Total pages in book: 55
Estimated words: 51832 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 259(@200wpm)___ 207(@250wpm)___ 173(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51832 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 259(@200wpm)___ 207(@250wpm)___ 173(@300wpm)
“I’m worried about someone having his back,” Ana replies. “Do we have cameras to rely on anywhere near the locker?”
“We do not,” Blake replies. “The club has limited cameras for privacy reasons but you can’t back him up anyway. The men’s locker room is on the opposite side of the gym from the women’s.”
“But is there equipment by the door? I can at least watch the door.”
“It’s a long hallway,” he states. “I’m sending you the floor plan, and membership cards to the gym. You have reservations under your fake name, Luke. You have that ID, right?”
“I have it,” I reply.
“Good. You’ll need it at the hotel. There’s a parking garage for the hotel. It’s less obvious than the street or valet. It has cameras. I’ll have eyes on you. Stay on the first level. There are open spots.”
“Got it,” I reply. “What else?”
“I suggest you check into the room, look over the floorplan for the gym, and leave Ana in the room. It’s all coming at you now. There is one problem I need to bring up and it’s a big one. I found Darius on the camera feed the night before he died. He knew he had heat on him because that was after your attack, Ana, and he still went to that locker. Don’t count on that locker being anything but empty. When you’re done there, and back in the room, I’ll clear your exit path and we’ll talk about my research. And no, nothing you need to know now. Get this done. Anything I know might come together with information in that locker.” He disconnects.
I shift us into reverse. “I’ll argue my points on me not staying in the hotel room while you drive,” Ana says. “I can’t see anyone targeting you if I’m in a room.”
I pull us to the end of the driveway and onto the road, which is actually the road where the club is located. “I’ll argue my side of this once we park or you’ll win this battle and I’m not going to let that happen.”
“We’ll see,” she retorts, but she doesn’t press. Both of us have our eyes on the street, on our surroundings and it’s not long before I pull us into the garage. Once I’ve backed us into a spot against the wall, that allows rapid exit, I kill the engine and turn to Ana. “They won’t kill me, Ana. They want the package. They see us both as the ticket to get it. But they might do as Blake suggested and use you against me. Also, as Blake said, they’ve proven they’re willing to do that and more.”
“I do not like everyone using me as a weapon against you.”
“If you’re talking about Kurt, I don’t think it’s that simple. And you can call yourself a weakness, but I call you a reason to live. Which is why I need you to stay in the hotel room.”
“It works in reverse. They could use you against me. They used Darius because they felt I had the package.”
“It’s the men’s locker room, Ana. Let me have peace to know you’re safe. That’s going to allow me to get in and out fast, and without distraction.”
Worry and reluctance dance across her beautiful face, but she concedes. “Fine. But I’m giving you a time limit or I’m coming after you. What’s the plan to get into the hotel?”
Our phones buzz with a text message and I glance down to find the expected—an electronic key to a room Blake managed to make ours. “We have a room. We have an electronic key, thanks to Blake. We’re going to the first floor for easy exit.”
“It’s also more visible,” Ana says. “Less chance of someone coming at us there.”
“Exactly. Unless you object, we’ll go there first and make sure Blake has us on camera.”
“That works,” she says and slides on her coat. “You should take the backpack we have with us. It looks legit like you’re headed into the locker room to change for your workout and you can put what you find inside it.”
“You read my mind,” I say, indicating my phone. “Blake sent us a roadmap to the two buildings.”
She nods and we both study the layout, the direction we’re traveling to our room, and to the club. I give us both one full minute and then reach for my door. Ana does the same for hers.
Once I’m outside I open the rear door and pull on my coat, simply to look more legit, and because it hides the extra gun I pull from under the seat and stick it in my belt at my back. Next, I grab the backpack and meet Ana at the front of the car.
At this point, we’re out in the open and neither of us is focused on anything but our surroundings. The garage appears empty and we start walking. We’re inside an elevator quickly, and I punch the lobby level. Kurt once told me a story of watching a friend get shot the fuck up the minute the elevator doors opened on him. Years later, I saw it happen to someone else. Ana must know that story because, in unison, both of us step to one side of the car, away from the door. That’s where we stay until the doors are open, and we determine it’s safe to exit.