“I saw them go into a building,” said Gail. “But I can’t get in. It’s a men’s only place. I’d need a male escort to get past the bouncers. A rich male escort from the looks of it.”
“Mother fuc—” Evelyn stood and paced around the room. They could just be in a place that was built to protect against all transmissions, or they could’ve destroyed his phone. “That’s it. I’m coming out there.” Evelyn snatched her jacket off the back of a chair and pulled open her nightstand drawer for her loaded gun.
“They might recognize you,” warned Gail. “Just lay low and let me look into this.”
“I don’t care. It’s my job to keep Luke safe and I can’t do that with no eyes or ears on him. I need to do something.” She knew Luke had never been all that concerned for his own safety, but she wasn’t about to let him pay for her being unprepared.
Damn it. She’d felt fishy about this entire thing ever since Longineu had come into her office. This was why she needed to trust her instincts and not let Luke tell her how to do her job.
“Evelyn!” shouted Gail through the line.
She brought the phone back to her ear. “I’m about to leave now. Just hold tight and I’ll message you when I get closer. My ETA is twenty minutes.”
“Evelyn, I got this. There’s nothing you could do if you got here. You wouldn’t be able to get in. And unless we get a sign of distress, we can’t go barging in the front door without a warrant.”
Sign of distress? What the fuck was Gail waiting for? It wasn’t as though she’d be able to hear Luke’s screams from the street. They needed to move fast. Right now.
“I promised Luke I’d keep him safe. I’m not going to wait for Longineu to light up some massive sign saying he’s up to no good. I’ll be there in twenty minutes,” she repeated before she hung up the phone.
She dropped the phone in her jacket pocket and arranged it carefully so her shoulder holster wasn’t visible. Then she undid her chain lock and deadbolt in a quick motion and opened the door.
Only to look straight into the barrel of a gun.
~~~~~
“What do you mean you’re sending someone to pay her a visit?” bit out Luke between clenched teeth.
Longineu took another drink, emptying his glass, and smiled. “Well, you know how protective I am of my secrets. I’m not going to let some outsider threaten everything we’ve worked to build. You should be just as upset as me. Some agent sneaking her way into your company. That’s a major invasion of privacy. But if it makes you feel better, I’ve ordered my man to make sure she suffers.”
Hell no. Luke stood up fast, bumping the table and knocking over Longineu’s empty glass. Without a word, he turned to leave, but two muscle-bound men immediately blocked his path. His hands balled into fists as he stared them down, not about to let anyone stop him from getting to Evelyn.
“If you want to go, you’re allowed,” said Longineu from behind him. “But if you walk out this door, it will be war between us from now on. Know that.”
Luke didn’t need to think of a good answer. He simply pushed through the two men in front of him and made a beeline for the front. He’d deal with Longineu later, but if there were men on their way to Evelyn’s place right now, that was his foremost concern.
Damn it. He’d been the one who convinced Evelyn that Longineu wasn’t suspicious. He’d been convinced that even if Longineu was onto something that the only one in danger would be him. How the fuck had Longineu gotten Evelyn’s real name? Her address to send his man to?
Unless the whole thing was a bluff. What if this had been a test that he failed? Now they knew for certain that she was an agent just because he couldn’t keep his cool. Mother fucker!
As soon as he got outside, he paused. If he went to her apartment right now, he’d lead Longineu right to Evelyn.
Fuck it. He’d move her to one of his places then. As long as he knew she was safe for now. He held up his hand to hail a cab. If he had his own car service, he’d be able to make it to Evelyn a hell of a lot faster, but he had to rely on a stranger to get him to Evelyn in time. Damn it.
As soon as he was in the backseat and on his way, he took out his phone and dialed Evelyn’s number. She should be right next to her phone considering she had been listening in on him.
But there was no answer.
CHAPTER TEN
Evelyn held up her hands and took a step back.
“Keep moving,” said the man at the other end of the gun.
She took a nervous gulp and continued to back up until she was in the middle of the room. The gun in her shoulder holster pressed into her side, but she knew she couldn't go for it while this guy had his gun drawn and ready. The man stepped inside and kicked the door shut.