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“I’m worried about the woman.” Solemn. “And about you. You’re both pawns, and pawns have a way of getting tossed from the game. Be careful.” He let Midas go. Turned and waved to Lane. “On my way, asshole! Stop glaring at me!” He hurried toward Lane.
Midas watched the two men climb into the SUV and drive away.
“Not a pawn,” he rasped. “I’m the fucking king.” But, of course, the king wasn’t really the most powerful piece in the chess game. Midas glanced over his shoulder.
Alina stared back at him with her dark and mysterious eyes.
Everyone knew that the queen really controlled the board.
***
“So…they’re fucking,” Lane said with a sigh. “He could barely keep his eyes off her for a second, and did you see the way he kept moving to stand beside her? The man is obsessed.”
“He’s her bodyguard,” Memphis replied as he gripped the steering wheel a little too tightly. “He’s supposed to keep his eyes on her and stay close to his charge.”
“Yeah, but there’s close and then there’s—whoa! Why the hell are you stopping?” Lane’s hands hit the dashboard before he turned to glare at Memphis.
He was stopping because he had a plan. “There’s a car rental company across the street. I want you to get a ride, and I want you going to the address I have for Kiera Thatch.” He whipped out his phone and sent a text with the address to Lane’s phone right then. “You’ve been riding me for more work with the Ice Breakers, so this is your chance. Go. Hurry.” Before Midas got too big of a lead on them.
But Lane lingered. “You want me to go and interview Kiera? I-I’m not sure if I’m the best with vics.”
Memphis rolled his eyes. Lord save him from amateurs. No, buddy, you suck with vic interaction. “I want you watching Midas’s ass. The man is being set up. He needs help. And you’re going to be there in case things go to hell.”
“All right, all right. Got it.” Lane climbed from the vehicle. He started to slam the door—
“Do not lock anyone in a freezer.”
Lane’s gaze hardened. “I will if some asshole deserves it.”
Such a bastard. “Just stay back and watch, got me? Don’t go in with guns blazing and don’t take any unnecessary risks. Understand?”
“Oh, absolutely. You want me to go in with my guns blazing and take every risk in the world.” Lane saluted him. “Mission understood, boss.” He slammed the door and headed for the rental company.
The guy was such a prick.
But…with the right training, he would also be one fine Ice Breaker. After all, it did take considerable talent in order to break out of a maximum-security facility. Not everyone had that skill set.
Lane Lawson showed definite promise. Provided he could stop being such a major pain in Memphis’s ass.
***
An hour and a half later, Midas pulled onto a long, winding drive. Alina leaned forward to get a better view of the house up ahead. Perched on a hill, the windows in the two-story structure gleamed in the waning light. When they’d turned on the drive, she’d noticed the security cameras perched discretely.
As they neared the house, she caught sight of more cameras. Small, white, positioned on both the lower and upper levels of the house.
The ride had been tense. Uneasy. She and Midas hadn’t talked about what happened in the bedroom. What had almost happened? He’d been too intent on getting her to Kiera.
As for Alina, she’d been trying to figure out just what she should say to the woman who might be a victim of the same kidnappers.
Midas drew the vehicle—a jeep they’d taken from the safe house’s big garage—to a stop. But as soon as he did, a man with a shaved head and a big, leather jacket immediately approached the vehicle. His hand went to the side of his coat where a bulge pushed out the leather.
Midas lowered the driver’s side window. “Easy,” Midas told him. “We are just here to talk with Kiera.”
“Ms. Kiera doesn’t want to talk with anyone,” the guy threw back. His voice was low, grating. “You’re on private property, and you need to get the hell out of here, now.” His gaze slid to Alina. Then went right back to Midas.
“She wants to see us,” Midas assured the other man. He sounded so confident that Alina almost believed him. “If you send us away, she’ll be very upset with you.”
“Ms. Kiera doesn’t want to see anyone. That’s why I guard the door.”
