“What?” Ty’s voice sharpened. “What kind of something big?”

“I’m trying to figure that out. But, Ty, I need you to know—whatever evidence you’ve seen, whatever digital trail points to me, it’s fake. Someone with high-level access has been setting me up for months.”

“Maverick, if you’re innocent, then turn yourself in. Let us help you prove it.”

“I can’t do that. Not when I don’t know who I can trust.” Maverick glanced toward the living room where Sheridan slept. “Someone on our team is working for Sigma. Someone who’s been feeding them information.”

Another long silence.

Ty already knew that, didn’t he? What he didn’t know was who.

And maybe that was why Maverick didn’t remain above suspicion in Ty’s mind.

Ty most likely didn’t want to admit that any of the guys he’d hired could be dirty.

“Be careful,” Ty said finally. “And Maverick? If you really are innocent, then find proof. Real proof. Because right now, the evidence says otherwise. I don’t want to see you framed for something you didn’t do.”

The line went dead, leaving Maverick staring at his phone in the darkness. Even his closest ally wasn’t sure he could be trusted.

He was truly on his own now.

Except for Sheridan.

Tomorrow, she’d be putting herself at risk to help him prove his innocence.

He couldn’t stomach the thought that something might happen to her in the process.

CHAPTER 24

Sheridan woke to the pale light of dawn filtering through unfamiliar windows covered in gauzy drapes and the scent of something slightly sweet floating through the air.

For a moment, she forgot where she was.

Then the events of the previous day flooded back.

The attack at the cottage.

The chase through the forest.

The tracker in her pocket.

The phone call she’d overheard in the middle of the night.

That was right—the phone call.

She’d been half asleep when Maverick’s whispered conversation woke her, but she’d caught enough to make her uncomfortable.

He’d been talking to someone at Blackout—his boss, from the sound of it. Telling him he was innocent and asking if they believed him.

Had Maverick told the person on the other end where he was? Had he revealed Sheridan was with him?

She wanted to believe she could trust him. But could she?