Page 14

Callum’s eyes darted between shadowy alleyways as he and Sloane hurried down the crowded street away from the Kozaks’ men. The acrid smell of exhaust fumes and spices from nearby food stalls filled the air.

He stopped in front of a shop, making it look like he and Sloane were admiring what was in the window. But what he was really doing was looking for a reflection of anyone following them—not that the Kozaks’ men would be very subtle.

It looked like they had made it without being spotted. But Callum’s mind raced, searching for a new solution now that their embassy escape plan had imploded.

He needed to contact Bear and Theo, get an update, and let them know what was going on. He had money, but without some form of ID, things were going to get sticky quick. Especially trying to get out of the country. Callum himself didn’t have any contacts in the area, so it was time to rely on someone who relied on other means to get things accomplished.

Lincoln.

The younger guy was mostly a pain in Callum’s ass at home, but one thing was for sure: he could get black market shit done.

“We need to keep moving,” he said in a low voice, placing a hand on Sloane’s arm and guiding her back into the throng of people. “I have an idea, but we’ll need help.”

Sloane glanced at him, worry clear on her delicate features. “What kind of help?”

Callum steered them down a less-busy side street, his instincts on high alert for any signs of pursuit. “There’s someone I know, a tech genius named Lincoln Bollinger. If anyone can get us the resources we need to get out of here, without going through the embassy, it’s him.”

“Can we trust him?”

“I’d trust him with my life—and have on more than one occasion.” Callum shook his head, trying to find the word to describe the younger man. “Lincoln is…eccentric, but he’s one of the good guys. Brilliant with computers, not so great with people. But he’s got connections that could be our ticket out of this mess.”

“So, how do we contact him?”

Callum scanned the street, looking for a suitable location. “We’ll need to find a secure way to reach out to him. An internet café.”

“I’m not sure what that is.”

Callum wasn’t surprised. Most Americans didn’t. “In this part of Eastern Europe, not everyone has their own computer or even smartphone. They can come to an internet café to get online.”

Callum’s eyes shifted from storefront to storefront until he spotted a nondescript internet café tucked between a laundromat and a kebab shop. He nodded toward it, guiding Sloane with a gentle hand on her lower back.

Then dropped it. Damn it, why couldn’t he seem to keep his hands off her?

“There,” he said quietly. “But I don’t want to just walk in. We need to be sure no one is watching it or following us.”

They circled the block twice, Callum’s trained gaze sweeping the area for any signs of surveillance or pursuit. Sloane matched his pace, her earlier fatigue seemingly forgotten in the face of their heightened vigilance.

“See anything?” she whispered as they rounded the corner for the second time.

“I think we’re clear.”

He led Sloane into the dimly lit café, the smell of stale coffee and the low hum of computer fans greeting them as they entered.

“They should have private booths in the back where we can close the door,” he murmured, scanning the room. He spotted a secluded booth in the back corner, partially obscured by a potted plant. “There.”

They made their way to the booth, Callum positioning himself so he could keep an eye on the café’s entrance. He logged in to the computer and set up a secure connection. It wasn’t perfectly secure by any means, but it was a chance they’d have to take.

The video call connected, and Lincoln’s face filled the screen, his eyes widening in surprise and relief. “Callum! Thank God. I was afraid you were dead.”

“Nope. We made it out.”

“I’m glad. Theo contacted me and said…” Lincoln paused as he caught sight of Sloane. “Wait, what are you doing with Marissa? I thought she was?—”

Callum cut him off. “Lincoln, this is Sloane. Marissa’s half sister. She was the other victim in the compound you let us know about.”

Lincoln stared at her until Sloane began shifting in her chair uncomfortably.

“Polite thing is to say hello, Linc,” Callum reminded the other man.

“Right. Sorry. Hello.” Lincoln gave an awkward wave from his side of the screen. “You look a lot like your sister. Your half sister.”

Sloane nodded. “So I’ve been told.”

“Linc,” Callum interjected, trying to steer the conversation back on track. “We need your help. I’d hoped we could get to the embassy in Chi?in?u and get home through official channels, but some of the Kozaks’ guys were looking for us there. We can’t use that as a way to get out anymore.”

Lincoln’s eyes sharpened with focus. “Yeah, that certainly complicates things. Unofficial channels it is.”

His fingers were already flying across a keyboard offscreen. “Not to worry. I can get you new papers, passports, the works. It’ll take a few days, though. I’ll want to make sure whoever we use is carefully vetted, so they’re not reporting back to the Kozaks.”

Callum felt a mix of relief and tension. “How long exactly?”

“Three days, minimum. Maybe four,” Lincoln replied, still typing furiously. “Maybe we could have them set you up with diplomatic credentials from a small African nation. Or perhaps religious pilgrims? I know a guy who does excellent work with Tibetan monk disguises.”

Callum rubbed his temples. Lincoln was…Lincoln. His brain worked in ways no normal mortal could comprehend. “I think regular passports will be fine. We just need to get back on US soil. I also need you to get word to Theo and Bear that we made it out. Let them know what’s going on.”

Lincoln nodded. “Yeah, they’ve been checking in hourly, hoping for an update.”

“Did they get Marissa to safety?” Sloane asked.

“Yes. From what I understand, it was a little dicey, but they got her delivered as planned.”

Sloane sagged in relief, and Callum felt a weight lift from his shoulders. He’d been busy trying to keep himself and Sloane alive, but always at the back of his mind had been fear for Theo and Bear too. They were good under pressure and knew how to handle themselves, but something could’ve still gone wrong.

“Good to hear. But what do you mean, dicey ?” Sloane asked.

“Evidently, Marissa was a real piece of… work .” That obviously wasn’t the word Lincoln had initially planned to say. “Gave the guys hell the entire time. They were very glad to drop her off.”

Sloane let out a soft cry, and he felt her fingers on his arm. “I’m so sorry. My sister can be difficult. She’s been taught that the world revolves around her. It doesn’t excuse her behavior, but…” She trailed off, her eyes downcast.

That apology was utter bullshit if he’d ever heard it. “No, you don’t ever apologize for her.” He squeezed Sloane’s hand. “Marissa is an intelligent, grown-ass adult. She knows how to behave, and if she chooses not to act appropriately, that’s on her, not you.”

Sloane shrugged. “I still feel bad.”

“Don’t worry. Theo and Bear are more than capable of completely ignoring someone like her and getting the job done.”

But Callum had no doubt he’d be hearing about it from his friends. It wouldn’t bother them a bit that what should’ve been a simple exchange had turned into something much more dangerous. But having to babysit someone like Marissa… That they would give him shit for.

Lincoln’s face grew solemn on the screen. “Listen, there’s something else you need to know. Jakob Kozak is out for your blood, Callum.”

“Jakob? I honestly thought it would be Nikola we had to worry about.” Callum felt a shudder run through Sloane at the mention of the man’s name. He wished he could pull her into his arms and assure her Nikola was never going to touch her again.

Not while Callum was on this planet.

“Well, maybe Nikola too, but I haven’t heard anything about him. But Jakob?” Lincoln grimaced. “He blames you for this.”

A picture came up on the screen, and both he and Sloane flinched. It was Jakob, but he was missing basically half his face.

“You do this, Callum?” Lincoln asked. “Because he says you did. And is therefore calling in every favor he can to find you.”

“I didn’t set out to do it. He was trying to kill me, and I was trying to stop that.”

“He’s been tearing through every contact and lead he can find,” Lincoln said. “Pouring resources into figuring out who you are and hunting you down. He’s pissed off.”

Callum’s jaw clenched as he processed the information. He could feel Sloane’s eyes on him, wide with concern.

“Shit.” Callum ran a hand through his hair.

“Fortunately, there are no clear images of you. Compound didn’t have cameras, and you did a great job of causing chaos. So, I don’t think he’ll be able to identify you. If you can get out of the country, you should be in good shape.”

Callum turned to Sloane, whose face had gone pale. He reached over and squeezed her hand again. “Then we make sure we get out of the country without him finding us. We’re going to need a place to lie low while we wait for those exit papers. Anything you can do to help?”

Lincoln nodded, already typing. “Yeah. Let me find a safe house nearby. Give me a sec to check.” With that, he disappeared from view, leaving Callum and Sloane alone with the gravity of their situation.

Callum’s mind raced, calculating risks and potential moves. Jakob’s vendetta complicated things significantly. They’d need to be extra cautious now, always looking over their shoulders. He glanced at Sloane, noting the concerned expression on her face. “It’s going to be okay.”

That didn’t reassure her. “But Jakob…”

“We just make sure he doesn’t find us.” He offered her a smile.

She smiled back, but it definitely didn’t reach those blue eyes. The harsh glow of the computer monitor cast shadows across her face, accentuating the dark circles under her eyes. She looked utterly exhausted, her shoulders slumped with the weight of their ordeal.

He hated to see her look that way again.

He would much rather see her look like she had during their kiss in the garage. Damn . Memories of that were going to be seared into his brain for a long time. He’d meant it as a simple goodbye kiss, but it had quickly escalated into something much more passionate.

The softness of her lips, the sound of her sighs, the spark of something electric between them… It had been intense, wholly unexpected, and fucking amazing. He hadn’t held back because he’d thought it was their last few moments alone together.

Now, that wasn’t the case.

And damned if in the dim light of this internet café, he didn’t find himself wanting to reach out and kiss her again.

“You okay?” he asked softly instead, his voice barely above a whisper.

She managed a weak smile. “Just tired. And scared, I guess.”

He nodded, understanding all too well. “We’ll get through this.”

Just as he was about to say more, Lincoln’s face popped back onto the screen, grabbing their attention.

“Got somewhere for you,” Lincoln announced, his excitement palpable even through the pixelated image. “It’s not much, but it’ll keep you off the grid for a bit. Should have some supplies already stocked too.”

“Secure?”

“Definitely. One of Zac Mackay and Uncle Finn’s old military contacts.”

It didn’t get more secure than that in Callum’s experience. “Good.”

Then Lincoln made a face. That wasn’t good.

“What’s wrong?” he and Sloane both asked at the same time.

“Nothing. Just…it’s small. Like, hope you enjoy cuddling small.”

Callum pointedly avoided Sloane’s gaze. “It’s secure. That’s what matters.”

He memorized the address as Lincoln gave it then showed a map for further directions. It wasn’t too far from where they were.

“No problem.” Lincoln typed some more, his attention already turning to the next thing. That was how the man’s giant brain worked—always fourteen steps ahead of everyone else. “Contact me tomorrow. I’ll have info on a drop box with some gear for you. Should help you stay alive a bit longer.”

Yes. That was what Callum needed to focus on. Not kisses. Not hope you like cuddling . Not big blue eyes.

Keeping them alive. That was the most important thing.