Page 31 of With this Ring (Mastered #7)

Agreeing wouldn’t help, and neither would assurances that she understood. Instead, Sasha settled for, “I’m sorry. Remember, I’m here if you need to talk or if anything happens.”

“I know I should say thank you.”

“No. Definitely not yet. I’ve just turned your life inside out,” Sasha empathized. “It’s completely normal to be confused and upset. I’d be worried about you if you weren’t.”

“Really?”

“One hundred percent.”

“I’m falling apart, Sasha.” She sniffed hard, as if battling her overwhelming feelings. In the background, the GPS gave directions. “I need to go.”

Before Sasha even had a chance to respond, a beep indicated the call had ended.

As she dropped her phone into her purse, Sasha closed her eyes and exhaled.

“You’re doing great, too,” Gregorio told her.

The last of Winter Park’s light had faded into the distance, and low-hanging clouds meant there was no moonlight, so she couldn’t read his expression. “I appreciate you saying that.”

“But?” he prompted.

How well he knew her. Or maybe he’d heard the wistful note in her voice. “I know she’s scared, and I wish we had already solved this case.”

“You’re being a little hard on yourself. We’ve only known about Argentum for a few hours.”

Had it only been that long? It seemed like forever.

“God knows how long Felix has been involved.”

That he was right didn’t help. “Maybe I should have moved her this afternoon. As soon as we found out.”

“Would she have gone?”

“Maybe not.” After all, Felix had returned home. And with Sasha’s reassurances that he wasn’t having an affair, Mrs. Santos might have ended her contract with Pathways.

“We can’t make decisions for our clients. The only thing we can do is follow the investigation and make the most logical choices. Until a day or two ago, this seemed to be a straightforward case of spousal infidelity.”

The reminder didn’t help. And she’d be on edge until Mrs. Santos was in Hawkeye’s capable hands.

The drive to Denver seemed to take forever, maybe because this was the second time today that they’d done it, and the clock was inching toward midnight.

Inamorata called back to update the arrangements for the meeting between Hawkeye and Mrs. Santos. “We’ve got it from here.”

“I’ll let my client know,” Sasha replied. “Thank you.”

Gregorio glanced at his GPS. “Arrival at the Santos residence in nineteen minutes.”

Each mile steadied her focus. She knew what she had to do.

“Roger that.”

Inamorata was gone, and Sasha reached out to Brenda one last time. “I’m here for you,” she swore after giving her the final details. “And I need the code to turn off the alarm at your house.”

“Why?” her voice was sharp.

“We want to look through your husband’s office one more time.”

“I don’t know that it will do you any good.” Still, she gave the code, along with one to the keypad on the back door. “The Hawkeye people are calling on the other line.”

“Call me if you need anything, and I’ll keep you up to date.”

Without saying goodbye, she was gone.

Both Sasha and Gregorio fell silent as they neared the Santos’ subdivision. Game face, as she’d called it when she was going through tactical training. Nothing mattered but the mission.

About a quarter of a mile away, Gregorio pulled over. “We’ll go on foot.”

Anyone watching the house would be watching for a vehicle to approach.

“Good thing I got some recent practice at scaling a fence,” she said wryly.

In the ambient light, she saw his answering grin.

She hadn’t been on an actual mission since leaving Hawkeye, and she’d never worked with Gregorio before.

Still, her training had been intense, and she was praying her reactions would be second nature.

Voice clipped, not wasting a breath on an extra syllable, Gregorio informed Inamorata that they were ready to approach the Santos house.

She acknowledged the communication.

Before and after exiting the vehicle, Sasha and Gregorio both surveyed their surroundings.

Gregorio tapped her arm in silent signal.

Go. Now.

Out of the view of security cameras, they made their way over the iron fence protecting the neighborhood.

He dropped down first, landing silently and turned to offer his help. She wasn’t too proud to accept.

As they neared the Santos property, they paused, taking in the Hawkeye surveillance team.

Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, they scaled the same fence they’d climbed a few hours ago, landing in Brenda’s backyard.

Gregorio took the lead as they hugged the shadows, staying out of sight until they reached the door. As she entered the code to release the lock, he stood guard. Once they were inside, she disarmed the security system.

Using only flashlights, they crept through the home, toward Felix’s office.

Sasha’s pulse thumped in her ears.

Part of her had missed this adrenaline rush. But she preferred the pace of the life she lived now.

By silent accord, she moved to the desk where she’d found the ledger while Gregorio wasted no time striding back to the bookcase.

Within seconds, she realized the ledger was gone.

Disappointed, but not surprised, she exhaled.

Obviously that had been the reason Felix returned home.

Gregorio glanced over her shoulder and she shook her head. Since she’d hit a dead end, she joined him, moving books, and checking behind them.

A few seconds later, he pulled out his cell phone, unlocked it, and handed it to her. Quickly, she scrolled to the most recent message.

You’re a dead man.

And then an older one.

You fucked with the wrong people.

Gregorio stood and looked over her shoulder.

One last chance to prove your loyalty.

That one was received yesterday.

So the threats had been escalating over the last two days.

She zipped the device in her jacket, and Gregorio continued searching.

Just then, her cell phone vibrated. In case it was Mrs. Santos, she pulled it out and glanced at the screen.

Ashley.

She scowled.

What did her office manager want at almost two a.m.?

Dread chilling her, she answered with a whisper, “Ashley?”

“Sasha! Thank God!”

Aware of Gregorio’s intense gaze locked on her, she started to say something, only to have Ashley rush on.

“They know you’re there.”

Everything inside her went still. “Who does?”

“Oh, God, Sasha! They’re going to kill you.” She sobbed. “I’m so sorry. So, so sorry. This is all my fault.”

“Ashley, what did you—”