Page 39

"They must be going crazy waiting like that," I said as a messy ball of emotions hit me at once.

Harper and Viper had survived hell last year when her own mother and Australia's Deputy Prime Minister, Mason Kingsman, put a bounty on their heads.

But waiting, and not knowing if Viper and Blade were alive or dead? That was a different kind of torture.

"We're all going crazy," Cobra said. "The site is blocked off because it’s too unstable. The whole thing's a house of cards. I couldn’t wait around anymore. That’s why I came home. But whatever is in these boxes gives us purpose. Because right now, standing still feels like dying."

"He never stops." Yasmin's voice softened with affection. "My man doesn't know the meaning of 'relax.' Do you, babe?"

"Too much happening for that." Cobra threw me a look over his shoulder.

"Tell me about it,” I said. “Sleep feels like something that happened in another lifetime."

"Showers are that way when you need them," Cole said, tilting his head toward an open doorway.

"And we've got food," Yasmin added. "You guys must be starving."

My stomach knotted, reminding me that the food scraps Tory had scored were nowhere near enough. But the thought of Blade and Viper trapped under tons of rubble pushed away any hunger.

A sharp bark echoed down the hall, and Onyx's ears snapped forward.

"That's Charlie," Cobra said, nodding at a closed door. "She's confined to our bedroom. We’ll let her out soon."

The hallway opened into what had to be the old gymnasium with high ceilings and a timber floor.

Cobra headed for a row of folding tables along one wall. "We set up what we could. Intel was pretty vague about space requirements." He set his box down with a grunt .

"Had to be vague." I placed my box next to his. "And the intel about these boxes needs to stay contained. You know about the dirty cops?"

"Eddie Walsh and Cooper Heathcote." Cobra's face darkened. "Still can't believe it."

"Exactly. We don't know how deep this corruption goes."

Whitney set the skull down and patted the top of the head. "Well, hopefully our friend here can shed some light on that mystery."

“Yeah. Good luck. I need to get moving, it’ll take me about half an hour to get to Rosebud.” I turned to walk away, but Cobra gripped my arm.

“Hold up there, buddy. Levi will be here in the chopper. He’s taking you to Rosebud.”

“Really? That’s great.” Relief washed over me like a tidal wave. The chopper would cut precious minutes off the journey to Rosebud. Minutes Blade and Viper may not have.

“When will he be here?”

“About five minutes. Long enough for you to eat before you go.” Cobra gave me the once-over. "You look like you’re running on fumes."

As I nodded, the gnawing emptiness in my stomach made itself known.

We fell into formation behind Cobra and Yasmin as they led us back along the hallway.

Yasmin opened her bedroom door, and Charlie burst through like a white ball of fluff ricocheting off walls as she darted around our legs.

Onyx watched the smaller dog with military restraint as Charlie circled Cobra, yapping at his leg like it was a game.

My battle-hardened shepherd and this cotton-ball excuse for a dog couldn't have been more different if they'd tried.

Tory drifted to my side, and when she leaned into me, the space between us seemed to hum.

"You holding up okay?" I asked, trying to keep myself grounded.

She glanced up at me and the exhaustion in her expression was on full display. "I am now. Thanks to you."

I shook my head, meeting her gaze. "You’re tougher than you realize."

A faint smile played at her lips as she bumped her hip lightly against mine. "Sweet talker. "

A loose strand of hair slipped across her cheek, and it took everything in me not to brush it aside.

"Most people would’ve broken after what you went through."

She let out a quiet, humorless laugh. "Trust me, I’m barely standing."

I wanted to say more and to tell her how incredible she was, and how much her courage amazed me. But the words caught in my throat, clumsy and insufficient. Maybe now wasn’t the time for those kinds of confessions anyway.

We spilled into a large, open kitchen and living area with high, vaulted ceilings.

A potbelly fireplace dominated one wall, and a battered dining table sat in the center of the room, surrounded by an assortment of chairs that looked like they’d been scavenged from a dozen different places.

The space had an odd charm, lived-in and practical.

“I could use some food, that’s for sure,” Whitney said, rubbing his hand over his belly. “Is there enough for me?”

"Of course." Yasmin turned toward the fridge. "Zena had Molly bring enough food from Firefly Café for everyone." She removed a tray and set it onto the counter. "Now sit,” she said as she brought out a second tray, placing it directly in front of Tory and me.

The spread was impressive; finger foods, pastries, cold pizza, cakes, and sandwiches piled high enough to feed an army. As we descended on the food like vultures, I caught Tory's eye.

She flashed me a grin, wiggling her eyebrows. "Food."

"Yeah, I needed this," I said, and around a mouthful of sandwich, I asked the group, “Are there any updates on Blade and Viper?"

“Nothing. The damn search is taking forever," Cobra said. His chest heaved like he was battling to keep his emotions in check.

"Can they hear anything under the rubble? Voices? Banging?" I asked.

"Nope. The waves crashing under the building drown everything out."

"What do you mean under the building?" Tory asked, lowering her sandwich.

"That warehouse is where Thomas Wexler tried to kill me,” Ryder said as his expression darkened. “It's built over the water, and they used to drive the boats under the building and hoist them out for repairs. I only escaped by diving through a gap in the floorboards."

"So, Viper and Blade could be under there?" Yasmin's eyes lit up.

"Maybe, but I didn't have a whole warehouse collapse on top of me," Ryder said.

The room collectively groaned as we tore into the food like starving teenagers.

"Why can't they just swim out?" Whitney asked.

"The perimeter's caged off," Ryder answered. "Trust me, I tried. Barely made it out before high tide. Another few minutes and I would have drowned." He shook his head.

My sandwich turned bitter in my mouth as I thought about what rising water could do in five minutes. I pictured myself climbing through the rubble, stepping onto giant beams that had splintered in the blast. “Shit, Parker. I need your shoes.”

“Ah man, I knew that was coming,” he moaned. “Where are yours?”

“Tory can tell you later. But stop your bitching and hand ‘em over. I can’t go onto that site in bare feet, can I?”

Whitney's beat-up Converse sneakers wouldn't cut it where I was headed.

Parker kicked off his RMs without another word. As I laced the boots up, Cobra said, “I’ll grab you a change of clothes.”

“Thanks, man, I appreciate that.” I tore a sandwich in two and handed half to Onyx, who sat patiently at my side with her tail thumping against the timber floor.

Cobra bounded down the hallway, bouncing on his prosthetic like a kangaroo with Charlie yapping at his heels.

“Tell us where you found those boxes,” Ryder said as he reached for another sandwich. “’Cause I’ve searched Angelsong Orphanage myself and found squat.”

“I found them,” Whitney said, brushing a crumb from his chin. “I was processing the body Jaxson found when I heard?—”

“Hold up,” Yasmin cut in, her brow arched. “Are you talking about a skeleton that was attached to that skull you brought in?”

“No.” Whitney shook his head. “Jaxson found a grave with a fresh body. But that’s a whole other story. I’ll let Jaxson fill you in on that.”

“Later,” I said as Cobra returned and handed me a T-shirt and cargo pants. “Thanks, buddy.” I nodded at Cobra. “Get back to how you found the boxes, Whitney.”

“Right.” Whitney leaned forward. “I was working the crime scene behind the orphanage. Do you remember seeing the fountain with the angel statue?”

Whisper, Ryder, and Cobra all nodded, and their expressions darkened as if they could picture the eerie setting.

“Well, Jaxson found a fresh grave near that fountain. But he left to search for Tory.” Whitney tilted his head toward her.

“My knight in shining armor,” she teased, and as she grinned at me, her eyes sparkled with mischief.

My stomach swooped with the weirdest sensation, and my damn cock pulsed.

“Anyway . . .” Whitney dragged the word out, and I had a feeling he’d caught onto the unspoken exchange between us. “I was processing the body when I heard a car pull up.”

He gestured toward me. “We’d already agreed that if anyone other than Jaxson or Parker showed up, I’d hide.”

“Smart move,” Ryder said, nodding as he reached for a pastry.

“Yeah, it turned out to be the right call,” Whitney said. “I packed up my evidence kit in record time and bolted inside. Made it upstairs just as Cooper parked the cop car.”

Parker’s head snapped up. “Cooper drove his cruiser there? That’s ballsy.”

Whitney bulged his eyes. “Ballsy or just plain stupid. He didn’t even try to be subtle, rolling up like he owned the place. And he knew exactly where he was going. No hesitation. I’d bet good money he’d been there before.”

“I was wondering how you got that cop car out front,” Parker said, jerking his head toward the parking lot.

“That’s Eddie’s car,” I replied as I fed Onyx a slice of pizza.

“What?” Parker blinked, clearly confused. “So where’s your Jeep?”

“Got blown up by an RPG.”

“What the fuck?” Parker blurted, his jaw dropping. “Who the hell shot an RPG at you? ”

“That’s another story,” I said, cocking my head at Tory.

“Yeah, I’ll tell you guys about it later.” Tory’s sexy lips quirked up in the cutest grin that sent a spark of heat right through me.

“So, let me get this straight.” Whisper set her black eyes on me and put her hands on her hips. “Eddie and Cooper were working together?”