I force myself to concentrate on the task at hand, pushing all thoughts of Cross out of my mind. Adrienne’s meeting is taking place at an old railroad station at the outskirts of the ward. She drops me off a mile out, and I make the rest of the journey on foot.
My position offers a perfect view of the sprawling run-down building, and it’s short-range, so I don’t need a spotter. The air here smells like rust and decay. I assume this used to be a transportation hub, but now the station is crumbling. Tracks rusted over, railway ties broken and eaten away by termites or eroded by the weather.
I clear the area, scanning every inch visible through my scope. Finally, I check in with Adrienne, who’s keeping her distance until I give her the go-ahead.
“One vehicle already here,”I report.“Armored. One guard at the door. Thermal sight tells me there’s two warm bodies inside.”
“Copy.”
I finish my sweep, ensuring the surrounding area is secure before I say,“All clear.”
Less than a minute later, our own vehicle appears on the dark road, headlights cutting through the night. I maintain my focus on the station itself. Most of the windows are boarded, and the exposed ones are covered by thick layers of dust, making it nearly impossible to see inside. There’s only one that offers a partial interior view.
I report to Adrienne.“Keep to the left of the front door. There’s a window with a line of sight for me.”
“Copy.”
As the car stops, adrenaline begins to hum through my veins. I spent years staring through the scope of a rifle on the ranch. Sometimes Uncle Jim and I would sit in silence for hours, hunting in the mountains. I’m used to the waiting, to the quiet, to the hyperawareness of everything around me. The sound of the wind, a shadow moving in the distance.
Adrienne gets out of the car, and I don’t know why, but my instincts are screaming at me. Alarms going off in my head. Something about this mission feels off to me, yet Adrienne doesn’t seem at all bothered.
She heeds my order, sticking close to that window. I catch glimpses of her red hair, but I can’t see who she’s meeting with. My thermal sight reveals three heat signatures. Two by the window, one near the door. A guard, I suspect.
I remain perfectly still, my aim locked on the window. Nearly ten minutes pass. I’m grateful to have something to occupy my mind, because I know the moment Adrienne’s safety isn’t a concern, I’m going to be thinking about what Jasper showed me, and I can’t fall apart right now.
Not right now.
It’s another five minutes before I hear her voice in my head.
“We’re wrapping up. Hold tight.”
Wrapping up what?
What is this, damn it?
I hold my position. Another half minute passes. Then there’s movement by the window.
“I’m on my way out.”
“Copy.”
I’m about to shift my sights to the door when another blur of motion catches my attention. Another figure moving past the windowpane. My fingers tighten around the grip of my rifle, index finger hovering over the trigger.
Even if I wanted to take a shot, the figure moves too fast for me to do it.
But not fast enough that I don’t catch a glimpse of his face.
It’s shrouded by shadows but completely unmistakable. I recognize those handsome features. Those blue eyes, a shade darker than his brother’s.
It’s Travis Redden.
Chapter 49
The shock stays with me all the way back to the Dagger. Adrienne notices how distracted I am, but I hope she chalks it up to my reunion with Xavier. Either way, she doesn’t push me to talk.
A million questions run through my mind.
Why was she meeting with Travis Redden?
