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Kai shoved a hand into his hair and rubbed, sending it into ruffled spikes. “All right. Then we’re doing this.”
My shoulders drooped, unsure if winning was supposed to feel like losing so badly.
“On one condition.”
I grimaced. “Of course.”
He dug into his pocket, pulling out something that sparkled like sunlight even though there was none to speak of. “Wear this.”
Unconsciously, I reached for it. “What is it?”
“A necklace. Used to be my mother’s.” He shrugged.
“Kai, I couldn’t.”
“Wasn’t finished. Used to be my mom’s, until the techies at the FBI turned it into a tracer.”
I squinted at him in confusion.
“Back when you were in the plans, I mean, back when there was a task force and every effort to arrest Trace and bring him back to the U.S., this was made for you. In case you were ever sent into something that the rest of us couldn’t tail you into. We just—everything ended so fast, the whole mission was scrapped, so there was never a need for it. But I kept it, for obvious reasons.”
“And it still works?”
“On my laptop, yes.”
“But why…” I shook my head. “Have you been carrying it around, waiting to collar me like your pet, since we first decided to do this?”
“Maybe,” he conceded. “But you’re slippery.”
I curled my fingers over the jewelry, the metal now warm from my skin. “Am I going to put this on and have the FBI’s air force surround the plane I’m on with Sax? They’ll take us down before I even have a chance to find the other brother.”
“First of all, the FBI doesn’t have an air force.” At my sneer, he continued, “Secondly, they reduced spending on this task force a long time ago. I’m not about to show them my hand when we haven’t even seen the river.” He winked.
I brought the necklace closer to my face.
“Besides, it won’t be on constantly. As soon as you have—ifyou have Trace, press this small button on the back. See?” He turned over the medallion, and just barely through the detail, I spotted a pinhole.
“You’re gonna need a pen or a safety pin to push it,” Kai said.
“I’ll be sure to do that,” I said. “In the midst of a tense confrontation with Trace, I’ll ask him if he has a ballpoint handy.”
“It’s a failsafe. Don’t scoff at the only thing that is allowing you to continue on without me.”
“Fine,” I said. “So I push the button and then what?”
“A tiny light in the front will light up green. My phone will receive an alert, and I can track you, or send any cavalry you need to contain him. Ideally…” Kai eyed me warily. “Both of them.”
“All right.” I sighed. “I really should go.”
“I’ll put this on you first.” Kai spun me around, hooking the necklace at my nape. He then held my shoulders, pivoted me back toward him, and pulled me into a tight hug.
“I’ll wear it because I trust you,” I said into his neck. My arms wrapped around him just as firmly.
“I mean it. I love you.” He kissed my cheek as he let go. “And call me. For anything. Ever.”
I nodded, and after one final hand squeeze, turned and strode after Theo.
“I still think this is a shit-for-brains idea!” Kai called out.
“I’ll wait for you to repeat that when I see you again!” I replied over my shoulder.
“You better.” Then, as his voice was trailing off, I heard, “Hey, who’s going to clean all this poker paraphernalia up?”
I tossed a smile his way as I kept walking, but he didn’t see that it fell as soon as I turned around and entered into the shadows.
