Page 94 of Fixed Asset

I fired.

The woman in the back looked behind her. Faced front and continued to run but lifted her arm. The second woman was Cat. I watched Mason round the building the women had come from and pick up speed to catch up to Cat and Calista.

I lost sight of the women first, then Mason. I let out a sharp whistle to let Pete know I was coming down. I got one in return. By the time I made it off the roof, Pete had moved to the front of the grocer. Catarina and Mason were flanking Calista Ventura as they jogged across the street.

Pete did not delay in ordering, “We gotta move.”

“She won’t go back to the hotel,” Catarina announced, but did not stop until she walked directly into my arms.

Smart woman.

“You good?”

“How much trouble am I in?”

Together you make the sword. Two shields cover front and back.

I blew out a breath.

“Next time, can you at least take your goddamn phone and wait until I can cover you before you take off?”

Catarina jolted, then she relaxed into me. “Yeah, honey.”

“That’s not an option,” I heard Pete say.

“I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, but I was the one who jumped out of a car to escape. I think I get to say where I’m going and where I’m not going. And I don’t know who any of you are.”

It was like Calista hadn’t spoken when Pete asked Mase, “Were there any boats down at the dock?”

“Yeah.”

“Fuck,” Pete sighed. “Let’s go.”

Calista’s shoulders snapped back, her chin jutted out, and she all but growled, “Again, really grateful for the assist, but I’m not going anywhere—”

“Tom Washington sent us,” Pete explained.

“She already said that,” Calista said as she pointed at Cat. “But who are you, and how do I know I didn’t escape one hell just to walk into another?”

Mason looked thoroughly offended. I wasn’t all that pleased at the inference, but to be fair, the woman didn’t know us.

“I’m Catarina. This is Jack, Mason, and Pete.” Cat pointed to each of us as she announced our names. “Tom went out of his way to track us down in Honduras to ask us to find you and get you safe. You’re obviously important to him—”

“You mean my father was important to him,” she corrected. “He doesn’t think I know what my dad did for him, but I do.”

“Just a suggestion,” Mason started. “Can we please finish this conversation someplace else that’s not on a street next to a burning gas station with bad guys roaming around? We’ve had a good run, but I’d prefer not to get shot at anymore tonight.”

Calista’s gaze was parked on Mase, but the sound of screeching tires pulled her attention to the road.

Obviously she’d made her decision when she declared, “I’ll shoot you if you try—”

Mase jerked his head down toward her hand. “Hate to be the one to tell you this, but you’re out of ammo.”

“Shit.”

“Once we’re on the boat, I’ll reload your magazine,” Mase offered.

“How do I know you’re telling me the truth?”