Page 9 of Pressure Point (Lantern Beach Blackout: Detonation #2)

CHAPTER

NINE

Atlas pushed aside the thought of the woman being a trained operative as she turned toward him.

“Did you get him?” Fear crackled in her voice as she stared up at him from her bed.

“No, but I got a partial license plate. Cassidy’s running it now.” Atlas paused beside her.

He noted that the knife was still in the wall. Cassidy would no doubt keep that as evidence also—though it looked fairly ordinary in Atlas’s estimation.

The nurse moved the gauze to examine her wound. The cut was shallow but clean—the kind of precise slice that came from a very sharp blade.

His throat tightened at the sight of it. “How did this guy get in?”

“Through the window.”

“How did he know which room you were even in? The shades are drawn.”

“I have no idea.”

He rubbed his jaw. “We need to get you somewhere safe.”

“The police station?”

Atlas shook his head. “The man who attacked you appeared to be a professional. Police stations have too many access points, too many people coming and going. I’m taking you to my company’s headquarters.”

The woman was quiet a moment, studying his face as the nurse put antiseptic on her wound. “You’re not telling me something. What is it?”

Atlas met her gaze, seeing intelligence there that amnesia couldn’t erase. “My company is being targeted by a terrorist organization called Sigma. There’s a possibility your appearance here is connected to that.”

“You think I’m one of them.” It wasn’t a question. “A terrorist.”

“I think you’re in danger, and right now that’s all that matters. But I need you to trust me. Because whoever sent that man into your room isn’t going to stop after one failed attempt.”

“Quinn,” she said quietly.

Atlas went still. “What?”

“The man who tried to kill me—he called me Quinn. Does that name mean anything to you?”

Quinn. Atlas’s mind raced through mental databases of known operatives, both friendly and hostile. The name didn’t tickle any part of his memories.

“Not offhand,” he said finally. “But we’ll figure out who Quinn is. I promise.”

As soon as the nurse finished bandaging the woman’s cut, Atlas prepared himself to leave with Quinn.

Everything about this situation screamed danger—not just for Quinn, but potentially for everyone at Blackout.

However, when he looked at the trust in her eyes, when he remembered the way she’d called his name when death came for her, the choice was already made.

He would keep this woman safe, even if it meant putting himself at risk.

Even if Quinn turned out to be someone he should be questioning instead of protecting.

Atlas got Quinn settled into a guest room on the third floor of Blackout headquarters.

It was a comfortable suite that overlooked the Pamlico Sound. He’d chosen it specifically because the water view seemed to calm her.

“There’s a panic button by the bed.” He showed her the discreet red switch. “And my suite is just down the hall. You won’t be alone.”

Quinn nodded, though her shoulders hunched forward protectively, creating a barrier between herself and the world. Every few seconds, she rolled them back as if trying to force relaxation, but the tension crept back immediately.

The attack at the clinic had shaken her more than she wanted to admit.

“Our operatives live here as well as their spouses and children,” Atlas explained. “My friend’s wife said she’d stop by and bring you some clothes and toiletries. I’m sure you probably want to take a shower. She can wait in the room for you if you’d feel more comfortable.”

“I appreciate that.”

“There are also some snacks and drinks in the kitchenette. Help yourself.”

“Atlas?” She turned from the window where she’d been watching the sun set over the sound. “Thank you. For everything. I know this complicates things for you.”

You have no idea, he thought.

“I’m going to leave an agent stationed outside your door in case you need anything. In the meantime, get some rest. We’ll have more answers tomorrow.”

For some reason, he didn’t want to leave.

But he had no choice.

She needed to rest.

And he needed to investigate.

He prayed he hadn’t just invited danger into their home.