Page 97 of Nowhere to Hide

I shoved my Glock into the holster at my side and pulled my shirt over it. “I saved her life. No way am I letting this asshole find her again.”

“Maybe she’s not the only one who got saved. First time I’ve seen life in those eyes in a long damn time. Even before Milligan.” He slapped my arm.

What the hell did that mean?

But Mason was already on his way back to his workstation. I closed the case and locked it, adding my passcode to the lock for added measure. I caught my face in the mirror of the armory locker door. I touched the overgrown hellscape of my face. It had been so long since I’d even noticed how far gone I’d gotten.

I washed my face and brushed my teeth in the shower to conserve water so there was rarely a reason to look at myself. Especially when I hated what I saw.

Behind the armory was a changing room with clothes, gear, showers, and toiletries. We often had to be in the field at a moment’s notice and needed to change up from tactical clothes to a suit depending on the job. Before I could think about it too hard, I went through the doorway.

It was time to come all the way back.

CHAPTER 20

CILLA

Nyx had been entertainingme with stories of her brothers, Locke, and his team.

She worked with Locke’s part of the company more and more now that cybersecurity was in more demand. The criminals were getting smarter on every level.

Nyx’s lab seemed to be a hub, and more than one employee had been in to see if Locke had really returned to the company. My lone wolf was actually anything but. Women and men, both in tactical gear and suits had been in asking questions about where Locke was.

Nyx seemed to be delighted to share the fact that the rumors were true.

I wasn’t sure if Locke was aware that The Kendrick Group assumed he was back to work. The little I knew about him told me that wasn’t going to fly all that well.

Nyx pulled up a photo and flashed it on screen. “If you were wondering who Locke was...”

My breath caught at the trio of guys mugging for the camera. One man was a towering ginger with a close cropped beard and spikey hair that looked like he’d been dunked in the lake. He had his arm slung around Locke’s neck. A bushy handlebar mustacheframed Locke’s lips and his hair was just as wet, only the dark strands were stuck to his forehead like he’d shaken off like a dog. His eyes crinkled at the corners as he grinned up at the red haired man.

The third guy was holding devil horns up and his tongue was out as he leaned against the other two. His heavy curls hid part of his face, but there was no denying who it was.

All three of them looked mid-laugh.

“This is his usual crew. Jake Milligan is the guy who looks like a Scottish Viking, Locke, and the last guy is?—”

“Jett Pierce.”

Nyx laughed. “Yeah. Hard to believe those two know one of the biggest rockstars in the world.”

“So, the facial hair is just part of Locke’s personality?”

She snickered.

“That was for losing a bet. Milligan was always making out-of-pocket wagers.” Locke’s gravelly voice behind me had me pushing out of my seat. My thigh screamed at the quick action and I wobbled.

Locke moved forward, catching my arm twirling me toward himand for the second time, my breath backed up in my lungs. He frowned down at me. “You okay?”

My whole body sizzled where we touched. “I’m fine.”

He stepped back and I couldn’t help but catalog all the changes. His overgrown hair was now shorn down. The top endearingly messy as if he’d scooped his hands through it, hacking at it with no rhyme or reason.

His beard was now close cropped and showed a strong jawline that made my mouth dry.

Nyx popped out of her chair, her gaze bouncing from me to Locke with a wide smile. She tipped her head and toyed with the end of her braid. “You don’t look like you’ve been living on a deserted island anymore.”

Locke rolled his eyes. “It’s getting too hot for all that hair anyway.”