Page 32

Thirty-one

DAWN LIFTED from the darkness, and relief swept over Greyson. Light always made things better—unless you were trying to evade discovery. He glanced over his shoulder again. Still clear. No sign of Kevin and Steve since the cave dwellings. He prayed they were still following the AirTags’ path. But that would only last so long. At some point they’d reappear—it wasn’t a question of if , it was a question of when .

“Hang on. I’m going to see if I have signal yet.”

“Good idea.” Riley tightened her hold on his neck.

He choked. “Maybe not that tight.”

“Sorry.” She eased up.

He slid his phone from his pocket. “Yes! Two bars. I’ll call Phillip.”

“I best do the same with Deckard. I’m sure he’s worried sick.”

A few minutes later, they both returned their phones to their pockets.

“Phillip’s on the way.”

“I think Deck’s still worried. I told him I’d update him more once we’re at your friend’s.”

“We should be there soon.”

She took a deep inhale and sighed it out.

He arched a brow. “What’s on your mind?”

“Why do you think I have something on my mind?”

“I know you . So let’s have it, lass. Out with it.”

“Again with the lass?” A spark of joy filled her voice.

“It seemed to tickle you, so expect it more. Now, speaking of tickling ... are you going to make me tickle it out of you?” There was a thought. A smile tugged at his lips. Being a couple with her filled him with joy. His smiled waned. Playing a couple with her, but now even that was over.

She fidgeted with the collar of his coat. “I have a question for you...”

“All right.” Her nervousness shifted to him. What was coming?

“Did I do it ... right?”

He frowned. “Do what right?”

She stiffened against his back. “Kiss?”

“Darlin’, you have no idea how right it was.” The words bypassed his brain and slipped out of his mouth before he could stop them. He squeezed his eyes shut. Course correct. Course correct.

“Really?” she asked. Her innocence was so endearing, he couldn’t lie to her.

“Yes.” It was the best kiss of his life. “But,” he continued, “I know it must have been awkward for you, and I’m sorry.”

“Awkward for me?”

“I mean, I’m your big brother’s friend, and you’re...”

“And I’m the baby sister you had to kiss for a diversion.” She shifted, and he did in return to keep her balanced. “I’d like to get down now.”

“Are you sure? We still have a little ways to go until the pickup point.”

“Positive.” An edge bit her voice. “My leg is fine. It was just a charley horse.”

He frowned. Was she upset with him?

She hopped down, and he studied the tight line of her jaw. She was mad. Did she think the kiss meant nothing to him?

“Hey, Ri,” he said, taking advantage of the last bit of time they had alone before Phillip arrived.

“Yeah?” She looked up at him, walking beside him at a good clip.

Don’t do it , man. Don’t say it . He reached for her hands, cupping his around her cold ones. He rubbed them.

She blinked, her big blue eyes staring up at him.

“I...” He swallowed. “I don’t want you thinking that the kiss was without...”

“Without?” she pressed, the sun inching above the horizon and casting its rays across her beautiful face.

“Uh...” He scuffed the ground with the toe of his shoe. “Was ... without feeling.”

She tilted her head. “What are you saying?”

“I don’t want you to think that it didn’t mean anything to me.”

Her eyes widened. “It did mean something to you?”

He nodded as a reservation police SUV came over the ridge, saving him from sharing too much.

Phillip stepped from the SUV and strode toward him. “Grey?” He clapped him in a man hug, then turned to Riley. “And who is this?”

“I’m Riley.”

“A pleasure to meet you.” Phillip’s gaze shifted between Grey and her. A far too intuitive gaze. “Your Mali, huh?” He chuckled.

Riley narrowed her eyes. “What’s a mali?”

Grey rubbed the back of his neck. How was he going to explain this one away?

****

“The trackers have signal,” Kevin said. He and Steve had just arrived back at the retreat center after spending most of the night on a blasted goose chase. “We’ve got them pegged.”

“Well, don’t just sit here,” Julie said. “Go get them. We need that key and them out of the picture.”

“Not to talk out of turn,” Steve said, “but won’t two dead PIs draw more attention?”

“Not if we spin it that our thieves took them out when they got too close.”

“Smart,” Kevin said, reclining in his chair.

“We need that key and where it goes to—get it out of her.”

“She’s always with Chadwick.”

“Then kill him first, get what you need from the girl, and dispose of her too.” Julie rested her hands on her hips. “It’s not like it’s the first time one of you has hidden a body. I can pull Alvin in on this instead of you if you’d rather.”

“No way.” This was personal now. “I’ve got this.”

“Good. Now, get up and get back on their trail. I want them taken care of today.”

“And Kelly?”

“I’m shifting Steve over to aid Brent. He’s taking too long, and the boss isn’t happy. He wants her yesterday. You understand?”

“Yeah,” Kevin said, standing. He’d do his job, not because Miss High-and-Mighty was bossing him around, but because he had a job to finish, and it wouldn’t be done until both PIs were his.